Arraignment today for alleged abettors in Port Angeles

PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man and an Agnew woman accused of assisting double-murder suspect John Francis Loring in February will be arraigned in Clallam County Superior Court today.

Thomas Lee Dale, 38, and Tami Michelle Petersen, 40, were charged Wednesday with first-degree rendering criminal assistance to Loring, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound as a SWAT team surrounded him in a west Port Angeles apartment Feb. 22.

Police said Loring killed Raymond Varney, 68, and David Randle, 19.

Dale and Petersen will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m.

Defense attorney Harry Gasnick on Monday filed motions for the court to review findings of probable cause in both cases.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

A Clallam County Superior Court judge will consider those motions at today’s arraignments.

Petersen also was charged Wednesday with second-degree theft and three counts of forgery for allegedly using Varney’s credit card to purchase liquor and other items Feb. 21.

Credit card use

Sheriff’s investigators alleged that Petersen bought cigarettes, gasoline, alcohol, a lottery ticket and food from a Carlsborg gas station by forging Varney’s signature in transactions of $22.64 and $46.51.

Investigators said Petersen also bought $55.40 worth of liquor and lottery tickets from a Sequim liquor store by forging Varney’s signature on an electronic pad.

Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict has said Petersen and Dale were both friends of Loring’s. Deputies arrested the suspects last Friday.

Clallam County Superior Court Judge George L. Wood set Petersen’s bail at $25,000 and Dale’s at $35,000 in their preliminary court appearances Monday.

Petersen is free on a bail bond she posted Tuesday.

Dale remained in custody at the Clallam County jail Thursday afternoon.

Shootings

Authorities alleged that after Loring killed Varney in Varney’s Diamond Point residence on or about Feb. 16, he fatally shot Randle at Randle’s Dungeness residence Feb. 21 and drove away in Varney’s pickup.

Witnesses said Randle attempted to block Loring from entering the house to protect his mother.

According to the certification of probable cause, Petersen received a phone call from a man saying Loring had shot and killed Randle.

Petersen allegedly relayed the information to Dale and Loring, and told them that Loring had to leave her property.

Investigators said Dale then drove Loring to Port Angeles and returned to help Petersen move Varney’s pickup to a rural location about 3 miles south of her home.

“At no time did Petersen make any attempts to contact law enforcement to report the whereabouts of the vehicle or the murder suspect,” Deputy James McLaughlin wrote in his report.

In both cases, McLaughlin wrote, Petersen and Dale knowingly moved or concealed evidence that was involved in a crime, knowing their actions would “hinder or delay” the apprehension of Loring and the discovery of the pickup.

First-degree rendering criminal assistance, second-degree theft and forgery are each Class C felonies punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Sequim research lab testing ways to use seaweed, resources

PNNL is only Department of Energy lab with marine facilities

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow visor, Sarah Maloy, left rear, Paulette De Llario, right rear, and Mary Claire Hunt, rear, helped clean up the Salish Coast Production Garden at the Salish Elementary School in Port Townsend on Saturday. The garden produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce used for the school lunches last year and farmers are aiming for 7,000 pounds in 2025. Hunt will be honored as a community health hero by the Jefferson County Public Health department for her efforts in bringing together farmers and gardeners who donate their crops to the Jefferson County food bank with a presentation on Thursday at the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Garden cleanup

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow… Continue reading

Foundation purchases hospital equipment

Linear accelerator to be installed in May

Port Townsend updated on city’s workplan

Forty-five of 61 projects on track, city manager says

Welfare for Animals Guild receives $1,500 to provide spay and neuter services at the guild’s free veterinary clinics. Pictured, from left, are Laura Nieborsky, Barb Brabant, Emily Murphy and Mel Marshall.
Garden club makes donations through local grant program

The Port Angeles Garden Club has announced donations to… Continue reading

Facilities district for pool paused

Jefferson County does not receive grant

From left, Port Angeles school board members Sarah Methner, Mary Hebert, Stan Willams, Superintendent Marty Brewer, Kirsten Williams, Sandy Long and Nolan Duce, the district’s director of maintenance, turn the first shovel of dirt on Saturday at the location of the new construction just north of the present Stevens Middle School. An estimated crowd of 150 attended the ceremonial ground breaking. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles School District breaks ground at new middle school

Building is expected to open to students in 2027

Family displaced following house fire

A Clallam County family has been displaced due a… Continue reading

Two investigated for burglarizing home

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two individuals… Continue reading

Beach cleanups set for Earth Day weekend

Beach cleanups, a seed exchange, seed planting and music will mark Earth… Continue reading

Easter egg hunts scheduled for Saturday

Easter activities, including egg hunts and pictures with the Easter bunny, are… Continue reading

Four Quileute Tribal School students take a salmon offering into the ocean as part of the annual Welcoming the Whales ceremony at First Beach in La Push on Friday. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Welcoming the Whales

On Friday, Quileute Tribal School students performed the annual Welcoming the Whales… Continue reading