South Seattle man accused of harassing autistic child, threatening arson

A South Seattle man accused of threatening to burn the home of an autistic child has been charged with malicious harassment, the state's hate-crime law. Mark Joe Levison, 48, is being held without bail in the King County Jail. Court records show he failed to appear in court for previous charges.

The night of July 8, Acquinnette Engen said she was sitting on the porch of her home in the 5500 block of South Leo Street after putting her three children to bed. She said Levison began yelling at her from his yard across the street and imitating her 13-year-old autistic son.

Engen's family had just moved in two weeks earlier, she said. Engen said Levison had previously screamed at the autistic boy when he was climbing a tree.

"I'm not dealing with you," Engen said she told Levison that night.

"Keep your ... son in the house or the backyard like a dog. If you don't I'll burn the [child's bedroom] down," Engen recalled Levison saying.

Engen's account was similar to that in charging papers.

"It scared me to death," Engen said Wednesday. "I was terrified."

She called police.

Responding officers said Levison smelled like alcohol, charging papers said. Levison told the officers, "I pay $1,000 a month rent and shouldn't have to see that idiot spinning around and staring at my yard," charging papers said. Levison was charged July 11.

Engen said when she left to go to work one morning, Levison was lying in the middle of the street. One time she and her husband saw Levison walking barefoot down the street, appearing intoxicated, yelling into his cellphone, she said. Engen said Levison would get drunk and throw his work boots in the street.

"More so than him going to jail, I'd rather see this gentleman get help." Engen said.

Engen said her son is severely autistic and nonverbal. She said this was the first time her family had encountered harassment directed at her son.

Levison has a prior conviction for breach of peace, court records show. He was previously charged in Washington state with assault and criminal trespass, and has been charged with several misdemeanors and felonies in Oregon, records show.

Leslie Anne Jones: 206-464-2745 or ljones@seattletimes.com