PORT TOWNSEND — A 17-year-old who will be tried as an adult on felony charges in the wounding of a Port Townsend man has pleaded not guilty.
Luke Oliver Lindsey of Port Townsend entered the plea during an arraignment in Jefferson County Superior Court on Friday.
He is to be tried June 11 on charges of assault in the second degree, a class B felony, and unlawful possession of a firearm, a class C felony, in the April shooting of Justin White, 20, in the leg.
Lindsey’s court-appointed lawyer, Richard Davies, entered a plea of not guilty on all counts. An omnibus hearing has been set for 8:30 a.m. May 28.
Judge Craddock Verser ordered Lindsey to submit to DNA sampling.
After the hearing, Lindsey was returned to custody at the Kitsap Youth Center on $5,000 bail.
According to charging documents:
Port Townsend police officers were called to 304 Hendricks St. just after midnight in response to a report of a loud argument. No one was home.
Police were later called to Jefferson Healthcare hospital, where White — who later was discharged from the hospital — told police he had accidentally shot himself in the leg.
After speaking to witnesses, investigators said that White had been shot in the right leg by Lindsey at the Hendricks Street home.
Police returned to the residence, and Lindsey was taken into custody at about 6:30 a.m. Monday.
Police said they found unspent bullets and marijuana in Lindsey’s pockets when he was searched.
A search of the home later uncovered multiple firearms, including a .22 pistol and a .38 revolver, police said.
Port Townsend Sgt. Ed Green said the house is owned by Wayne Clement, who was not at the house during the investigation or the shooting.
Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Rosekrans said the decision to try Lindsey as an adult was a simple application of state law.
“It states if you are 16 or 17 and commit assault 2 with a firearm, that’s an exception to being tried as a juvenile,” he said.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsula dailynews.com.
