Port Angeles man found not guilty in kitchen-knife stabbing

PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man accused of stabbing with a kitchen knife the man whose property he lived on was cleared by a jury Thursday.

After four hours of deliberation, a Clallam County Superior Court jury found Nikolai Jared Logan, 21, not guilty of one count of first-degree assault in connection with the stabbing of 60-year-old Douglas Baker, who was allowing Logan to stay at his home.

Baker was treated and discharged from Olympic Medical Center after suffering multiple lacerations, including a deep wound in his left cheek, during a fight with Logan at his home on Ripplebrook Drive off Deer Park Road at about 7:30 p.m. April 11.

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

John Troberg, the Clallam County deputy prosecuting attorney assigned to the case, said he was not able to show that Logan did not stab Baker in self-defense, which was the assertion of the defense in the case.

“I couldn’t disprove beyond a reasonable doubt this claim of self-defense,” Troberg said.

“It’s very disappointing.”

Loren Oakley, the Clallam County Public Defender attorney who represented Logan, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Said Baker struck first

Troberg said the defense claimed that Baker struck first in a fight that reportedly stemmed from an argument over household chores.

Logan reportedly fled the home after the fight, according to Clallam County Sheriff’s Office accounts, and was found four hours later walking along the side of Deer Park Road.

Logan was arrested without incident.

Both Baker and Logan testified during the three-day trial, Troberg said, and both told differing versions of what happened that April night.

As a result of the fight, Troberg said Baker suffered a 6-inch-long superficial cut across his stomach and a kitchen-knife wound through his left cheek that went through to the inside of the mouth.

Logan suffered a gash to the fleshy part of his right hand between his finger and thumb, Troberg added.

“[It was] kind of a nasty struggle,” Troberg said.

Troberg said he attempted to show the claim of Logan acting in self-defense was impossible due to the arrangement of furniture in the room where the fight happened, though the jury apparently was not convinced.

“The evidence to prove [that Baker was the victim] to the standard of proof just wasn’t there,” Troberg said.

“I think [the prosecution] did what we could with what we had.”

________

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

More in News

Mason Combs is 4 feet, 3 inches tall and has red hair, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Child located after agencies partner on search

A 10-year-old boy who had been missing since Tuesday has… Continue reading

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