PORT ANGELES — Two men accused in two armed home invasions will be arraigned on six charges each Aug. 3.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge George L. Wood set the arraignment date during hearings Wednesday for William S. Moore Jr., 19, and Travis L. Turner, 23.
Turner and Moore were each charged Wednesday with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, unlawful imprisonment, trafficking in stolen property, attempted first-degree robbery and attempted first-degree burglary in connection with a home-invasion robbery July 7 and an attempt at a similar robbery July 8.
Neither Moore nor Turner, who served in the Army before being honorably discharged, has a felony record, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Troberg said.
If a firearm were not involved in the crimes, each would receive a sentence of nine to 12 years if convicted, Troberg said in an interview.
But each charge except the trafficking-in-stolen-property charge is “enhanced” by the use of a firearm, increasing the men’s potential sentences, Wood said in citing the charges at the hearing.
Moore, who is homeless, and Turner, a Port Angeles resident, each could spend 26.5 years to 29.5 years behind bars if convicted — with 17.5 years of their sentences mandatory, Troberg said.
Authorities continue to search for a third man identified by the two as having been involved in the crimes and are not revealing his name until the investigation is complete.
“The investigation is ongoing, and there is a possibility there will be additional charges as well,” Troberg said.
Here is an account from a probable-cause statement filed by Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Lyman Moores:
A couple in the 2100 block of East Fourth Avenue in Gales Addition said they were awakened by a knock on their back door at about 1:25 a.m. July 7.
Upon opening the door, the male homeowner was confronted by a man pointing a gun at his head.
Three men with their faces covered and dressed in black jeans, black hooded sweatshirts and black gloves entered the house.
They took a Seiko digital watch with a custom silver and turquoise band and four guns from the safe and $900 in cash and $400 in coins.
Moores said that during an interview with Detective Tom Reyes, Turner said he had thrown water on the female homeowner during the Gales Addition robbery.
They sold the guns stolen during the Gales Addition robbery for $90, Turner reportedly told authorities.
At about 1:30 a.m. the following night, on July 8, a homeowner in the 300 block of South Barr Road about 9 miles east of the first incident reported an attempted robbery at his home that he foiled by shooting through his back door at one of the men.
The court document does not identify either of the homeowners, but Louie Rychlik, 70, was later identified as the man who fought back on South Barr Road.
He told authorities he was watching television when he heard a knock on his door and a man asked to use the phone, saying he had run out of gas.
Rychlik retrieved a cellphone and a .38-caliber revolver, he said in a later interview with the Peninsula Daily News.
He opened the door to give the person his phone when he saw another man point a handgun at him.
Rychlik closed the door and fired one round through it.
The two men fled in different directions.
Deputies found a pair of Romeo shoes left on the doorstep and a pair of black Oakley sunglasses in the direction that one of the men had fled.
On July 17, Moores and Detective Stacy Sampson questioned two young women, both juveniles, who said Moore and Turner told them about the robberies and that they saw the two with 9 mm handguns.
They also told authorities that Turner said he had been shot in the right arm by one of the homeowners.
“Travis ran out of his Romeos [shoes] and had to buy a new pair,” one juvenile reportedly told detectives.
Authorities said they recorded conversations between a confidential informant, Turner and Moore “in which they [Turner and Moore] talk about committing robberies.”
On July 20, Moore was arrested at the Riviera Inn in Port Angeles, and Turner was arrested at a residence on Lauridsen Boulevard.
Detectives said Moore and Turner both confessed to the robberies in recorded statements.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
