The Brinnon man accused of attempted murder in a machete attack on his former partner is facing a new charge of assaulting a corrections officer at the Jefferson County Jail.

James Nathaniel Parker made his first court appearance for custodial assault, a felony, in Jefferson County Superior Court Monday.

The Jan. 18 incident followed Parker’s arrest in Mason County earlier that day.

Deputies were called to a home in Brinnon at 9:24 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17 after a neighbor called 911 dispatchers and said his neighbor had been attacked by “her ex” at her house and was bleeding “rather badly.”

The victim told police she had just gotten home and opened the door when Parker attacked her with a machete. 

A deputy responding to the 911 call found the woman sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle with significant cutting injuries to both arms as well as her upper back, head, neck and shoulders.

Parker fled the scene of the attack in a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, which was later spotted on U.S. Highway 101 in Mason County after the car broke down near Hamma Hamma. Parker was found by a police dog in the woods nearby after police allege he unsuccessfully tried to carjack another vehicle but then fled on foot.

Parker was booked into Jefferson County Jail the next day, at
1:41 a.m.

The alleged attack on a corrections officer happened later that afternoon, when a sergeant at the jail tried to get Parker to put on a smock “which they give to individuals suffering from a mental health crisis” who have suicidal thoughts.

Four deputies responded to the jail after Parker allegedly charged at the corrections officer and hit him in the midsection, according to court documents.

A review of the surveillance video from the holding cell showed Parker, 38, “very clearly” trying to punch the sergeant with his right fist after he charged the officer.

“Parker stepped back into the cell and kicked his shoes off as if he were wanting to fight the corrections staff,” according to the probable cause report on the incident.

The report noted that Parker decided to cooperate after a corrections officer pointed a Taser at him.

Parker’s court appearance earlier this week last no more than 10 minutes.

He was apprised of his rights by Judge Keith Harper, and Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy asked that bail be set at $10,000 for the assault charge.

Scott Charlton, Parker’s attorney, said the incident had been linked to a mental health crisis.

“I’m not sure for the need for additional bail,” Charlton said. “He’s currently held on substantial bail.”

Bail on the attempted murder charge was set at $500,000, and additional bail of $25,000 was ordered by the court after Parker’s arrest Jan. 18, which included an allegation of first-degree assault (domestic violence).

Harper agreed to set additional bail of $10,000, and noted Parker posed “a high risk of flight.”

The judge added he understood why an additional bail amount was needed.

“Reasons exist in each case,” Harper said.

Parker was arraigned on the two felony charges of attempted first-degree murder (domestic violence) and first-degree assault (domestic violence) in Jefferson County Superior Court on Jan. 29.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on the new charge of custodial assault Friday, Feb. 5.

Conviction of custodial assault carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a $10,000 fine.

Parker had a previous five-year-long relationship with the woman he allegedly attacked, and court documents indicate the couple separated five years ago.

After his arrest, Parker was asked by a sheriff’s sergeant why he tried to kill the woman.

“Because the voices told me to do it,” Parker allegedly answered, according to court records.

When asked if the voices told him to use a machete, he said “yes.”

The victim was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for medical treatment after the attack.

Her condition has since improved, said Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant Brett Anglin.