Courtroom coverage by Katie Meyer/reporter, Patrick Sand/video:
Sentencing Alan Polevia this afternoon, King County Superior Court Judge Ken Schubert went along with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office recommendation of a six-month sentence – with credit for the three months Polevia’s been in jail since his arrest in late June.
He is the repeat offender who made news for escaping from police custody at Harborview Medical Center in February – while handcuffed; then was spotted in Shorewood on March 5th, leading to hours of helicopter-augmented searching; then was taken into custody three weeks later. He spent three days in jail; shortly afterward, he was charged in a West Seattle burglary case from six months earlier, but didn’t appear for arraignment, so a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Then on June 11th, he was arrested in Arbor Heights – and released less than two weeks later, after his bail was reduced. Within 24 hours of that release, on June 24th, he was arrested yet again, in a case that led to a charge of second-degree burglary, involving a house on 28th SW just south of the city limits that was vacant because of fire damage several weeks earlier. Polevia’s plea bargain includes both that burglary, to which he pleaded guilty, and the West Seattle case from last September, in which the burglary charge was reduced to 2nd-degree theft, with Polevia pleading guilty to that and a 3rd-degree theft charge accompanying it.
This afternoon, his sentencing happened in a relatively empty King County Superior Court room; aside from the judge, deputy prosecuting attorney Darren Thompson and Polevia’s public defender Nikole Hecklinger, Polevia’s sister was the sole family member in attendance. No one in the courtroom spoke up to identify themselves as a victim; no victims’ statements were read.
As part of a plea agreement first reported here September 10th, Polevia had pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, two of theft – one of those reduced from burglary, because it involved an item stolen from out in the open.
His lawyer explained that Polevia’s sister is a social worker, who has discussed their family history with attorney. After Polevia serves this sentence, he will be staying with her (what community that’s in, wasn’t mentioned) and will have social and jail-release services to help keep him out of trouble.
Asked if he wanted to say anything, Polevia said “Nah, I hope you follow the recommendations. I think I learned some things, I’ve been messing up the last couple years” and said it was largely in part because his child’s mother, who had been with him 16 years, left him, after which, he said, he began getting high and messing up. Now, he said, he has had time to think and realizes he has to make things right for some people, including his family. His daughter’s birthday is October 6th, and he said his “favorite thing in the world is being a father.” He added, “Drugs have been a problem in my family for my whole lifetime … I want to raise my kids right.”
Judge noted today’s sentencing includes a no-contact order with the theft/burglary victims, and mentioned three local addresses (near where he was last arrested) as places he is to stay away from. Judge Schubert also imposed a “no illegal/non-prescribed drugs” clause in the conditions of the sentence. Prosecutor Thompson asked for clarification as to whether alcohol was to be included in the prohibited substances; the judge said no, he didn’t see any indication in the files that alcohol was a problem, and he believes Polevia understands not to replace one vice with another.
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