The Oregonian
EVERETT, Wash. — A convicted felon released early from prison because of COVID-19 concerns is back behind bars, accused in a terrifying attack on a woman in Everett, Washington.
The victim, a woman in her 60s, was taking a break from hiking on a trail Friday when police say 33-year-old Matthew Cory came up from behind her and started choking her.
The interurban trail in Everett is a popular place for people to get outside for some fresh air.
According to court documents, the victim said she managed to loosen his grip and scream loud enough that he ran off. Police found Cory running through the woods, and the victim positively identified him as her attacker.
Cory told investigators he’d been using meth for two weeks, hadn’t slept in seven days, and didn’t remember attacking the woman. Now back in custody, this latest arrest adds to Cory’s criminal record, which lists 11 arrests, seven felony convictions and two misdemeanors.
Records show Cory has been in and out of prison several times. When he was given early release this month, he’d been serving time for unlawful possession of a firearm.
Cory is one of approximately 1,000 Washington inmates released up to six months early because of Covid-19. Department of Corrections officials say 10 days after his May 2 release, Cory removed his ankle monitor, so officials lost track of him.
Though it’s an isolated case, law enforcement sources said a handful of inmates released early have removed their tracking devices and disappeared.
Lewis County Sheriff Robert Snaza said that Cory’s attack on the woman shouldn’t come as a big surprise, and that law enforcement had warned that incidents like this would occur.
“They’re in there for a reason,” Snaza said. “They committed a crime, and now because we’re in this crisis, we’re gonna release individuals who want to just want to get out.”
Gov. Jay Inslee’s office declined an interview, but issued the following statement:
“The decision to release individuals from DOC was based on weighing the risk to incarcerated individuals and public safety. These were extremely difficult choices to make, but they were necessary in order to meet our obligations to allow for minimal social distancing in our more crowded living areas in the prisons. In reviewing individuals for potential release, we focused on those individuals who were incarcerated for less serious crimes and focused more on offenses involving property rather than crimes against persons. This group was chosen to reduce the risk to public safety, but no choice could be made to guarantee that there would never be a new crime committed.”