by AMANDA WINTERS
Sequim Gazette

A 41-year-old Sequim man remains in custody at the Clallam County jail after allegedly threatening another man with a gun.

 

Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the report of a fight in the 400 block of Cays Road around 1:54 p.m. March 17. Upon arrival, they spoke with the alleged victim and several witnesses who pointed to a camper down the driveway and said that was where the suspect was last seen.

 

Deputies contacted Ben Lehman at the camper and ordered him out, deputies said. During questioning,

Lehman told deputies he was in a fight with the alleged victim and at some point during the fight he had a pistol that he later hid, according to court documents.

 

The alleged victim told deputies Lehman assaulted him over a propane tank and he lost consciousness at one point before Lehman pointed a gun at him and threatened to kill him, deputies said.

 

Three witnesses said they saw Lehman threaten to kill the victim while pointing a gun at him, deputies said. One of the witnesses called 9-1-1.

 

Lehman, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a loaded .45 caliber handgun that deputies found in a drawer after serving a search warrant on the camper, according to an arrest report.

 

Lehman was arrested on suspicion of assault and unlawful possession of a firearm.

 

Prosecutors charged Lehman with second-degree assault and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm in Clallam County Superior Court on March 19. He pleaded not guilty March 23 and trial is set for May 14.

 

He remains in custody at the Clallam County jail in lieu of $50,000 bond as set by Judge Ken Williams.

 

Reach Amanda Winters at awinters@sequimgazette.com.