PORT ANGELES — One of three people accused of a July 21 break-in of a Port Angeles home has pleaded guilty to one count of burglary after agreeing to cooperate with the prosecution in the case.
Matthew Tyler Charles, 26, pleaded guilty to a single burglary count last week and will serve one year and one day in prison, according to Clallam County Superior Court documents.
Charles also was sentenced to pay $1,300 in fines and court fees. A victim restitution hearing is set for Nov. 15.
Charles initially was charged with two counts each of theft of a firearm and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count each of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.
John Troberg, deputy prosecuting attorney, said he agreed to lesser charges after Charles agreed to testify against his co-defendants.
The charges stem from a burglary at a home in the 1000 block of South Cherry Street.
Charles and Roxanne Rae Venske, 24, were arrested after an hourslong search the evening of July 21.
A third person, Steven Dean Goodman, 24, was arrested after a weekslong manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
All are from Port Angeles.
Police said Charles and Goodman stole a rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and $150 in cash from the home, while Venske drove them from the house, according to court documents.
Troberg said Goodman is thought to be the one who physically carried the firearms out of the home, while Charles reportedly told Goodman he never wanted to steal the guns in the first place.
‘Main target’
“The main target of this prosecution is Mr. Goodman, not Mr. Charles,” Troberg said.
Goodman, who remained Saturday in the Clallam County jail on $250,000 bond, is next set to appear in Superior Court on Sept. 27 for a case status hearing.
Venske is set to appear Oct. 4, according to Superior Court documents, while a jury trial is set for Nov. 4.
She was not listed on the Clallam County jail roster Saturday.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
