Port Angeles: Prosecutor wins biggest case of his tenure, but he’s on the brink of losing his job

PORT ANGELES — It’s been a bittersweet week for Chris Shea.

* He won the biggest case of his tenure as Clallam County prosecuting attorney.

* He’s facing the prospect of finding a new job.

On Thursday, a jury rendered a guilty verdict in the aggravated first-degree murder trial of Thomas Martin Roberts, whom Shea has built a case against for two years.

But today, Shea faces the prospect of losing his job as general election vote counting resumes.

At the end of the initial counting Tuesday, Shea trailed challenger Deb Kelly in his bid for re-election.

Preliminary results showed him with 44 percent of the vote to Kelly’s 56 percent.

“It’s the culmination of my career here, and yet it happened now,” Shea said after Thursday’s verdict against Roberts.

“I suppose timing is everything,” he said. “It would have been nice if it happened about three weeks ago.”

——————–

The rest of this story appears in the Friday/Saturday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE at the top of this page to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.

More in News

Two dead after tree falls in Olympic National Forest

Two women died after a tree fell in Olympic National… Continue reading

The aurora borealis shines over Port Townsend late Monday night. Ideal conditions to view the event are from about 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. with clear skies and away from city lights or higher locations with northern views. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Northern lights

The aurora borealis shines over Port Townsend late Monday night. Ideal conditions… Continue reading

Jefferson County board sets annual goals

Discussions include housing, pool, artificial intelligence

Clallam commissioners to continue policy discussions on RVs, ADUs

Board decides to hold future workshop before finalizing ordinance

Port Angeles School District community conversation set Thursday

Individuals who want to talk to Port Angeles School… Continue reading

Sue Long, left, Vicki Bennett and Frank Handler, all from Port Townsend, volunteer at the Martin Luther King Day of Service beach restoration on Monday at Fort Worden State Park. The activity took place on Knapp Circle near the Point Wilson Lighthouse. Sixty-four volunteers participated in the removal of non-native beach grasses. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Work party

Sue Long, left, Vicki Bennett and Frank Handler, all from Port Townsend,… Continue reading

Portion of bridge to be replaced

Tribe: Wooden truss at railroad park deteriorating

Kingsya Omega, left, and Ben Wilson settle into a hand-holding exercise. (Aliko Weste)
Process undermines ‘Black brute’ narrative

Port Townsend company’s second film shot in Hawaii

Jefferson PUD to replace water main in Coyle

Jefferson PUD commissioners awarded a $1.3 million construction contract… Continue reading

Scott Mauk.
Chimacum superintendent receives national award

Chimacum School District Superintendent Scott Mauk has received the National… Continue reading

Hood Canal Coordinating Council meeting canceled

The annual meeting of the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, scheduled… Continue reading