PORT ANGELES — A new trial date has been set for a Sequim man who allegedly shot and killed a Port Angeles man at an alcohol-fueled birthday party last May.
Nathaniel Darren Olson, 28, is now scheduled to go to trial Oct. 12 for the death of 25-year-old Matthew R. Baker.
Olson is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement for the alleged shooting at a residence at 1523 Monroe Road in the midnight hour of May 22, 2014.
A jury trial has been reset three times since the shooting because of delays with DNA evidence tests.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Christopher Melly reset the trial March 19 after defense attorney Karen Unger reported that she had received DNA evidence.
Olson has maintained his innocence.
He is not in custody but is required to report to Friendship Diversion Services for regular alcohol testing.
Single gunshot wound
Baker died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, an autopsy showed.
Clallam County sheriff’s deputies and a Port Angeles police officer found a “heavily intoxicated” Olson lying on the living room floor near Baker’s body when they responded to the 9-1-1 call, according to the arrest narrative.
Attendees of the social gathering identified Olson as the suspected shooter, authorities said.
A witness told investigators he heard a shot, went upstairs to the living room and heard Olson say, “I shot him,” court papers said.
Another witness said there had been a fight between Baker and another man, David Holden, before the shooting.
The witness said she was taking shots of alcohol with a group of people in the dining area when she heard a “pop” from the living room.
Olson told the witness that Baker “came at me.”
Investigators found a .45-caliber Sig Sauer pistol in the residence and a .45-caliber bullet near Baker’s body.
Several pieces of evidence were sent to a State Patrol crime lab.
Olson has waived his right to a speedy trial.
His bail was reduced from $500,000 to $75,000 last June after Unger argued that Olson had no violent history, held a steady job as a geoduck diver and had strong ties to Clallam County.
Olson posted bail June 10 and was placed on an alcohol monitoring bracelet. He was allowed to remove the device a week later because of the potential for its damage because of his work as a diver.
A pretrial status conference is scheduled for Sept. 10.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
