PORT ANGELES — A man who police say allegedly wore clothing he stole from one store while stealing from other businesses will be arraigned this week on multiple charges from three business burglaries in the past three months.
Sean V. Della, who turns 27 Thursday, is scheduled to enter pleas at
9 a.m. Friday in Clallam County Superior Court to three charges of second-degree burglary and single charges of first-, second- and third-degree theft; second-degree possession of stolen property; and third-degree malicious mischief.
The charges — connected to burglaries Dec. 9, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in Port Angeles — carry a combined maximum punishment of 52 years in prison and $110,000 in fines.
Della, who was arrested Feb. 1, remained in the Clallam County jail Saturday on $20,500 bail on those charges, as well as Superior Court felony bench warrants for burglary, possession of a controlled substance-heroin and making false or misleading statements to an officer and a county District Court failure-to-appear warrant for third-degree possession of stolen property.
Della is described by authorities as a transient.
The three burglaries were Dec. 9 at Athlete’s Choice, 215 W. First St.; Jan. 31 at Sabai Thai restaurant, 903 W. Eighth St.; and Feb. 1 at Spotlight Tanning & Apparel, 715 E. First St. All are within about 2.5 miles of each other.
Evidence against Della includes cellphone and surveillance videos from the businesses and clothing retrieved from his apartment that authorities said was stolen, police said.
Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said Friday that Della fits the description of a serial burglar.
“That appears to be what we are looking at,” Smith said.
The following account of the burglaries was provided in Police Department narratives and an arrest report that Jesse Espinoza, Clallam County deputy prosecuting attorney, filed Thursday in Superior Court:
At least $7,000 in clothing was stolen Dec. 9 from Athlete’s Choice by a man with a mask over his face.
Sabai Thai manager Renu Chaummalung reported that at least nine bottles of wine, together worth $497, had been stolen.
Spotlight Tanning owner Mandy Gallacci reported that at least $3,800 in pants, handbags, hats, jewelry and cash were stolen from her store.
Police said Della was seen — on surveillance videos and by an officer — wearing clothing that matched goods taken from Athlete’s Choice.
A hat found at his apartment also matched a hat worn by the Sabai Thai burglar, according to surveillance video.
The Sabai Thai burglar also was wearing a vest that matched the description of one stolen from Athlete’s Choice.
The surveillance video from Athlete’s Choice included an audio recording in which an employee identified Della’s voice, saying he had been a regular customer.
Della was walking behind Zak’s Tavern in Port Angeles on Dec. 14 when police stopped him while he was wearing new sports clothing and carrying a pry tool, flashlight and a balaclava, a ski mask with eyeholes that could be used as a mask.
Dela told police his mother gave him the clothes, that he did not know of any burglaries in the area and that he carried the tool for self-defense.
When interviewed, his mother said a man named Arizona had given her two pairs of shoes, one for her and one she gave to her son. She said that’s all she gave him.
Police said the shoes were later identified as being stolen from Athlete’s Choice.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
