CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Plea bargain for Dale Hiller in gun/drugs case

| Crime | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

One of those incidents in which someone fires a gun – not hitting anyone, but scaring nearby people who flood 911 with calls – is about to send someone to prison.

The repeat offender arrested in May after a gunfire incident in North Delridge is back in jail and awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to two of the three charges filed against him.

We reported May 11th on the gun and drug charges filed against 30-year-old Dale Hiller, days after his arrest. He was seen standing along Delridge near Genesee, firing a gun. Police heard the shots; neighbors called 911 to say they heard the shots; and a ride-share driver called 911 to report seeing the shots being fired. Officers subsequently found Hiller standing next to a backpack he claimed wasn’t his; inside it, police found a gun, drugs, and cash. They also found shell casings. They arrested Hiller – a convicted felon who couldn’t legally own a gun – and booked him into jail.

Less than two days later, he posted bond on $150,000 bail and got out. But before he pleaded guilty this past Wednesday to the gun charge and one drug charge, records show, Hiller was in and out of jail three more times.

The King County Jail Register shows Hiller was back in KCJ for a day in early July, related to an alleged drug offense; less than two weeks later, he was booked into jail again for DUI and for revocation of the bond from his May arrest. The incident number checks to an arrest on the Alaskan Way Viaduct; the jail register shows he remained in custody until October 5th. Less than two weeks after that, the jail register shows, he was back in for three days for a failure-to-appear warrant connected to the DUI case. He got out on October 18th and hasn’t shown up on the jail register since then.

As part of the plea agreement, he was taken back into custody after his guilty plea this past Wednesday, and is due to remain there until his sentencing on January 6th. Online documents show prosecutors plan to recommend a sentence of 7 years, 3 months.

Alki Resident December 16, 2016 (9:42 pm)

What an absolute waste of tax payers money etc. Let in and out of jail like a revolving door. Back out doing what he does best. I’d love to say unbelievable but it really isn’t.

Jay Johnson December 16, 2016 (9:58 pm)

He’ll be out on less tha a year, guaranteed.

WSB December 16, 2016 (10:37 pm)

Not if the sentencing recommendation is followed. Yes, the sentence often winds up minus “time off for good behavior,” but not THAT much “time off.”

Justin December 16, 2016 (11:06 pm)

Scumbag. Lock him up and throw away the key.

anonyme December 17, 2016 (6:39 am)

So, a repeat felon is arrested on a gun charge and parole violation, yet manages to get out and be arrested three more times while out on bail? Why wasn’t he held after the first violation of the gun violation of….? I thought it was automatic that a bond violation meant being locked up? Not in SeaSea land.

You know, I’m a senior struggling to survive. Guess it’s time for me commit some felonies, as it would be politically incorrect for me to be held accountable.

they December 17, 2016 (1:58 pm)

Yikes… Looks to me like this example illustrates peoples reductants to adopt additional gun laws. Here we have many opportunity’s to conclude this individual will most likely be involved in gun crime but we continue to release him into our neighborhoods to put our family’s at risk.

Andy December 19, 2016 (4:40 am)

What new gun laws do you suggest, They? Why do you think “new gun laws” would prevent people like this repeat felon from continuing to be a menace to society? So far, the highly touted I-594 gun law, for example, has had zero effect on criminals. But if its enactment was in order to be an impediment to legal gun owners, it was a great success. I agree with Mark and others who recommend locking Mr. Hiller up and throwing the key away. As opposed to more feel good laws like I-594, locking this repeat felon up for a long, long time would have a positive effect on gun toting criminals.
- they December 19, 2016 (11:56 am)
  
  Sorry if I wasn’t clear…no new laws, just inforce the ones we have.