Followup: Why Skyelar Hailey faces three burglary charges

Update on the arrest of repeat offender Skyelar Hailey after a foot chase in Admiral yesterday: Our first information from police (reported here) indicated that he is accused of stealing a purse from a West Seattle High School teacher. Then when he was booked into jail last night, the register showed he is facing three burglary charges (the decision on actual charges is up to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which has three days to decide). We asked police about that this morning; Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen says the other two potential charges have to do with “two residential burglaries.” Hailey, who turned 19 last week, remains in jail as of last check; checking online court records, we found he also has a case pending from late July in Seattle Municipal Court, with charges including reckless endangerment, refusal to stop, no valid driver’s license, obstructing a public officer, and 1st degree property destruction – we are checking to see if that incident actually happened in late July or whether the charges stem from something earlier. 5:32 PM UPDATE: No answer on that yet but we can tell you that his bail’s now been set at $25,000, according to the King County Jail Register (he’s still there right now). THURSDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office expects to file charges against Hailey tomorrow. FRIDAY MORNING: He is formally charged now with two counts of burglary. We are working on the story, which includes the full tale of what preceded his arrest this week.

done August 19, 2009 (11:43 am)

Menace To Society!

Lil August 19, 2009 (11:45 am)

You posted something about my purse being stolen from my living room on Sunday. I wonder if the police would have let me know if mine was one of the cases. I live just a few blocks from West Seattle High School… I hope he was dumb enough to have my purse still!

WSB August 19, 2009 (12:08 pm)

Did you get a case #/officer contact when you reported that theft (which I believe would also qualify as burglary, since someone entered your home with intent to steal)? If so, I would contact that officer/detective – or call the precinct and ask who to talk to – posthaste. I do believe they do their best to contact victims but can’t hurt to ask – TR

kristen August 19, 2009 (12:43 pm)

I also wrote to you about residential robbery this week (happened on Friday) and am wondering the same as Lil! My purse was taken and credit card used. Was yours, Lil? I am going to take your suggestion and contact our detective. I would LOVE it if they could tie a person to our robbery!

bridge to somewhere August 19, 2009 (1:52 pm)

apparently going “back to school” can mean different things to different people.

Under_Achiever August 19, 2009 (1:58 pm)

Three charges for burglary? That’s three more criminal charges for anything that I ever received.
.
I really am an underachiever…

west seattleite August 19, 2009 (2:17 pm)

I see Skyelar being blasted as a menace to society. He is also a product of our society. I believe he attended school here in West Seattle. I wish we could keep all of the kids on the right path. =)

WSB August 19, 2009 (2:22 pm)

Please support some of the organizations in West Seattle that are working to do that, if you are not already. Safe Futures
http://www.sfyc.org
Southwest Youth and Family Services
http://www.swyfs.org
(which is working on the city’s Youth Violence Prevention Initiative)
are just two that come to mind.
.
SWYFS has a fundraising event next month (9/18), too.

OP August 19, 2009 (2:24 pm)

I wish we could keep all of the kids on the right path.

That’s what parents are for. You make ’em, you raise ’em.

JenV August 19, 2009 (2:26 pm)

amen, OP.

Adam August 19, 2009 (2:37 pm)

How does he keep getting out of jail time? What does it take to put him away for some time?

Mike August 19, 2009 (3:03 pm)

Enlist him into the Marines and ship him to Afghanistan. Have him steal something there and see what happens.

Johnny Davies August 19, 2009 (3:03 pm)

Don’t forget the count of Felonious Douchebaggery.

Wha? August 19, 2009 (3:04 pm)

Any chance a public heath system would pick up the charge on a vasectomy? If not, I’d gladly help set up an account at a local clinic so we can donate toward his snip before some stary-eyed yahoo-ette decides she’s gonna make him a daddy.

