Seven people have been arrested for a residential burglary Friday, Sept. 4, in a sting operation that involved the theft of more than $110,000 in cash and coins to be used to bail out one suspect's boyfriend, according to Clallam County Sheriff's deputies.

Ciara Jo Neil 18, Bremerton, was charged Sept. 8 with two counts of residential burglary, one count of first-degree theft and one count of first-degree attempted theft.

Jesse Michael Troit, 19, Bremerton, was charged with one count of residential burglary and one count of first-degree attempted theft.

Bryan Lee Constant, 23, Sequim, was charged with one count of residential burglary and one count of first-degree attempted theft.

Malinda M. Thurman, 22, Sequim was arrested and cited for criminal trespass but has not been charged in court.



Second burglary stopped

According to deputies' affidavits, the victim reported Aug. 29 that a safe, silver dollars, coins and $110,000 cash were stolen from his Sequim home.

Then confidential informants told sheriff's deputies that another burglary of the residence was planned for Sept. 4.

After the burglary began, Detective Tom Reyes stopped the getaway car driven by Neil while deputies Stacy Sampson and John Keegan arrived at the house, according to court records.

Thurman was arrested by Keegan and Sampson outside the house along with Constant. He was seen with a screwdriver in his back pocket and taking off a pair of latex gloves, according to the affidavit.

Constant admitted to deputies they were going to break into the house and steal a safe with a lot of money in it to bail out Neil's boyfriend.



Sequim K-9

tracks suspect

Troit was arrested in front of the Sequim Safeway where he had been tracked by the Sequim Police Department's K-9 officer.

He told police that the money was to bail out Neil's boyfriend Skyler Nolan Mattox, who is related to the victim.

Mattox is being held in Kitsap County Jail on felony drug charges with $250,000 bail.



Three more arrested

Three more people were arrested Friday, Sept. 11, in connection with the burglaries.

Jeremiah Jackson, 24, Sequim, was arrested and booked on charges of residential burglary and first-degree theft.

Thomas Henry Ellison, 22, Sequim, was arrested and booked on charges of residential burglary and possession of illegal drugs (OxyCotin) with intent to deliver.

Karyn Nicole Prouty, 20, Sequim, was arrested and booked on charges of residential burglary, first-degree theft and possession of illegal drugs (OxyCotin) with intent to deliver.

Prouty and Ellison were arrested Friday night during a traffic stop. Deputies searched the car and found OxyCotin worth an estimated $2,000 hidden in the engine compartment.

Deputies searched Jackson's Sequim home and seized a hand cart dolly and pry bar believed used in the burglary.

Then deputies searched Ellison's Sequim residence and seized coins and other evidence believed to have been stolen during the burglary.

Sheriff's detectives continue to investigate the burglary case and encourage anyone with information to contact Det. Tom Reyes at the Sheriff's Office, 360-461-4173.

Reach Brian Gawley at bgawley@sequimgazette.com.





Reach Brian Gawley at bgawley@sequimgazette.com.