PORT ANGELES — Timothy Patrick Smith was formally charged Monday with killing another teen-ager last week.
Smith, 17, was charged with first-degree manslaughter and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in the death of Michael Sindars, 16.
Smith pleaded innocent to all three charges.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge George L. Wood ordered a trial date for Aug. 13. The trial is expected to take five days.
Wood set Smith’s bail at $250,000, but not before Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott M. Charlton and defense attorney Lane J. Wolfley argued over the amount of bail — and about other weapons police said they found in Smith’s bedroom.
Wolfley asked the court to release Smith to the custody of his mother, Ann M. O’Neil.
That request drew cries from a few members of the audience attending the hearing who shouted at the judge that O’Neil was at home when the shooting occurred.
“It’s not a murder case. It’s not a manslaughter case with intent,” Wolfley said.
“Michael was a friend of his. He was somebody he would have chosen to protect rather than harm.”
But Charlton disagreed.
“A boy is dead as a result of Timothy Smith’s reckless behavior,” he said.
Details appear in the Tuesday Peninsula Daily News, on sale throughout Clallam and Jefferson counties. Or click onto “Subscribe” to get your PDN delivered to your home or office.
