PORT ANGELES — A man police had once arrested for investigation of burglary has been charged with possessing stolen property.
Paul Aaron McDonald was charged Friday in Clallam County Superior Court with two counts of second-degree trafficking in stolen property, second-degree possession of stolen property, third-degree possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance other than marijuana.
Port Angeles police say McDonald was in possession of stolen property from two burglaries.
The burglaries occurred prior to McDonald’s first arrest.
One occurred Aug. 9. The other occurred a week or two before, according to court documents.
The 28-year-old homeless man was first arrested Aug. 10 on investigation of burglary, but was released from jail about 72 hours later because the prosecuting attorney’s office had not filed formal charges.
A police spokesman erroneously said that McDonald was believed to be linked to a burglary committed after he was released.
Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly said McDonald wasn’t charged while he was in custody about two weeks ago because her office was awaiting further information from police to prove that he broke into a home to steal a woman’s purse.
The victim, Kate Smith, said she found items from her stolen purse in his tent.
Kelly said McDonald has not been charged with burglary because there isn’t sufficient evidence to prove he committed a break-in.
Police say Port Angeles began to see a sharp increase in burglaries in June.
About 65 residential and commercial burglaries have occurred in Port Angeles since June 1.
Police are still receiving burglary reports each week, although the frequency of the reports have decreased recently.
Two Port Angeles men, who have been arrested within the last month, face burglary charges.
Andrew L. Mahlum, 27, is charged with residential burglary, third-degree trafficking of stolen items and third-degree theft.
Jonathan W. Grantham, 28, will be tried Sept. 27 on charges of residential burglary, first-degree theft, first-degree possession of stolen property and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
McDonald also has been charged in Clallam County District Court with third-degree theft for allegedly stealing money from Hi-Tech Tanning while the tanning salon was open.
