PORT ANGELES — A plea deal for accused murderer Gary Borneman is still on the table, and a hearing on the matter is scheduled for Wednesday.
Borneman, 40, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree kidnapping and five other charges related to the October shooting death of Jerry Howell and alleged kidnapping of Rebecca Messinger.
Borneman has pleaded not guilty to first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree kidnapping domestic violence, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful imprisonment domestic violence, violation of a domestic violence protection order and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Port Angeles police allege that Borneman kidnapped Messinger at gunpoint and shot Howell to death at a Port Angeles residence Oct. 7.
Police said Borneman tied Messinger to the driver’s seat of her vehicle, ordered her to drive to her West 11th Street residence and shot Howell with a 22.-caliber pistol.
Messinger, who is described in court papers as Borneman’s ex-girlfriend, escaped from the vehicle and called 9-1-1 as she hid in bushes behind the house she shared with Howell.
Borneman was treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for injuries suffered in a close-quarters gunfight with Howell, who was 40.
Several court hearings have been rescheduled in recent weeks to allow Borneman more time to consult with defense attorney John Hayden.
A hearing that was scheduled for Thursday was reset because Hayden was unavailable.
“He is out of town today. Therefore, I can’t really proceed with it,” defense attorney Loren Oakley told Clallam County Superior Court Judge Christopher Melly.
Noting that Hayden’s absence was expected, Melly reset the hearing for 9 a.m. Wednesday.
“I’m a little disturbed that all we’re doing is putting it over again,” Melly said.
“We could have done that last week.”
Clallam County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Troberg would not discuss the plea offer in a Thursday interview.
“I don’t want to talk about the offer while the case is still pending,” he said.
Several letters have been filed with the court asking Melly to reject a plea offer.
First-degree murder, kidnapping and burglary are each Class A felonies punishable by a maximum of life in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Firearm enhancements were added to Borneman’s charges.
He is being held in the Clallam County jail on $50,000 bond.
