PORT ANGELES — A 26-year-old man arrested on investigation of the murder of a Port Angeles woman made his first appearance in Clallam County Superior Court on Monday.
Marquise Gregory Hagans-Moore, 26, appeared before Superior Court Judge Lauren Erickson, who set a court date for the conditions of his release at 1 p.m. today and for the filing of charges on Wednesday. Oct. 2
Hagans-Moore is being investigated for second-degree murder with domestic violence and firearm enhancements for allegedly killing Rebecca Rule-Cowles.
Michele Devlin, Clallam County chief criminal deputy prosecuting attorney, and Hagans-Moore’s court-appointed attorney, William Payne, agreed to psychiatric evaluation for Hagans-Moore by Peninsula Behavioral Health before today’s hearing.
Devlin argued successfully for $500,000 bail with restrictions on Hagans-Moore’s movements. Devlin said that although Hagans-Moore had no criminal convictions, he had failed to appear in a number of cases and comply with at least three domestic violence protection orders, including having been ordered to surrender his weapons.
The latter is particularly relevant, because Hagans-Moore allegedly killed Rule-Cowles with a firearm, Devlin said.
Devlin also noted there were two potential juvenile witnesses to the murder.
Hagans-Moore appeared on video from the Clallam County Corrections Facility, shackled and wearing an orange jumpsuit, before Erickson agreed he could enter the courtroom for the hearing.
Devlin argued Hagans-Moore should remain shackled during his court appearances due to his behavior since he was booked into the Clallam County Corrections Facility at 3 a.m. Sunday.
Devlin said Hagans-Moore often had appeared agitated and repeatedly shouted “I’ll kill you all” and “I’m going to snap” in the 36 hours since he had arrived. He required a two-deputy detail that would need to be maintained if he was allowed to be unshackled in the courtroom, which usually has just one deputy, she said.
“He made threats toward others,” Devlin said. “This is a high-profile, high-charge crime.”
Appearing on video, Payne pushed back against Hagans-Moore being physically restrained.
Erickson determined that Hagans-Moore would have to be shackled at his appearance today.
Payne said he received Hagans-Moore’s case at the last minute and had no time to meet with him in person prior to the hearing.
Hagans-Moore initially was detained by the Tacoma Police Department after he approached them about an incident in Port Angeles.
Port Angeles Deputy Chief of Police Jason Viada said patrol officers on Saturday followed up by conducting a welfare check in the 300 block of East Whidby Avenue, where they found a deceased female inside a residence. A handgun near the woman also was recovered, Viada said.
After Port Angeles police obtained a search warrant, detectives traveled to Tacoma to arrest Hagans-Moore and take him to Port Angeles.
Viada said the investigation at the crime scene is ongoing. It was processed with the assistance of the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
