Sequim man charged in alleged crime spree

Published 12:01 am Sunday, May 10, 2015

SEQUIM — A man police said stole three vehicles, wrecking two of them, and burglarized two homes early this month was charged last week.

Joseph R. Golbeck, 18, a homeless man living in the Sequim area, was charged Thursday in Clallam County Superior Court with three counts of theft of a motor vehicle, first-degree theft, hit-and-run-attended property damage, third-degree theft, residential burglary, second-degree burglary, being a minor in possession of alcohol, second-degree trafficking in stolen property and resisting arrest.

He remained in the county jail Saturday on $16,000 bail.

Golbeck reportedly admitted the crimes to deputies after his arrest.

The county Sheriff’s Office said Golbeck stole a silver Jeep Grand Cherokee from the 400 block of North Knapman Avenue in Sequim sometime late May 2 or early May 3 and then drove it off the road and wrecked it at 3177 West Sequim Bay Road between 3 a.m. and 3:45 a.m. May 3.

He reportedly fled to a nearby home, where he broke in looking for car keys and was confronted by the homeowners at about 3:30 a.m.

Deputies said he left and walked to the John Wayne Marina, where he entered a rental cabin and stole a set of keys to a gray Dodge Caravan parked outside.

He started the van but ran into the side of another rental cabin, police said.

Deputies said Golbeck found keys in a nearby white Ford E-350 van and took off in it, staying out of the reach of law enforcement until last Monday evening, when he was spotted at 300 S. Sunnyside Ave.

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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.