Keith Roberson, 56, of Sequim, was found guilty by a Clallam County jury Jan. 19 of two counts of assault-second degree, each while armed with a firearm.
Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols said that, according to court records and trial testimony, on Feb. 17, 2016, Roberson — after consuming methamphetamine — said he believed he was being threatened by an unknown person carrying a weapon; Roberson then ran through the woods carrying a semi-automatic pistol and confronted a citizen at their residence on South Barr Road.
Testimony including 9-1-1 calls stated that Roberson then pointed his gun at the citizen while in the citizen’s carport, Nichols said. An unarmed neighbor approached to render aid, and Roberson then fired a shot at the neighbor. A bullet hole was found in a wooden fence a short distance from the neighbor.
Neither victim knew Roberson, according to court records and trial testimony, the county prosecutor’s office said.
Roberson claimed self-defense based on his belief, admittedly colored by his testimony of years of methamphetamine use, that he was in danger. The jury did not accept his defense.
The presumptive sentence is 12-14 months prison, Deputy Prosecutor April King said, but each firearm enhancement must carry a sentence of 60 months consecutively for a total of 132-134 months.
Sentencing is set for Feb. 8 before Judge Christopher Melly.
Sequim theft case upheld on appeal
Clallam County Superior Court, acting as an appellate court in District Court cases, recently upheld a Clallam jury verdict regarding theft in Sequim.
Jeffrey Krieger, 42, of Sequim, was convicted of theft from Walmart of a surveillance system and AOL adapter and sentenced by Judge Rick Porter to 30 days jail, according to legal intern Jennifer Sperline, acting as a Deputy Prosecutor.
Thefts in Sequim earn PA woman four months in jail
Judge Erik Rohrer on Jan. 11 sentenced Port Angeles resident Heather O’Hara to four months in jail following a Clallam County jury guilty verdict on four counts of felony identity theft.
The jury found that O’Hara, 23, used a stolen credit card to make several purchases at the Sequim Walmart, Rite Aid and JCPenney over the course of 14 hours.
According to testimony, O’Hara bought clothing, a cellphone and charger, gift cards and other items totaling more than $1,000, Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols said.
In a statement to Sequim Police Officer Tony Bush, O’Hara admitted to making the purchases but claimed that a family friend had gone to Walmart with her and given her the card to buy what she wanted, Nichols said. At trial, however, Deputy Prosecutor Steve Johnson presented evidence that O’Hara made purchases at Walmart worth more than $200 hours before she returned to Walmart with the friend, Nichols said.
O’Hara has misdemeanor convictions for assault, malicious mischief and making a false statement to law enforcement, Johnson said.
O’Hara’s presumptive sentencing range was 4-12 months, Nichols said.
