Followup: Guilty plea in Admiral neighborhood burglary case

(November 2008 photo by WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli)
Five months after police swarmed that North Admiral neighborhood when neighbors noticed a break-in (original WSB coverage here), the case is almost closed on the only adult suspect arrested that day, 18-year-old Skyelar Hailey. As we noted in a followup when he got out of jail 10 days later, he has a lengthy record, which, according to court documents, includes convictions for harassment, theft, vehicle prowling, reckless burning, and trespass. In the November break-in case, Hailey has pleaded guilty to criminal trespass, with prosecutors recommending a month in jail “converted to 240 community-service hours” in addition to a 12-month sentence suspended if 2 years of probation go well; he is scheduled to be sentenced a week from Friday. Court documents say he and the two other suspects were seen running from the house, after a neighbor noticed someone was inside at a time when the homeowner was away, but he wasn’t caught with any loot. (Hailey also has been in jail once since the November arrest, according to county records showing a day behind bars in late February; the charge, filed in Seattle Municipal Court, was described as violating a domestic-violence protection order.) Information is harder to find on the other two suspects’ status, since they were juveniles, but what little information is publicly accessible online indicates that both of them have been prosecuted.

Adam April 15, 2009 (11:01 am)

30 days? He’s *already* violated the terms of his would-be probation by violating a protection order!

So, in some parts of the country we have people being sent to prison for 20 years for marijuana possession, and here we’ve got recidivist criminals that get some community service after a break-in?

RainyDay1235 April 15, 2009 (11:53 am)

No kidding. Sounds like this kid – no ADULT – NEEDS the freaking wake up call. Maybe prison would do the trick! Ridiculous…c’mon!

hoppeduponthebean April 15, 2009 (12:00 pm)

Hard labor is what this criminal needs. Wear down that disorderly conduct drive and do some good for the community. Prison labor is the great untapped resource of our time.

P April 15, 2009 (12:05 pm)

Just remember, the budget cuts are whats pushing these types of sentences. Unfortunately it will not “punish” the criminal, and probably allow for further criminal activity.

marty April 15, 2009 (12:25 pm)

No wonder we have so many break-in problems, there are no consequences. I wonder how long it will be before he violates his probation?

brandon April 15, 2009 (1:21 pm)

Wrist. Slap. Out. Ridiculous. Repeat.

WSratsinacage April 15, 2009 (3:02 pm)

I have a conscience and pride, morals, etc, but it almost feels like I am the sucker for being law abiding.

deckard April 15, 2009 (7:27 pm)

Laws with no teeth. Judges with no spine. Sounds like another career criminal in the making. Sure, he pleads guilty. It takes a lot less time, and the result is the same. He needs to get back out on the streets and take what isn’t his. I’m sure he will wear his expanding “rap sheet” like a crown among his peers. The courts are teaching him that what he is doing is acceptable! Do we need to wait until he uses a gun to get what he wants?
The courts are also teaching me that I am the one that needs to defend myself from these criminals that are made strong by weak laws. FYI…I’m ready.

Carole April 15, 2009 (8:32 pm)

Don’t blame the judges. The prosecutor and the defense atty negotiated this down to criminal trespass. The charge is a fait accompli when it gets to the judge for sentencing. Jails cost money. Trials cost money. With the current budget woes (state and local) probation (community supervision) is likely to be cut back significantly as well. Those cheap car tabs took a big bite out of the criminal justice system. How many people screaming for more prison and jail are complaining about gov’t spending?

deckard April 15, 2009 (8:57 pm)

Well, okay. Then maybe the “gov’t spending” should be re-directed. No blank checks!
So I guess if I am the one that is robbed, it is my fault after all. Blame the victim. Yeah, that works. I do sense that you know specifically what the problem is, but I didn’t read any solution in your comment, with the exception of to throw more tax money at it. I know, what we need is another “midnight basketball” program for these troubled youth. That will keep them from breaking and entering.

Note April 16, 2009 (8:12 am)

This is a “man” that is now selling drugs to little kids according to SPD….what is it going to take? Two years probation? I really hope you all take a look at the previous posts to get a picture of him. He could now be selling drugs to your own children, right in front of the Admiral Theater. Neighbors take note, when you see him keep your eyes peeled, I bet one of us can catch him violating his probation very quickly. Let’s get him off our streets!

Another Neighbor April 16, 2009 (10:36 am)

Here is a current pic:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=28559317

Jen April 16, 2009 (2:30 pm)

Looks like a charmer!
I have the feeling lil’ Skyelar will wind up in jail for attempting to live the thug life, and eventually he’ll wind up there for a long, long time. It’s unfortunate that we have to waste city resources and time giving him a pat on the head, but this kid WILL wind up in prison. It’s great that his parents can’t be bothered to actually do their jobs…what kind of kids are we raising in this country?

deckard April 16, 2009 (7:07 pm)

Note……I know of a kid right now that is a minor, that is selling pot to 8th graders. SPD told me that if they catch him selling, they will process and release him the same day. He was caught in the act of smoking pot on Alki the other day by a cop, who took his pipe, looked at it, handed it back to him, and told him to “be careful.” Wow…We are the “suckers” after all. The message I get from SPD is that, we can’t get kids like him off our streets. I have said it before, that it would take a major public out-cry to change these revolving door policies.
And April….the kind of kids that we are raising today, are kids with no consequence for their actions. And as a parent? Do you think the law is on a parents side when it comes to kids rights? Think again. When talking and counseling and insentives don’t work, what is your choice? Lock them up in their room, till they go out the window? Society has taught these kids that there is no punishment that they can’t take that will make them do the right thing. They are Brats, and they are expert liars. And if we cannot get the Law on our side, then we are left to take the law into our own hands. And I’m sure that nobody wants that. If it sounds like I am loosing faith, it is because I am.

Jersey Jill April 22, 2009 (10:06 am)

I say take creeps like this and put them on a chain gang. Obviously our taxes are paying for their jail time and we get nothing in return so why not have them doing highway clean up, digging ditches etc and if they try to run shoot them and call it a day. I think this would be a great wake up call for these little creeps.

rykrite April 22, 2009 (2:32 pm)

Whooooaaaaa, Deckard! Not all kids are being raised with no consequences, so don’t be so quick to lump everyone in together. I’m a mom, and you may be certain that our daughter has boundaries. We have a large group of West Seattle family friends, and they, too, are raising their children to practice good judgement and be good citizens.
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My daughter is not a brat, and nor are 99% of the children we meet.
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I feel angriest not at the “brats” in question, but at the society who doesn’t care for families and for parents who don’t teach their children. (Of society first, because if society doesn’t teach the parents, then how can the parents teach the children?) I just don’t think that children are born evil. Sweet, innocent little babies are taught by the world around them how to behave. How was this child taught? His rap sheet goes back to when he was 12….a child. Who took care of him and steered him the right way? Apparently, not enough people, because the result is what we see here.
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The troubled kids get a lot of attention because it must be that way, but please don’t think that West Seattle is filled with thugs and criminals. The kids I know – ranging from birth through teen – are fanastic, and trustworthy, and when I am old and they are running things I will be glad to see them take over.
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Love,
PollyAnna-Mom-ex-High-School-Teacher-Believer-in-Humanity

deckard April 24, 2009 (11:06 am)

rykrite, So glad you have responsive kids. You are one of the blessed. Some kids refuse all boundaries, and consequences no matter how they were raised, how much they were loved, or at what the cost was to them or others. You would have to experience this to know what I am talking about. I would love to talk to Pollyanna, but she’s in rehab. Just kidding…..

Sorry, comment time is over.