Republican election observer in Island County, WA, convicted of a felony after refusing to wear a mask
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Yesterday, Tim Hazelo, a former chair of the Island County Republican Party, was convicted of unauthorized access to a voting center (a Class C Felony/up to $10K fine) and criminal trespass in the first degree (a Gross Misdemeanor/up to $1K fine) after refusing to wear a mask at the Island County Elections Office on November 4, 2024, during ballot counting observation.
Plaintiffs argued that the mask mandate rule, issued by the Defendant, Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider, and supported by the Island County Canvassing Board, exceeded the authority granted under state law and election regulations.
Crider implemented the policy for the Island County ballot processing room due to a Covid outbreak during the Aug 2024 primary election, where 10 of Crider’s 14 election staff got Covid and became ill. She wrote: “Because all of our volunteers are over the age of 65, and because we cannot afford to lose essential workers to perform the work of processing ballots, I have required that all staff, volunteers and observers in the ballot processing room wear a protective face mask.”
Witnesses say that a few of the election staff still had symptoms of Covid entering the Nov 2024 general election.
Other Republican election observers either wore masks in the ballot processing room or stood in the doorway without masks to observe, as allowed by Crider, during ballot counting observation.
Hazelo faces up to 5 years in jail and a possible fine up to $10K for the unauthorized access charge and up to one year in jail and a possible fine up to $1K for criminal trespass. Hazelo’s attorney argued the auditor lacked authority to enforce a health mask mandate, citing Washington Administrative Code (WAC) requirements that rules be provided in writing, which he argued did not include a mask mandate. Despite signs posted in the office indicating the requirement, Hazelo chose to enter the election observation room without a mask.
Nov 4, 2024, while serving as an approved election observer and having signed the “Official Observer and Visitor Rules,” Hazelo was approached by the Elections Supervisor and asked to wear a mask or leave.
After refusing to leave, an Island County Deputy Sheriff and a Coupeville Town Marshal showed up. Hazelo again refused, saying the Island County Auditor lacked the authority to enforce the mandate. Hazel left the building with them and was charged with a disorderly conduct citation (which was later dropped).
Yesterday the jury found him guilty after 2 1/2 hours of deliberation. Hazelo plans to appeal and is still involved in a civil lawsuit against the county, along with another observer, Tracy Abuhl, who faces similar charges. The civil suit, supported by the Silent Majority Foundation, challenges the auditor’s authority to impose health-related rules.
WAGOP Chair Jim Walsh said: “It’s an outrage that a county prosecutor (Island County) presses felony charges against someone for not wearing a covid mask and prosecutes him for a number of technical charges and gets a conviction at a time when actual violent criminals who are shooting people and causing mayhem get no charges brought against them.”
OF NOTE: Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks (who filed the charge) is a longtime, well-known far-leftist who does not like conservatives and has compared Trump supporters to the KKK, and has called Trump Supporters ‘Racist Bullies.’
We are tracking these cases and will follow up as they continue through the judicial system and as more details become available.
Bill Bruch
Bill Bruch is the WA State GOP Election Integrity Chairman, WSRP Executive Board Member, 5-Term Skagit County GOP Chairman, Citizen Journalist, Blogger, Business Owner, 2020 WA State House Representative Candidate, Former Council Member, and WA State 2016 and 2024 RNC National Convention Delegate.
Related Articles and links:
Securing Washington Elections - The Case of Tim Hazelo and Tracy Abuhl
Silent Majority Foundation - Restoring Election Integrity
SMF People v Hazelo - People v Abuhl Court Case Documents
Brandi Kruse Video interview of Tim Hazelo
North Whidbey Man Charged with a Felony over Refusal to Wear Mask in Elections Office
Local Prosecutor’s Unhinged Posts Call Trump Supporters ‘Racist Bullies’
Irregardless of how ridiculous the mask mandate was (they don’t work and that has been known since early 2020), Hazelo should have left the premises when asked, then file his lawsuit later. The County Health Department should be the only entity to require masking, even though that action is not justified by science. This is a case where the tyrannical left used their authority to punish a political opponent to the extreme. The penalty does not fit the crime. Island County government has been infiltrated with many rich leftists from King and Snohomish counties who are hellbent on implementing their liberal political agenda.