A substitute judge in Lake Forest Park Municipal Court released Stephanie McGill on personal recognizance and ordered court-supervised alcohol monitoring after an arraignment Jan. 1. The judge imposed a requirement for proof that an ignition-interlock or equivalent monitoring device be installed by Jan. 12 and scheduled a pretrial on Jan. 26 at 11 a.m.

City prosecutor Carmen McDonald told the court the city would not seek bail but asked for abstinence monitoring, citing the probable-cause documents and a high preliminary breath-test reading: “She had a PBT of a 0.295,” McDonald said. The charge listed in court was driving under the influence alleged to have occurred within the city of Lake Forest Park on Dec. 26, 2025 (cause no. 580764201).

Judge Proch Hamlin de Portnoy found probable cause to proceed and said Washington law authorizes monitoring when necessary to protect the public, citing Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 10.21.045. The judge described the monitoring options and ordered an ignition-interlock-style monitoring plan with camera and GPS components, directed the defendant to have a device in place within five days where practicable, and required the court to receive proof of installation no later than Jan. 12. The court warned that failure to provide proof could prompt a show-cause hearing and the issuance of an arrest warrant for violation of conditions of release.

The judge also explained other conditions: do not drive without a valid license and insurance, keep the court informed of address and phone changes, do not leave Washington without court permission, and submit to total abstinence from alcohol and nonprescription drugs. The court provided the defendant written instructions and information on vendors that install monitoring devices.

The judge set the 90-day speedy-trial expiration for March 31 and allowed the defendant to appear by Zoom for the pretrial because of travel distance and potential licensing consequences. The court advised the defendant to complete public-defender paperwork after the hearing; counsel Reid Myers was appointed for the purposes of this hearing.

Next steps: the pretrial is set for Jan. 26 at 11:00 a.m.; the court expects proof of monitoring by Jan. 12 or a required in-court show-cause appearance.