Dumping, trespassing suspect acts out in court

A South Whidbey man who made headlines years ago was back in court Thursday and causing trouble.

Curtis Leonard made a preliminary appearance in Island County Superior Court. He allegedly trespassed on property and dumped a travel trailer, according to the police report.

Leonard acted out in court. He tried talking over Judge Alan Hancock and “appeared unhappy” when the judge didn’t answer some of his questions, according to Deputy Prosecutor Ian Michels-Slettvet.

The judge found probable cause to hold Leonard on suspicion of criminal trespassing in the first degree and unlawful dumping of an item greater than one cubic yard. He set Leonard’s bail at $7,500.

Leonard represented himself in a 2003 trial and was convicted of burglary and assault charges. He robbed the Shell convenience store in Freeland armed with a pellet gun and threatened the store manager when the man pulled a baseball bat from behind the store’s counter. Leonard smashed a cash register and threw a pack of beer at the manager.

Leonard also has a bank-robbery conviction on his record.

According to the police report, Leonard admitted to a deputy that he had left the trailer on a Bush Point Road property, but said he thought he was entitled to do so under the “Homestead Act.”

Leonard also sent a letter to a man saying he had a legal right to the property because it was his homestead, the police report states.