PORT ANGELES — Bail remains at $2 million for a Port Angeles man being held in Clallam County jail for investigation into the kidnapping of his former girlfriend and the shooting death of her current boyfriend.
In a preliminary hearing Monday, Superior Court Judge Christopher Melly said there was probable cause for Gary Carl Borneman Jr. to be held on single counts of first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault with a firearm enhancement, unlawful imprisonment with a firearm enhancement, violation of a no-contact order, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and first degree burglary.
The charges are all related to the shooting death of Gerald David “Jerry” Howell, 40, and the kidnapping of Rebecca Messinger, 31, last Tuesday.
Melly said Borneman’s bail will remain at $2 million, which was set Thursday by Judge George Wood in an arrest warrant.
Borneman entered court Monday with hands wrapped in thick, white bandages and was unable to sign paperwork associated with the case.
Police have said that his injuries took place during a close-quarters gunfight with Howell, and he underwent surgery for hand injuries at Harborview Medical Center.
During the hearing, Melly noted that Borneman has current warrants for failure to pay child support and failure to appear in court.
Borneman, a diver by trade, has had no recent employment and no means of income while he is in jail, and cannot pay on those warrants, Melly noted.
Melly ordered Borneman to return to court for an arraignment hearing at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 24.
According to a police report, on Oct. 7 at about 7 p.m., Borneman took Messinger at gunpoint from a residence at 714 Georgiana St. and forced her to drive him to her residence at 130 W. 11th St., which she shared with Howell.
During the drive, according to a statement from Messinger, Borneman fired a shot inside the vehicle,
Messinger told police that Borneman tied her inside her van and went inside the house.
She escaped from the vehicle, and later was found by police hiding in bushes in the alley behind the house. [An excerpt from her 9-1-1 call to dispatchers can be accessed here: www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20141012/NEWS/310129937/0/SEARCH ]
Police found Borneman holding a .22-caliber pistol in front of the house with injuries to the hands and face.
The back door to the house was kicked in, according to police, and Howell’s body was found in the laundry room area with a shotgun between his legs.
Messinger, who has a 2-year-old child with Borneman, has a currently valid protection order in which Messinger is the protected person and Borneman is the respondent.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
