From Clallam County Superior Court
Court appoints attorneys
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Ken Williams signed an order appointing two additional attorneys to represent Darold R. Stenson as he faces a second trial on aggravated murder charges. Stenson was convicted in 1994 of killing his wife and business partner at his Sequim home but the state Supreme Court overturned the conviction and subsequent death penalty upon appeal earlier this year.
Roger A. Hunko, Stenson’s court-appointed attorney, requested two additional attorneys be appointed to assist him in Stenson’s defense. Each attorney will be paid $125 per hour, which Hunko said is far less than they normally charge. Williams approved the order and a status hearing is set for Jan. 4, 2013.
Prosecutors charge court order violations
Anthony Ray Varney, 45, of Sequim, is charged with four counts of violating a no-contact order. Sequim police said three witnesses saw Varney at a residence he is prohibited from going to under a domestic violence-related court order. Varney was arrested Aug. 23 and taken into custody at the Clallam County jail. The following day, he allegedly called the victim protected under the order a total of three times from the jail. Prosecutors charged him with four counts of violating a no-contact order in connection with the phone calls and the violation at the residence.
Varney pleaded not guilty and trial is set for Oct. 17. He remains in custody in lieu of $1,000 bond.
PA man faces stolen property charges
A 30-year-old Port Angeles man faces charges after he allegedly tried to sell a rare mineral reported stolen from one Sequim rock shop July 11 to another Sequim rock shop on Aug. 24. Police said Zachery Wayne Robinson was arrested on an outstanding warrant while trying to sell the stolen mineral. Upon searching Robinson following his arrest, officers located tin foil with heroin residue, two debit cards that did not belong to Robinson and a set of metal knuckles, officers said. Prosecutors charged Robinson with two counts of possession of stolen property in the second degree, one count of possession of stolen property in the third degree, possession of heroin and unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon.
He pleaded not guilty Aug. 31 and trial is set for Nov. 7. He was released from custody on his own recognizance.
Marijuana charges
Prosecutors are charging a Sequim teen with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver after police found evidence of drug dealing in his apartment.
When police responded to the Elk Creek Apartments complex for the report of drug activity, they located Anthony Cottrell, 19, at his apartment and arrested him on a warrant. Officers said they could smell the odor of burning marijuana from the apartment. Cottrell told them he had marijuana in the closet, which officers found wrapped in plastic bags. Cash, a scale and other packaging material also were located, officers said. Cottrell pleaded not guilty as charged Aug. 31 and trial is set for Nov. 14.
He was released from custody on his own recognizance.
