PORT TOWNSEND — A Forks woman who pleaded guilty to second-degree theft charges was sent back to the Jefferson County Jail before her sentencing hearing was complete.
Danille Marie Barton, 33, argued with Superior Court Judge Keith Harper last Friday as Harper was mulling a request from the defense to continue the hearing until this week.
Attorney Richard Davies of Jefferson Associated Counsel had asked for the continuance because he said they received a copy of a Family and Offender Sentencing Alternative only two days previously.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Julie St. Marie objected to the continuance due to Barton’s history. Three bench warrants had previously been issued for Barton’s arrest due to failure to appear in the case, which dates back to February 2018.
St. Marie also said Barton jumped bail, and her criminal history would be a community concern.
“We do not trust Ms. Barton to reappear [in front of the court],” St. Marie said in her objection.
Before Harper could rule, Barton repeatedly asked to address the court, claiming she hadn’t committed any felonies while she had been out of jail.
Harper warned her about disrupting the court but Barton continued.
When Harper was interrupted again as he attempted to address Davies about his options, he stopped and revoked Barton’s conditions of release.
Barton was taken away in handcuffs by two Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies and transported to jail, where she will be held without bail.
Her sentencing hearing, originally scheduled for June 21, is now set for July 19.
Barton pleaded guilty to second-degree theft May 3 for credit card charges made between Jan. 1, 2016, and Dec. 21, 2017, according to court records.
The credit card belonged to her boyfriend, and they had been living together in Clearwater, according to charging documents.
The boyfriend also accused Barton of stealing three of his guns and keeping them at a storage unit in Burien, a police report states.
The credit card charges included $4,600 in fuel and an unpaid eBay purchase, according to the police report.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at [email protected].
