A Sequim man’s trial is now set to start in September, nearly two years after he allegedly threatened and tried to hit four children in a Sequim church parking lot in 2023, assaulted and threatened sheriff deputies and eluded them in a nearby pursuit.
The five-day trial for John F. Barcellos, 61, was set to begin on Aug. 11, but Judge Elizabeth Stanley agreed to a continuance on Aug. 7 in Clallam County Superior Court at the request of Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Roberson.
Barcellos’ trial will now start on Sept. 22. A pre-trial meeting is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 18.
According to court documents, Roberson requested a continuance as witnesses and the state’s psychologist were not available until September.
Barcellos was charged Sept. 29, 2023 with 10 felonies, including four counts of harassment with threats to kill; three counts of assault in the second degree with a deadly weapon; assault in the third degree of a law enforcement officer; attempt to elude with a special allegation of endangerment; and harassment with threats against a criminal justice participant.
According to Clallam County’s Jail Roster, Barcellos’ bail is $50,0000 and he’s being held on charges of assault in the second degree, eluding a police vehicle, obstructing a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest.
Incidents
According to court documents, Barcellos allegedly made threats on Sept. 16, 2023 with a hatchet and attempted with his car to hit four children playing in the Sequim Seventh-day Adventist Church parking lot.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Office reported that the children said Barcellos’ vehicle came within inches of them while driving at high speeds, and deputies later made contact with him. While attempting to stop and arrest him, Barcellos drove off and intentionally hit a deputy’s vehicle, court documents state.
Barcellos attempted to flee north on Sequim-Dungeness Way traveling at about 60 miles per hour but he hit the Woodcock Road roundabout and crashed, deputies report.
After his arrest, Barcellos also allegedly threatened a deputy and his family while traveling to jail.
Prior to the church parking lot incident, deputies reported that Barcellos struck a vehicle with his car around 4 p.m. Sept. 16, 2023 after tailgating and speeding past it on two occasions on Old Olympic Highway. Sgt. Shaun Minks reported then that teenagers were driving east on the highway when Barcellos passed them and pulled over to the side of the road waiting for them to pass before tailgating them.
He did this two times before the teens pulled over and Barcellos purposefully backed into their vehicle and fled with the teens following him and taking photos of his car and license plate, court documents state.
Status
Barcellos was admitted and discharged from Western State Hospital for mental competency restoration in 2023. He was later evaluated for diminished capacity at the time of the alleged crimes.
According to a July 23, 2025 Mental State Evaluation Report from the Office of Forensic Mental Health Services, “Barcellos was more likely than not exhibiting symptoms of depression, paranoia, and maladaptive personality pathology” during the alleged offenses and “he more likely than not had the capacity to form the requisite mental states of intent, knowingly, and willfully.”
The evaluation states “he has an elevated risk of re-offending.”
According to court documents, Barcellos has a history of criminal arrests, including assault in the second degree with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree, bail jumping, and burglary in the second degree.
