An 18-year-old Anacortes High School senior is at the center of a wrenching criminal case after prosecutors say he sold fentanyl and cannabis to an eighth-grade student, a development that has quickly rattled students and parents in the tight-knit Skagit County community.
Senior Charged With Selling Fentanyl, Cannabis
Prosecutors charged Zakeius Lavincent Hawkins on March 2 with three felonies: possession of fentanyl in a school zone with intent to deliver, delivery of fentanyl to a minor and delivery of cannabis to a minor. Hawkins was arrested in Anacortes on March 4 and pleaded not guilty. At his first court appearance, a judge cited public-safety concerns and allegations including an attempt of a violent offense while setting bail at $150,000, according to goSkagit.
Alleged Sales, Evidence and Messages
Court documents and school staff accounts say the eighth-grader bought cannabis from Hawkins on two occasions earlier in February. In the first instance, the student allegedly paid with a gift card. On Feb. 18, the student reportedly paid $45 for an ounce-and-change of cannabis and a 510-thread oil pen.
Principal Erin Duez later searched Hawkins' vehicle and found three bags labeled with prices, according to the report. Police field-tested the contents, which were presumptively positive for both cannabis and fentanyl. A paraeducator told investigators they overheard Hawkins say he sells bags "for gas money" and that he would bring "the laced stuff" next time, goSkagit reported.
Court Timeline and Custody
Hawkins is being held at the Skagit County Community Justice Center in Mount Vernon on $150,000 bail and is represented by a public defender, according to court filings and local reporting. A judge has issued a no-contact order barring him from communicating with the eighth-grade student. His next scheduled court date is April 2.
Felony arraignments and pretrial matters in Skagit County are handled through Superior Court calendars, as outlined by Skagit County Courts.
Community Fallout and Fundraising
A GoFundMe campaign started by someone identifying as Hawkins' sibling has raised about $4,400 from roughly 60 donors, according to local reporting. Listed donors include Anacortes City Councilmember Anthony Young and city attorney Darcy Swetnam.
Young told the local outlet he chose to donate after learning Hawkins had been homeless, lacked parental support and was commuting from Mount Vernon, a detail that has stirred both sympathy and unease in town as residents process the allegations.
Broader Context
Across Washington, investigations into alleged sales to minors have been increasing as fentanyl and laced products proliferate. Recent multi-agency arrests in Thurston County, reported by FOX13, underscore the wider enforcement push and concern among officials over young people's access to hard drugs.
Legal Stakes
The charges against Hawkins include both class B and class A-level felonies. State sentencing guidance shows those classifications can carry lengthy prison terms and significant fines, with the most serious offenses punishable by decades in prison and fines up to $50,000.
Hawkins has pleaded not guilty, and the case will move through the Skagit County Superior Court schedule as prosecutors assemble their evidence and the defense prepares its response, according to the Washington State Adult Sentencing Manual.
