Two Thurston County men appear on federal charges involving brutal assault on JBLM

Tacoma - Two Lacey, Washington, men - both former members of the military - will appear in federal court in Tacoma today at 1:30 PM on a criminal complaint filed in June following a brutal assault on Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Charles Ethan Fields, 27, and Levi Austin Frakes, 27, have been in custody in Thurston County since their arrest on June 2, 2025. The men are charged federally with robbery, assault, and theft of government property.

According to the criminal complaint, the men entered JBLM around 8PM on June 1, 2025. About an hour after that, a member of the Army discovered them in the Ranger compound. The men were masked and had Army property arrayed around them. When questioned, the men started fighting with the Army member and beat him on the head and torso with a hammer. The victim was able to gain control of the hammer, only to have one of the men pull a knife and brandish it at the victim. The men - later identified as Fields and Frakes, ran from the Ranger compound, and dropped some of the items they allegedly were trying to steal.

Investigators collected evidence at the scene of the thefts and assault and determined the men were trying to steal about $14,000 in government property.

The men were traced to an address in Lacey and law enforcement obtained a warrant to search the residence. Inside they found weapons and military property, including night vision devices, ballistic plates and plate carriers, and helmets; military munitions; and military explosives such as blasting caps, flashbangs, and smoke grenades. Some of the items are restricted and not allowed to be owned or stored in a private residence. Officers also recovered $24,000 in cash.

Assault and theft of government property are each punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Robbery is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marci L. Ellsworth.