PORT ANGELES — Two juveniles pleaded not guilty in Clallam County Family Court during a 30-minute hearing that focused more on previous charges and inappropriate behavior in juvenile detention.
The boys, 17 and 15, who are not named because they are minors, were arrested Aug. 14 for investigation of assaulting an unhoused man on the Port Angeles City Pier and throwing his belongings in the harbor.
Charges
The 15-year-old pleaded not guilty through his attorney on Thursday to one count of accomplice to first-degree robbery, a Class A felony with a sentencing range of 103 to 129 weeks in juvenile rehabilitation and one count of accomplice to second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, a Class B felony with a sentencing range of 52 to 65 weeks.
The 17-year-old pleaded not guilty through his attorney on Thursday to one count of first-degree robbery with a firearm enhancement, a Class A felony with a sentencing range of 129 to 260 weeks in juvenile rehabilitation plus one year with the firearm enhancement, and one count of second-degree assault with firearm enhancement, a Class B felony with a sentencing range of 52 to 65 weeks plus one year with the firearm enhancement.
The 15-year-old will be back in court at 9 a.m. Sept. 14 for a status hearing while the 17-year-old will be back in court at 9 a.m. Sept. 21 for a review of a forensic evaluation to be conducted by Kenneth Muscatel, a Seattle pyschologist.
“Arraignment is a relatively quick hearing and each of them had multiple new charges,” said Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tracey Lassus on Thursday. “When they were seen (Aug. 18), they had multiple new charges and conditions of release were set. This hearing was just for them to plead not guilty and the setting of dates.”
Both juveniles are being held on $100,000 bond. They also are prohibited from contacting each other or the victim or coming within 1,000 feet of City Pier. If either of them makes bail, they must submit to electronic home monitoring.
The two allegedly had posted a video filmed by the 15-year-old of the 17-year-old hitting a man and threatening him with what looks like gun. The video was widely viewed on social media locally.
City security cameras on City Pier helped Port Angeles police identify the two juveniles after the alleged victim reported it to police Aug. 14. The two were arrested just as the video allegedly filmed of the attack was shared on social media, according to Port Angeles police Sgt. Kevin Miller.
Bri Gillett, a Port Angeles resident, organized a GoFundMe campaign, aiming to raise $11,000 to benefit the unhoused man. It had raised $7,620 as of Thursday morning.
________
Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.