PORT ANGELES — A man who was arrested after a brief foot pursuit in Port Angeles on July 5 was exonerated of felony accusations, but is now facing misdemeanor charges.
Charges were never filed against Devin Michael Richardson, 22. In Clallam County Superior Court on Monday, he was exonerated of bail requirements for two residential burglary accusations that police had recommended he be charged with committing.
He remained in the Clallam County jail held on two warrants and new misdemeanor charges related to the pursuit. Bail is set at $6,000.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said that while it is alleged Richardson entered two homes to hide from police, “that doesn’t quite meet the definition of burglary.”
The case was referred to district court, where he was charged Monday with first-degree criminal trespass, obstructing a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.
To prosecute the case as burglary, prosecutors would have had to prove he broke into the homes to commit a crime against people or property inside the homes.
“His intent was to hide, not to commit a crime against the people in the home,” Kennedy said. “It came close [to burglary.]”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
