Lacey men face federal charges after hammer attack on Army soldier at JBLM
Dec 8, 2025, 3:01 PM
A photo of a Department of Justice flag waving outside of the Department of Justice building. (Photo courtesy of the Depeartment of Justice)
(Photo courtesy of the Depeartment of Justice)
Two former members of the military who were charged with assault, robbery, and theft of government property appeared in federal court on Friday after a “brutal assault” on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).
The two Lacey men, Charles Ethan Fields, 27, and Levi Austin Flakes, 27, beat an Army member with a hammer by hitting him on the head and torso, and threatened him with a knife, the DOJ announced.
Fields and Flakes have been in custody in Thurston County since their arrest on June 2, 2025.
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2 Lacey men charged with assaulting Army member with hammer
Both men entered JBLM at approximately 8 p.m. on June 1, 2025, according to the criminal complaint. Roughly one hour after the men entered, they were discovered in the Ranger compound by a member of the Army.
The two men were wearing masks and had Army property. After they were questioned, the men allegedly started fighting with the Army member by beating him on the head and torso with a hammer.
The victim was able to gain control of the hammer, which prompted one of the men to allegedly pull a knife and point it at the victim. The men later fled from the Ranger compound and dropped various items they were allegedly trying to steal.
Evidence was collected at the scene by investigators, who determined the men were attempting to steal approximately $14,000 worth of government property.
Law enforcement traced the men to an address in Lacey and searched the residence after obtaining a search warrant.
Inside the residence, law enforcement found various weapons and military property, including night vision devices, ballistic plates and plate carriers, helmets, military munitions, and military explosives such as flashbangs and smoke grenades.
A few of the items are restricted and prohibited from being owned or stored in a private residence. Officers also seized $24,000 in cash.
DOJ noted that assault and theft of government property are each punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and robbery is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
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