SEQUIM — A trial is scheduled in May for a man who allegedly burglarized and stole from the Sequim Veterans of Foreign War Post 4760, when he was living above it, earlier this month.
The two-day trial of Jordan Salo, 29, begins on May 16 in Clallam County Superior Court, with a status hearing on April 15.
Salo pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on March 25 to second degree burglary, first degree theft and first degree trafficking in stolen property, which could each bring up to 10 years in jail or a $20,000 fine.
His bail was set at $1,000, and he remained in custody as of Monday. If released, he cannot come within 100 feet of the VFW at 169 E. Washington St., per court order.
A VFW staffer found the facility burglarized on March 12, according to court records.
Sequim Police reported more than $613 in alcohol was stolen from a locked bar cabinet, $4,300 in band equipment, and other miscellaneous items such as a neon bar light and television, all totaling about $5,600.
After the police’s initial investigation, Jeffrey Salo, the father of Jordan Salo and manager of the facility, investigated Jordan’s room upstairs, according to court documents, where he and his brother, Brad, owner of the building, allegedly found the stolen goods in Jordan’s room and returned it to the VFW.
Sequim Police reported that the brothers went to Jordan’s room, and Jeffrey told Jordan he pays for his phone and asked to see it.
They emailed pictures of texts to Sequim Police they found allegedly between Jordan and a woman discussing plans to move the stolen items before the bar opened later that day, court documents state.
In a later interview with police, Jordan said a friend requested to store items in his room for a few hours, and he didn’t find it suspicious because that friend went to garage sales often.
He denied any wrongdoing to police, according to court documents, and that he only has access to his apartment upstairs from a door in the alley because his uncle denied access to the rest of the building.
Jordan Salo also denied knowing the equipment was from the VFW’s bar, and texting anyone about stolen items, court documents state.
He was arrested on March 12, and booked in Clallam County jail.
The Sequim VFW closed March 12-13 because of the thefts, but reopened for regular business hours on March 16.
