PORT ANGELES — Two of three people accused in a July 21 home burglary on Cherry Street have pleaded not guilty in the case while Port Angeles police continue their search for a third man thought to have been involved.
Matthew Tyler Charles, 27, and Roxanne Rae Venske, 24, both pleaded not guilty last week to charges related to a morning burglary in the 1000 block of South Cherry Street on July 21.
Brian Smith, deputy police chief, said Tuesday the search for Steven Dean Goodman, 24, continues.
Smith said he could not say much about the ongoing investigation but added that police have asked for assistance from the Pacific Northwest Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service.
“When we have fugitives like [Goodman], it’s not uncommon we would reach out to them,” Smith said.
Police identified Goodman as a third suspect a few days after Charles and Venske were arrested.
Not-guilty pleas
Charles pleaded not guilty Friday to two counts each of theft of a firearm and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count each of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.
He remained Tuesday in the Clallam County jail in lieu of $250,000.
Goodman was charged last week in absentia with the same crimes as Charles.
Venske pleaded not guilty last July 30 to one count each of first-degree burglary as an accomplice, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and unlawful imprisonment.
The latter two charges against Venske were filed that day after John Troberg, deputy Clallam County prosecuting attorney, received additional information from law enforcement investigators about the car chase on which Venske allegedly led police after she allegedly drove Charles and Goodman away from the Cherry Street home in a burgundy Pontiac Grand Am.
Venske was not listed on the Clallam County jail roster Tuesday after she posted a $15,000 bond last Wednesday, according to documents filed in Clallam County Superior Court.
Venske is next set to appear in court for a case status hearing Friday, while Charles is scheduled for a similar hearing Aug. 16.
A tentative trial date for both has been set for Sept. 16, according to court documents.
Police accounts
According to police accounts, a neighbor of the Cherry Street home called 9-1-1 at about 9 a.m. July 21 to report that the home appeared to have been broken into.
The neighbor, Robert Langdon, 39, who also owned the property, said Charles and a man later identified as Goodman ran out of the home, each with two firearms wrapped in blankets, to a waiting burgundy Pontiac.
Charles and Venske were arrested at about 9 p.m. July 21 after they were found together in the 1400 block of Dan Kelly Road after a multi-hour search involving multiple law enforcement agencies that canvassed a portion of unincorportated Clallam County south of state Highway 112 and west of the Elwha River.
The Pontiac was found damaged and abandoned near the end of Colville Road.
The resident of the home told police that a rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and about $150 in cash were stolen from the Cherry Street home, according to police accounts.
The burglary victim also identified Goodman to police as the other man involved in the burglary from Goodman’s physical description.
Goodman is described as 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. He has blue eyes and light-colored hair.
If Goodman is seen, phone 9-1-1 emergency dispatchers or the Police Department at 360-452-4545.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
