PORT ANGELES — Dennis Marvin Bauer’s triple murder trial has been postponed until 2021 because of pending scientific evidence.
Bauer, 51, is charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and 16 weapons violations connected to the Dec. 26, 2018 shooting deaths of Darrell Iverson, 57, Jordan Iverson, 27, and Tiffany May, 26, east of Port Angeles.
Bauer’s six-week trial was moved Friday from June 8 to Jan. 4, 2021.
“The discovery still isn’t complete,” defense attorney Karen Unger said in a Friday court hearing.
“There’s apparently quite a bit more scientific evidence that’s yet to be produced.”
Bauer did not object to the seven-month continuance. He is being held on $3.5 million bail in the Kitsap County jail and appeared in Clallam County Superior Court by telephone Friday.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office alleged that Bauer, Ryan Warren Ward, 38, and Kallie Ann LeTellier, 35, shot the victims outside Darrell Iverson’s residence on Bear Meadow Road on Dec. 26, 2018.
Bauer pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated first-degree murder with firearm enhancements in February 2019.
More recently, investigators alleged that Bauer and Ward stole weapons from the Iverson residence after the killings.
Bauer was charged Feb. 7 with with six counts of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, six counts of possession stolen firearms and four counts of theft of a firearm.
Bauer waived his physical presence at arraignment Feb. 21 and pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Lauren Erickson scheduled Friday a July 10 status hearing for Bauer.
DNA and other scientific evidence is being processed at a State Patrol crime lab.
In addition to the three first-degree murder charges, Ward is charged with three counts of theft of a firearm, three counts of unlawful possession of a short-barrelled shotgun or rifle, two counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of possessing a stolen firearm and one count of first-degree trafficking in stolen property.
He has maintained his innocence.
Ward’s six-week trial was moved Friday from May 4 to June 8.
“We’re aiming to basically to take the former place of the Bauer trial and move this to June 8,” Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jesse Espinoza told Erickson.
“If there’s an issue, we’ll bring it back to the court.”
Ward is being held on $3 million bail at the Jefferson County jail.
Ward’s attorney, Lane Wolfley, reported that he had received “quite a bit of DNA evidence” Friday morning.
“It seems to be moving along,” Wolfley said of the discovery phase.
Erickson scheduled a May 15 status conference for Ward.
Meanwhile, LeTellier pleaded guilty Feb. 4 to one count of second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement for May’s death.
She agreed to testify against Bauer and Ward as part of the plea deal.
LeTellier would serve 35 years in prison under the terms of a cooperation agreement that was negotiated by Clallam County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michele Devlin and defense attorney Larry Freedman.
LeTellier will be sentenced after the Bauer and Ward cases are adjudicated.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.