PORT ANGELES — A stolen-goods trafficker was sentenced to eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 10 burglary, theft and weapons charges which grew out of a 2019 theft of three chain saws and a concrete saw from a Port Angeles business.
Justin Joseph Bryles, 32, of Port Angeles was waiting to be transferred Tuesday afternoon from the Clallam County jail to the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton for processing to begin serving his term at a Department of Corrections facility.
He was sentenced Monday in Clallam County Superior Court.
“At the time of his arrest and given the amount of stolen property recovered at the home, he was a significant burglar and responsible for trafficking in a whole lot of stolen property,” Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.
Bryles’ criminal history includes second-degree trafficking in stolen property, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Under a plea agreement, Bryles was found guilty of three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle and charges of first-degree possession of stolen property, possessing a stolen firearm and accomplice to second-degree burglary, according to the judgment and sentence statement.
He pleaded guilty to accomplice to first-degree malicious mischief, accomplice to second-degree theft, possession of a controlled substance other than marijuana and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Sixteen charges had been filed against Bryles, including multiple counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team.
The saws were stolen Oct. 24, 2019, after a red Dodge pickup with a device in the form of a hook that Bryles had manufactured backed into the main door of Port Angeles Power Equipment, destroying the door and allowing access to the building, according to the probable cause statement.
Detectives executed a search warrant of Bryles’ Lake Aldwell Road residence, detached outbuildings and property on Dec. 30, 2019.
They seized reported stolen property including a Subaru Forester that had been repainted black, according to the probable cause statement.
Other reported stolen property included a drift boat with identifiable numbers and markings removed, a utility trailer that matched the ID numbers of a stolen trailer, and two repainted Kawasaki quads.
Also found were eight firearms, including four shotguns, two pistols and two rifles, including a AK 47-style weapon. Six of the firearms were later confirmed to be stolen.
Also found were a Stihl chainsaw and Stihl concrete saw that matched items stolen in the Port Angeles Power Equipment burglary.
In a loft bed area, lying next to a small zipper-style bag that appeared to contain heroin, were syringes, cotton swabs and other drug paraphernalia and court documents containing Justin Bryles’ name, according to the probable cause statement.
OPNET had investigative information that indicated Bryles’ criminal activities were supporting his drug habit, King said.
As of Friday, Bryles was a resident at Seattle Drug and Narcotic Center, a long-term residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, according to court files.
He moved to the recovery house Jan. 22, entering the long-term residential portion of the program Aug. 7.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
