PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man pleaded guilty today (Wednesday) to the October murder of Jerry Howell and kidnapping of Rebecca Messinger.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Christopher Melly accepted Gary Carl Borneman’s guilty pleas to charges of first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement and first-degree kidnapping.
Borneman, 40, will be sentenced at 9 a.m. April 1.
The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office dismissed additional counts of first-degree burglary, second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful imprisonment domestic violence, violation of a domestic violence protection order and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Those charges were filed with firearm enhancements.
As part of the plea agreement, domestic violence and firearm enhancements were dismissed from the kidnapping charge.
Recommended sentence
Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Troberg recommended a prison sentence of 30 years, 10 months to be followed by three years of community custody.
Restitution will be determined later.
Melly, who is not bound by the state’s recommended sentence, determined that Borneman entered the pleas “willingly, intelligently and voluntarily” with assistance from defense attorney John Hayden.
First-degree murder carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years. The firearm enhancement adds at least five more years to the term.
Borneman kidnapped Messinger at gunpoint and shot Howell to death at a Port Angeles residence last Oct. 7.
Police said Borneman tied Messinger to the driver’s seat of her vehicle and ordered her to drive to her home on West 11th Street, where he shot Howell with a 22.-caliber pistol.
Borneman pleaded not guilty and had two trial dates set before the plea agreement was reached.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
