PORT ANGELES — A March 16 trial has been set on eight charges filed against Sean Vince Della, who is accused of burglaries at three Port Angeles businesses.
Della, 27, pleaded not guilty Friday to three counts of second-degree burglary and single counts of first-, second- and third-degree theft; second-degree possession of stolen property; and third-degree malicious mischief.
The eight charges carry a combined maximum punishment of 52 years in prison and $110,000 in fines.
Three burglaries
Port Angeles police allege that Della committed burglaries Dec. 9 at Athlete’s Choice, 215 W. First St.; Jan. 31 at Sabai Thai restaurant, 903 W. Eighth St.; and Feb. 1 at Spotlight Tanning & Apparel, 715 E. First St.
City police collected cellphone and surveillance videos from the businesses and clothing retrieved from Della’s apartment as evidence.
Della was arrested Feb. 1 after the owner of Spotlight Tanning & Apparel and four others tracked him to a Lauridsen Boulevard apartment.
Della was charged Feb. 4 with second-degree possession of stolen property.
Lengthy investigation
The new charges were added after a lengthy investigation that required substantial police overtime, Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said.
“We’re very pleased with that outcome,” Smith said of the new charges.
“That right there is a big accomplishment.”
Smith would not estimate how many hours were spent on the Della case. He said one officer was taken off the beat for three days to focus on the case, and two officers spent their Super Bowl Sunday on Della watch.
Police accounts
The following account of the Port Angeles burglaries was provided by police reports:
At least $7,000 in clothing was stolen from Athlete’s Choice by a man with a mask over his face.
Renu Chaummalung, Sabai Thai manager, reported that at least nine bottles of wine, together worth $497, had been stolen from the restaurant.
Spotlight Tanning owner Mandy Gallacci reported that at least $3,800 in pants, handbags, hats, jewelry and cash were stolen from her store.
Police said Della was seen on surveillance videos and by an officer wearing clothing that matched apparel taken from Athlete’s Choice.
A hat found at his apartment also matched a hat worn by the Sabai Thai burglar, according to surveillance video.
The Sabai Thai burglar also was wearing a vest that matched the description of one stolen from Athlete’s Choice.
The surveillance video from Athlete’s Choice included an audio recording in which an employee identified Della’s voice, saying he had been a regular customer.
Police said officers stopped Della as he was walking behind Zak’s Tavern in Port Angeles on Dec. 14 while wearing new sports clothing and carrying a pry tool, flashlight and a balaclava, a ski mask with eyeholes that could be used as a mask.
Della told police his mother gave him the clothes, that he did not know of any burglaries in the area and that he carried the tool for self-defense.
When interviewed, his mother said a man named Arizona had given her two pairs of shoes, one for her and one she gave to her son. She said that’s all she gave him.
Police said the shoes were later identified as being stolen from Athlete’s Choice.
Sequim case
Meanwhile, Della has another case pending in Clallam County Superior Court.
He was charged last Nov. 24 with second-degree attempted burglary of White Cup Espresso in Sequim, possession of heroin and making false or misleading statements to a public servant.
He pleaded not guilty to those charges Dec. 5.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Christopher Melly set a March 6 status hearing for both cases.
Della is being held in the Clallam County jail on $20,500 bail.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb contributed to this report.
