PORT TOWNSEND – A 19-year-old Port Townsend man charged with 32 counts in connection with several burglaries that took place in Jefferson County last May and June forgot to go to a court hearing last Friday.
So he went back to jail for part of this week.
Part of bail stipulations following Austin Thacker’s June 14, 2006, arrest was that he would have to attend every Jefferson County Superior Court appearance leading to his trial.
The consequence of failing to do so would lead to a warrant for his arrest and incarceration.
That’s exactly what happened.
On Tuesday, Thacker’s defense attorney, Richard Davies, spoke with Superior Court Commissioner Richard Shaneyfelt via speaker phone from Jefferson County jail in Port Hadlock where he was with Thacker.
He told Shaneyfelt that Thacker tried to meet the court date on Friday, but he forgot and roads were too icy to drive there.
“This is not an instance where Austin [Thacker] had been fleeing the jurisdiction,” said Davies.
Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies arrested Thacker at his Port Townsend home about 2:30 p.m. Friday, and stayed in jail until $5,000 bail was posted Wednesday.
“The defendant has never failed to appear before, so that’s a point in his favor,” said Jefferson County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katherine Gulmert.
“But someone who is facing 32 counts and neglects to look at the calendar is somewhat appalling.”
Shaneyfelt reduced Thacker’s original $50,000 bail amount to $5,000.
Gulmert asked Shaneyfelt to extend the trial date because a key witness for the prosecution, Port Townsend Police Sgt. Mike Evans, was badly burned in a kitchen accident while off duty Dec. 27.
Evans is not expected back on duty until April.
Thacker’s trial dates in Superior Court were set for April 30 to May 3 and May 7 to May 10.
Thacker was originally arrested June 14 at his Port Townsend home along with Niles Reid Shroyer, 21, of Port Townsend.
Shroyer faces 10 counts in connection with the burglaries.
The businesses that the two men are accused of burglarizing include Alano Club in Port Townsend, Port Townsend Foundry, Macadoo’s Restaurant in Port Townsend, Port Ludlow Property Sales, Port Ludlow Skin and Spa, Homer Smith Insurance in Port Ludlow, Fat Smitty’s cafe in Discovery Bay, Port Ludlow Dentistry and Windermere Port Ludlow Realty.
Thacker is also accused of burglarizing homes in Port Ludlow, Port Townsend and Chimacum.
