Repeat offender from 'Seattle is Dying' released from jail
SEATTLE -- Travis Berge knows a spotlight is on him. He’s become a symbol of how Seattle and King County handle homeless habitual offenders.
He admits he loves methamphetamines. Police body cameras have captured his abusive side, while YouTube videos show him as a smiling traveling musician.
He’s also one of the sample 100 habitual offenders listed in the “System Failure” report released in February that was critical of the criminal justice system handles repeat offenders. Since it’s release, 73 of the 100 listed in the report have reoffended coming to 117 times.
Berge is one of those.
On March 14, he was arrested for vandalizing and breaking windows of the Joshua Green Building in downtown Seattle. Damages were estimated to be up to $14,000.
During his arraignment, Superior Court Judge Veronica Alicea-Galvan told him he could stay out of jail until his trial if he attended CCAP Enhanced, also known as the Community Center for Alternative Programs.
If he didn’t show up in-person to its facility on Yesler Way in downtown Seattle, or call by phone every day, a warrant would be issued for his arrest.
Court records show he did once, but on his second visit Berge says he wasn’t allowed in because building security said he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
That night, surveillance video shows Berge breaking several windows of the treatment center. He was arrested again, and put in jail again just days after he was allowed to leave.
He would eventually enter into a plea deal with prosecutors, admitting to two counts of felony malicious mischief.
But his public defender, Sade Smith, argued in court on Friday that the case involving CCAP should be dismissed because King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Sean O’Donnell had been aware of the KOMO News coverage of Berge and was in touch with CCAP officials, having them keep him informed if Berge had missed any required appointments.
“So CCAP is paying specially attention to Mr. Berge, it never would have paid if the court had not contacted them,” Smith said in court.
Court and law enforcement officials have been under scrutiny on how habitual offenders like Berge are being handled in light of the System Failure Report.
Superior Court Judge Kristin Richardson did not agree saying she found no "nexus" with communications made by Judge O’Donnell and the breaking of CCAP’s window, the crime Berge was accused of committing.
She did not grant the motion to dismiss.
Berge was facing a maximum of 10 years in prison for the crime of felony malicious mischief. The plea deal had him serve 3 months in jail -- the minimum of the standard sentencing range for someone with his offender score of 2.
“I’m really sorry. I’m remorseful for breaking the windows and I fully plan on correcting my behavior and be an outstanding member of society,” Berge told the court.
Judge Richardson agreed with the plea deal, but in the ruling he was given a no-contact order with CCAP, the taxpayer supported treatment center that could help Berge overcome his cravings for methamphetamines, if he stuck with the treatment.
“The fact that opportunity is not available is a problem,” Smith said after the court hearing.
If Berge is sincere about his desire to overcome his addiction issues, he will have to do it another way because of the weird twist of fate – the place that could help him, he can’t visit because of his crime and a no-contact order.
His attorney says jail doesn’t work for guys like Travis.
Racking up convictions, throwing people in jail, destabilizing them and then say don't do it again doesn't make any sense when there are a lot of other factors at play, it’s not reality,” says Smith
Berge may spend his next few nights in another part of the jail. During a jailhouse visit he said his case worker was getting him a bed in the new men’s shelter that has opened in the west wing of the county jail.
Instead of 8th Floor South were we spent that last 90 days in a cell, in the new shelter he can come and go as he please. We will continue to follow his progress.