Judge who released teen robbery suspects linked to pot shop murder has history of lenient sentencing

Barely a month ago, a King County judge sent two teens home under “house arrest” with electronic ankle monitors, after they were arrested for allegedly pistol-whipping and robbing the owner of a busy Federal Way pawn shop.

Now, the boys – who police say cut off their court-ordered ankle devices – are being sought in last week’s deadly robbery of a man working in Tacoma cannabis store.

Sources told The Dori Monson Show that, despite their young age, the suspects are considered “armed and dangerous.” Detectives from several police agencies believe the boys are connected to four other pot shop robberies in King and Pierce counties. Court documents show one suspect has a right prosthetic leg and moves with an obvious limp.

According to Tacoma Police, the 15- and 16-year-old boys are sought in last Saturday’s slaying of Jordan Brown, 29, of Gig Harbor. Brown was a graphic designer working at World of Weed in Tacoma during the cannabis and cash heist.

And now, The Dori Monson Show has learned, the King County juvenile court judge who released the boys to home detention “with adult supervision” has a history of handing down exceptionally low sentences.

In the Federal Way pawn shop robbery, Judge Averil Rothrock, chief of King County Juvenile Court, ignored prosecutors who asked her to place the teen suspects in juvenile detention. Attorneys cited the violent attacks on customers and the store owner in their arguments.

It’s not the first time the judge has ignored such pleas. Rothrock, who was originally appointed to the King County Superior Court bench by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee in 2018, is also connected to another high-profile case.

Shortly after her appointment, Rothrock presided over the case of Alrick Hollingsworth. At age 18, Hollingsworth went on the run for five months after shooting five people – some of them randomly – near downtown Seattle’s Pike and Pine streets on Third Avenue in late 2016. The melee occurred in a crowd of rush-hour commuters and protestors gathering for a rally in nearby Westlake Park.

In that case, Rothrock sentenced Hollingsworth, by then 20, to nine years in prison – six years less than the 15-year sentence sought by prosecutors. It was also three years less than the standard sentencing range. At the time, it was considered an “exceptionally lenient sentence” by prosecutors and law enforcement. With good behavior and time served, Hollingsworth could be released in about two years.

Before handing down the sentence, the judge told him she could see that he was “unsure” and “stressed” at the time of the shooting.

“A standard sentence range is not necessary to give Mr. Hollingsworth an opportunity to improve himself,” Rothrock told that court. “He will mature from a teenager into an adult while serving this court sentence.”

The judge also put part of the responsibility for Hollingsworth’s actions on “the community.”

“The struggle in your community with gangs and gun violence matters to me – and our entire community shares responsibility for that struggle,” Rothrock said.

Meanwhile, warrants were issued last Thursday for Marshon Jones, 15, and Montrell D. Hatfield, in connection with severing the ankle monitors and with the Federal Way pawn shop robbery. KIRO Newsradio does not typically identify juvenile suspects who have not yet been charged with a crime; in this case they are being named because they are still on the loose and considered “armed and dangerous” by police.

While they’re still at large, the pawn shop owner is so concerned for his employees’ safety he refused to be identified in his interview with Dori. However, he did tell Dori’s listeners about the attack – including having a gun held to his head.

With all that has transpired, Dori asked him, what would you say to Judge Rothrock?

“What is she thinking? I don’t even know a single person who believes that her judgement was correct. We want to be safe in our society. What signal does that send to the rest of our society? What signal does that send to criminals?” the business owner responded.

And while too “heartbroken” to do an interview, Jordan Brown’s father, Dennis Brown of Gig Harbor, told Dori by phone that he is proud of his son’s accomplishments, but is “devastated” by his son’s murder and the way this case has unfolded.

Jordan, Dennis said, leaves a brother and sister who also deeply loved him.

“He was ambitious graphic designer and musician who needed to have a side gig to pursue his talent.”

Listen to Dori Monson weekday afternoons from noon – 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.