Plea deal rejected in Port Angeles bulldozer case

Barry A. Swegle

Barry A. Swegle

PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man accused in a May 10 bulldozer rampage that destroyed homes, outbuildings and other property in Gales Addition has rejected a plea offer from the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, his attorney said Tuesday.

Karen Unger, attorney for Barry A. Swegle, 52, said her client rejected an offer to serve 57 months, or just less than five years, in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to residential burglary, several malicious mischief counts and a charge related to damaging a power pole May 10.

Swegle stands accused of destroying or damaging four homes, a tractor, a boat, a pickup truck, a power pole and multiple outbuildings in a Gales Addition neighborhood with his logging bulldozer.

Unger declined to comment on her client’s reasons for rejecting the plea offer.

Unger had said she wanted a formal plea offer from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to review with Swegle to help her decide if her client was competent to stand trial.

During a Tuesday hearing before Clallam County Superior Court Judge George Wood, Unger said Swegle will meet with Dr. Brian Grant, a psychiatrist form the University of Washington, next Tuesday, who will consult on Swegle’s competency.

A mental evaluation completed on Swegle earlier this year while he was at Western State Hospital in Lakewood deemed him competent to stand a trial.

Swegle had previously been deemed incompetent to stand trial and was ordered by Judge Wood on Nov. 1 to undergo restorative treatment at Western State.

He was returned to the Clallam County jail, where he remains on $1 million bail, during the first week of March.

A Superior Court judge will ultimately decide if Swegle is competent.

Unger said if Grant agrees with Western State’s determination, she will seek to set a trial date.

If Grant disagrees, Unger said a hearing will be held in which both sides will present arguments on Swegle’s competency.

Swegle is next set to appear in Superior Court on April 25.

Swegle is charged with one count of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and four counts each of first-degree malicious mischief and first-degree burglary with a deadly weapon — “to wit, a bulldozer.”

________

Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

C.J. Conrad and Chris Orr of A&R Solar take solar panels from a lift on top of the Port Angeles Senior and Community Center on Peabody Street to be installed on the roof. The 117 panels are mostly made of silicone and will provide electrical power to the center. The crew members are each tied in with ropes to prevent any problems on the slippery slanted roof. The panels are 42 inches by 62 inches and weigh about 16 pounds. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Solar installation

C.J. Conrad and Chris Orr of A&R Solar take solar panels from… Continue reading

Port Townsend Food Co-op board president resigns

Rowe cites unresolved tensions, calls for change

Recompete projects aim to close gap for workers in prime age

Goals include reducing barriers, creating up to 1,300 jobs

Carrie Heaton.
Governor appoints Heaton to PC trustees

Five-member board governs college’s policy, strategic planning

Finalists named for Port Angeles community awards

The Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce will announce the… Continue reading

Fort Worden Hospitality ceasing operations

No longer viable amid PDA financial and legal challenges

Phyllis Becker of Port Hadlock, foreground, and Wendy Davis of Port Townsend, volunteers with the Jefferson County Trash Task Force, pick up litter along Discovery Road on Sunday during the first trash pickup of the year. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Litter patrol

Phyllis Becker of Port Hadlock, foreground, and Wendy Davis of Port Townsend,… Continue reading

Jefferson County defers oversight role for homelessness grant

OlyCAP will continue to be lead agency for Commerce funding

Members of Trail Life USA, a boys Christian adventure organization, salute the burning retired flags and holiday wreaths from veterans’ graves. This joint flag retirement and wreath burning ceremony took place Saturday at the Bekkevar farm in Blyn. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Flags, veterans’ wreaths retired at ceremony

Boys, girls organizations attend event at farm

One person taken to hospital after three-car collision

Two people were injured following a three-car collision on… Continue reading

Jefferson Conservation District seeking board candidates

The Jefferson County Conservation District is accepting applications for… Continue reading