KateMcA August 19, 2009 (4:08 pm)

I just don’t see this guy shaping up until he is actually held accountable for his actions- hopefully thsi time he will be. Mike, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had conscripted service for repeat offenders? At the very least it would teach some discipline and a skill that could be used to actually earn a living rather than steal it from others.

bridge to somewhere August 19, 2009 (5:16 pm)

@mike: there’s next to no way the marines would take this loser.

WSB August 19, 2009 (5:31 pm)

Adding this to the story: His bail was set today at $25,000, per the Jail Register. He’s still in jail. – TR

Mark Matassa August 19, 2009 (7:08 pm)

Now that we’ve tried, convicted, conscripted and castrated this young man, I wonder if we should see what the actual legal process has to say, beginning with whether charges are filed.

I’ve said this before here, and I know it’s unpopular, but I’d wish for a little less bloodlust, a little less sensationalism (sorry, TR), and a little more patience and justice at WSB.

My two cents.

WSB August 19, 2009 (7:16 pm)

No sorries needed but if you are suggesting something I wrote is sensationalistic, would love to hear what. There is nothing above that is not a fact – obviously in the case of what Hailey is accused of doing, the “fact” is the fact that police said “(whatever).” There are numerous repeat offenders in the community and I am hopeful we will be able to follow more of them as closely – I have another story coming up later tonight about two suspects of similar age who police have linked to more than half a dozen burglaries and are saying may be pursued through the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office’s new repeat-burglar program – TR

Jose August 19, 2009 (7:34 pm)

I see we’re already making excuses for this miscreant.

“Three burglary charges…charges including reckless endangerment, refusal to stop, no valid driver’s license, obstructing a public officer, and 1st degree property destruction…”

He’s making his own case against himself. Yet some of you feel inclined to stick up for him.

What’s next? A collection for his bail?

Some people are wired wrong, and they need to go be incarcerated; that’s what the prisons were BUILT FOR, not to house petty drug offenders, as 50-60% of prison cells now house. They were always intended for people like this guy.

Send him there, keep him there and keep him away from our lives and our hard-earned property.

bridge to somewhere August 19, 2009 (8:19 pm)

@johnny: hilarious!

Jersey Jill August 20, 2009 (7:16 am)

Mark Matassa refresh your memory this is the guy who ran from police a few months ago and we were in lock down with helicopters over head and police closing off our neighborhood block by block trying to find him after he jumped and ran from a stolen car when they tried to pull him over. Our laws are old an out dated and these creeps are released and reoffend before their court dates even take place!!! As for the Westseattlite he is not a product of society he is a prduct of his irresponsible parent(s) if he were a product of mine he would be doing boot camp with blisters on his ass!! Take responsibilty for your own child(ren) and stop expecting everyone else to raise your off spring!!! Now that he is of age to try as an adult lets put him on a chain gang and work his ass off until he is too old and tired to run.

Kayleigh August 20, 2009 (8:54 am)

C’mon now, Mark. Thoughtful consideration is nowhere near as much fun as hatin’ on the criminal and Making Him Accountable and Tellin’ His Parents How it Is.

E. Gantry August 20, 2009 (9:22 am)

Those poor, poor criminals! It’s society’s fault they’re bad, not theirs. Bawwwwww! Mean ol’ society, forcing innocent kids to turn to a life of crime and providing no other opportunities for them.

Get real. This dude’s a piece of garbage, of his own making, by his own choices. Plenty of good honest hard-working people have it a lot worse.

You keep making excuses for pieces of crap like this and they’ll give giving you more opportunities to do so.

OP August 20, 2009 (4:38 pm)

When people make excuses for a child’s behavior or criminal active because of their upbringing, I am reminded of the great line by Keanu Reeves’s character in “Parenthood”: You know, Mrs. Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog, or drive a car. Heck, you even need a license to catch a fish. But they’ll let any butt-reaming as*hole be a father.

EmmyJane August 20, 2009 (8:04 pm)

I had no idea it was so easy to get away with theft (and by “get away” I mean no jail time and plenty of opportunity to reoffend). Screw car payments, I’m going to steal me one!