Heroin sales lead to prison sentences in Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team cases

PORT ANGELES — Two Carlsborg residents Travis D. McDaniel and Katherine M. Melcer were sentenced this month to 20 months in state prison followed by 20 months’ community custody after each pleaded guilty to selling heroin last December.

McDaniel, 35, was sentenced last Tuesday in Clallam County Superior Court after he pleaded guilty to delivering heroin to an Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team, or OPNET, informant last Dec. 6.

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office alleged that McDaniel sold the drug within 1,000 feet of Greywolf Elementary School in Carlsborg, court papers said.

Three other counts of delivery of heroin were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Melcer, 34, plead guilty Nov. 4 to selling heroin last Dec. 5, 6 and 10, OPNET Supervisor Jason Viada said.

She was sentenced Nov. 12.

McDaniel and Melcer were arrested during a traffic stop in Jefferson County on April 9.

Meanwhile, Corey R. Spaulding and Kaitlan M. Gort, both of Port Hadlock, have been charged in Jefferson County Superior Court with selling methamphetamine, Viada said.

Spaulding, 29, was charged with four counts of delivery of methamphetamine and maintaining a premises for drug trafficking for allegedly using a public housing apartment to distribute the drug from September to November, Viada said.

Gort, 23, was charged with two counts of delivery of methamphetamine and maintaining a premises for drug trafficking for allegedly selling the drug from the apartment she shared with Spaulding, Viada said.

Sequim police, the U.S. Border Patrol, Clallam and Jefferson counties’ sheriff’s offices and the Coast Guard assisted OPNET with the investigation.

“After Spaulding and Gort were arrested by Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, the children who lived in the apartment were taken into protective custody because there was probable cause to believe that the children were endangered by the drug activity in the apartment,” Viada said in a Friday news release.

“Also during the investigation, the car used by Spaulding and Gort was seized because there was probable cause to believe that the car had been used to transport methamphetamine from out of the area back into Port Hadlock.”

Heroin sentence

In other OPNET cases, Brian L. Constant, 27, of Port Angeles was sentenced to one year in prison and eight months’ community custody after pleading guilty last Tuesday to selling heroin May 30.

Kenneth F. Simmons, 50, of Clallam County was sentenced to two years of community custody after pleading guilty Oct. 29 to first-degree possession of stolen property and two counts of delivery of methamphetamine.

During the Simmons investigation, OPNET recovered a stolen bulldozer, excavator, off-road vehicle, boat motor and firearm, Viada said.

Jason W. Morehead, 44, of Port Angeles was sentenced to two years’ community custody after pleading guilty last month to delivering methamphetamine to OPNET in May, Viada said.

More in News

Christine Leaver and her two daughters, Sullivan, 5, and Avery, 9, look over many Christmas ideas on Friday during the annual Christmas Cottage at the Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles. More than 34 different vendors fill the gym with holiday spirit. The event will continue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Christmas Cottage

Christine Leaver and her two daughters, Sullivan, 5, and Avery, 9, look… Continue reading

Study: Beavers helping Elwha

Restoration efforts continue on nearshore

PA school district, tribal officials work to address students’ needs

Organizations sign two-year agreement to continue partnership

Garden Row Cafe staff in Jefferson Healthcare’s newly built kitchen, from the left: Aurora Kingslight, Shelly Perry, Aimee Smith, Michelle Poore, Teresa Schmidt, Jimmy Snyder, Arran Stark and Nick Collier. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Garden Row Cafe now open to public

Hospital restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Agencies to review draft budgets for 2026

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

Three injured in three-car collision south of Quilcene

Three people were transported to hospitals following a three-car collision… Continue reading

Michael Bannister of Bainbridge Island, an employee of Washington Conservation Corp, wheels a load of lupin and scotch broom to a waiting truck for disposal at a compost landfill in Port Townsend. The corps was at Fort Worden State Park, thinning out aggressive growing lupin and invasive scotch broom. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Scotch broom removal

Michael Bannister of Bainbridge Island, an employee of Washington Conservation Corp, wheels… Continue reading

Clallam PUD is planning facility

Utility under contract for land near airport

Port Townsend port commissioners to limit annual cruise ship dockings

Testimony includes surveys from citizens, Main Street program

Kirky Lakenes bought milkshakes for his nieces Ava, left, and Mia Hathaway in Chimacum earlier this year.
Procession set to honor tow truck driver

Lakenes remembered for his helping hand in Jefferson County

The Washington Festival and Events Association’s 2025 Pacific Northwest Summit Award winners were presented Oct. 30 at the WFEA Awards Dinner and Auction in the Regency Ballroom in Bellevue. The event of the year award in the small market category was the Lower Elwha Canoe Paddle, accepted by tribal chair Frances Charles. (Shanna Paxton Photography)
Paddle Journey, Forever Twilight earn top awards at conference

About 40,000 people, more than 100 canoes visit Lower Elwha Tribe

Panel supports timber sale

Committee recommends staying with contract