Home-invasion suspect faces additional burglary charge

PORT ANGELES — A residential burglary charge has been added to those faced by a 19-year-old homeless man already charged in two late-night, armed home invasions.

William S. Moore, 19, is accused of burglarizing an unoccupied residence on Tamarack Lane in Port Angeles on June 24.

Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict said cash, rare coins, jewelry, computers and a TV were stolen.

“It was a substantial amount of stuff,” he said.

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“If I had to put a dollar value on it, I’d put it well in excess of $4,000 or $5,000,” Benedict said.

The additional charge, filed last week in Clallam County Superior Court, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of $20,000.

Moore will appear on the charge in Superior Court on Aug. 24.

Moore and Travis L. Turner, 23, a Port Angeles resident and an Army veteran, pleaded not guilty last week to numerous charges in connection with a July 7 home-invasion robbery and a July 8 attempted invasion.

The July 7 robbery occurred at about 1:25 a.m. in the 2100 block of East Fourth Avenue in Gales Addition.

Authorities said one of three intruders whose face was covered pointed a gun at a homeowner before the men stole $1,300 in cash and coins, four guns and a watch.

Turner and Moore also are charged in connection with an attempted robbery at about 1:30 a.m. July 8 in the 300 block of South Barr Road.

The attempted robbery was foiled by a homeowner who shot through his back door at the attempted intruder.

Turner and Moore, booked July 20 into Clallam County jail, remained locked up Monday morning in lieu of $250,000 bail each.

Each was charged July 23 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 the July 7 and July 8 incidents.

The Sheriff’s Office continued Monday to investigate the whereabouts of a third man they believe was an accomplice of Turner and Moore, Benedict said.

“They are suspected of committing other burglaries,” he said.

“However, we are not charging as of yet. A lot of work has to be done in terms of tracking leads down and other issues,” Benedict said.

“We’ve had a huge rash of burglaries, probably 20 to 30 percent more than we usually have, going back to last October.”

He said the men arrested for the July 7 home-invasion robbery and the July 8 attempted robbery formed “a loose confederation” of perpetrators.

“As far as a sophisticated burglary ring, no,” Benedict said.

Turner and Moore allegedly bragged about the July 8 incidents to two young women, both juveniles, who said Turner showed them a gunshot wound to his right arm, according to court records.

They also told authorities that Turner and Moore had 9 mm handguns in their possession.

Detectives said Turner and Moore confessed to the July 7 and July 8 incidents in recorded statements.

The severity of each charge except the trafficking-in-stolen-property charge is increased by the use of a firearm.

If convicted, Moore and Turner could each spend 26.5 years to 29.5 years in prison, with 17.5 years of their sentences mandatory, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Troberg said in an earlier interview.

Status hearings for both men on the charges are at 9 a.m. Aug. 24 in Superior Court.

A trial for Turner and Moore has been set for Oct. 22.

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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.

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