‘They can do this to anyone’: Former Island County GOP chair vows to fight felony trespass verdict

Tim Hazelo, former Island County Republican Party chair, was found guilty of felony unlawful entry and gross misdemeanor criminal trespass after refusing to wear a mask while serving as an official election observer during the November 2024 general election.

Hazelo shared his side of the story on “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH and said he’s not giving up.

Island County GOP chair claims his trial was unfair

Hazelo first recounted his time in court and claimed that his case was littered with objections that did not favor his arguments.

“When the deliberations were going on in the courtroom, the objections that came from the prosecution, and the upholding of the objections that came from the prosecution, the lack of our ability to admit evidence, we had already written it off, I was already thinking about appeals,” Hazelo said. “I was optimistic that a juror would say, ‘Wait a minute, if they aren’t allowed to present their side of the case, that creates some serious doubt.'”

KTTH host Jason Rantz asked Hazelo about the specific evidence that the judge chose to omit from being admitted in the case.

“We wanted to include what the auditor can and can’t do. The legislature gives an office the authority to do something, and that’s all they’re allowed to do,” Hazelo said. “If it’s not included in that authority, they’re not allowed to do that. It’s pretty simple.”

Hazelo noted the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), a set of regulations detailing each agency’s authoritative limitations, as part of their case for being unjustly accused.

“We wanted to present the WAC, and we were specifically told that we were objected by the prosecutor. The judge upheld the objection, and we weren’t allowed to present it,” Hazelo said. “The ironic part is the jury wanted it. The jury came back on day three and sent a question to the court asking for the WAC, and the court wouldn’t give it to them.”

What’s next for Tim Hazelo?

When asked about Hazelo’s next steps after being found guilty, he stated that he will continue to fight.

“We are going to appeal. I have a list of five things that stick out to me and my attorney, one being a conflict of interest with [the Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks],” Hazelo said. “Back in December, myself and two other sued Island County over the mask mandate. The fact that the suit is still in litigation, you would think that [Banks] would recuse himself from prosecuting me.”

Hazelo has a long history of working with the federal government and mentioned that the impact of this ruling would derail his career.

“The problem here is you’re someone who is a contractor, and you work with the federal government, but now you have a felony on your record,” Rantz said.

“I’ve had some of the highest clearances you can get based on the job that I performed for our country, and now all of a sudden, my security clearance is at risk,” Hazelo replied. “I was 19 when I got my first security clearance in the personal reliability program with the US Navy, and 38 years later, this whole thing is at risk over a face mask, in 2024.”

Hazelo revealed the importance of a security clearance in his field and related his experience being accused of an occurrence that could happen to anyone.

“If I lose the security clearance, my career is over. I suppose I’ll be giving people hugs at Walmart, it’s that devastating because without the clearance I can’t do what I do, period,” Hazelo said. “If they can do that to a guy like me, that’s been clean for his entire life, anybody can get charged with anything at any point in time. It’s unfortunate, and that’s what we’re fighting against.”

A GiveSendGo fundraiser has been created to help aid in Hazelo’s fight, which has already gained nearly $13,000 of his $100,000 goal.

“The hard part is it takes money to fight, and they know that I’m going to run out, and at some point, I’m going to have to give up and take what they give me,” Hazelo said.

Listen to the full conversation below.

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