A man was in court last week in connection with shorebird deaths, including this dead gull photographed lodged in the grill of a Jeep.

SOUTH BEND — The following cases were among those handled during Pacific County Superior Court’s criminal docket on Sept. 6 and 13:

Richard G. Hatton, 61 — The Pacific County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges on April 18 alleging he commercially harvested razor clams and sold them in Tokeland. The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife got on Hatton’s trail after receiving an anonymous tip.

According to court records, WDFW visited a commercial fish/shellfish buyer in Tokeland and found documents pointing to an alias being used by Hatton. The buyer told the investigator that the seller was an older man driving a black pickup truck — similar to one Hatton was known to drive.

Hatton was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of first-degree criminal impersonation, which is a class C felony, and three counts of second-degree commercial fishing without a license, which are gross misdemeanors.

According to court records, Hatton entered a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to all four counts. He faced a standard range with an offender score of zero of 0-12 months for count one and 0-364 days in jail for each of the remaining charges.

The prosecutor’s office recommended he be sentenced to 30 days in jail with all counts running concurrently. The recommendation was accepted by Judge Donald J. Richter.

Patricia L. Clifford, 42 — She was formally sentenced for her role in the untimely death of Ryan M. Knight, who overdosed on fentanyl on Jan. 29. She is the second defendant to be sentenced in connection to Knight’s death. Jose E. Meza, 38, was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced on April 19 to more than six years in prison.

According to court records, Clifford pleaded guilty to one count of delivery of fentanyl. With an offender score of seven, she faced a standard range of 5-10 years in prison. The prosecutor’s office recommended she be sentenced to seven and a half years, which was accepted by Richter.

Christopher J. Amador, 35 — Seven months have passed since he sent a letter to the court on Feb. 23 wanting to address his case. The case has lingered since Jan. 9, 2020, when he was accused of multiple counts of sexual assault.

He was facing two counts of third-degree rape and two counts of felony harassment. The charges were amended to two counts of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation and two counts of felony harassment.

With no offender score, Amador faced a range of 0-364 days in jail. The prosecutor’s officer recommended he be sentenced to credit for time served — 154 days. Richter agreed.

James S. Travis, 64 — He was in court a month and a half after he allegedly mowed down a flock of seagulls off the Klipsan beach approach. Travis, who lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, made the flight across the Pacific to face his charges, which include first-degree animal cruelty and reckless driving.

Travis was represented by indigent defense attorney Edward Penoyar and entered pleas of not guilty to both counts. Penoyar also advised the court that the defendant plans to hire a private attorney to represent him in the case.

According to court records, under Travis’s pretrial release conditions, he can travel to and from Hawaii to appear for court hearings. His next appearance is scheduled for a review/trial setting hearing on Sept. 27. No trial date has been set.

Gary E. Starr, 38 — He was facing charges of second-degree child molestation and second-degree incest. The prosecutor’s office requested the case be dismissed without prejudice — meaning the charges can be refiled. Richter agreed.