Walla Walla man charged with arson, residential burglary enters plea
By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, November 6th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Matthew Ryan Hammond, 34, of Walla Walla pleaded not guilty Monday to charges stemming from his Oct. 22 arrest. The trial for his latest case is set for Dec. 17 in which he is charged with first-degree arson and residential burglary at a duplex on the 1000 block of West Chestnut Street back on Sept. 9.
On Monday, Hammond was also sentenced to five months in jail for his Aug. 7, 2023, arrest on probable cause of arson in connection with a fire on the 400 block of West Rees Avenue. He pleaded guilty to second-degree malicious mischief and second-degree burglary in that case.
For another case that occurred this past summer, Hammond was also sentenced Monday to 90 days concurrent. On June 12, he was booked for criminal trespass, theft, and malicious mischief. Following both his 2023 arrest and June arrest, Hammond was released from the Walla Walla County Jail after posting bond.
