West Seattle Crime Watch followup: Skyelar Hailey pleads guilty

Six months ago (when we took the courtroom photo at left), it was a plea bargain to a lesser charge, and no added jail time. This time, 19-year-old West Seattle repeat offender Skyelar Hailey has pleaded guilty to two charges that call for prison time. We just confirmed with King County Prosecuting Attorney Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe that Hailey has pleaded guilty in connection with his most recent arrest, in the August 18th case that started with a purse theft from a West Seattle High School teacher, continued with items stolen at an acquaintance’s home nearby, and culminated in a foot pursuit involving police. (Full details of the incident are in this 8/23 WSB report.) Donohoe tells WSB that Hailey pleaded guilty yesterday to residential burglary and second-degree burglary; the standard sentencing range is 13 to 17 months, and he will be in court to find out his sentence on October 23rd before King County Superior Court Judge Greg Canova. (Hailey’s been in jail since his arrest two months ago, even though his bail was cut at one point from $25,000 to $15,000.)

Libby October 13, 2009 (4:41 pm)

Guess we’ll find out how “gangsta” this little punk is in prison, right?

onceachef October 13, 2009 (4:52 pm)

Since he’s a multiple offender, especially in the last year, I think the maximum is called for…Skyelar doesn’t seem to “get it” and maybe some time away will drive home the point. Hopefully the judge isn’t going to go for “time served”…that hasn’t worked.

onceachef October 13, 2009 (4:55 pm)

Being that he’s a multiple offender he should get the maximum…Skyelar doesn’t seem to “get it” when he gets off with “time served”. I hope he turns his life around soon because if he doesn’t and his activities escalate, someone will get hurt.

Irukandji October 13, 2009 (6:51 pm)

Perhaps he could go from GED to JD while paying his debt?

4thGenWestSider October 13, 2009 (7:28 pm)

Hopefully he’ll make someone a good wife in prison.

JenV October 13, 2009 (8:02 pm)

oh good. now he goes to “Con College”, and learns how to commit more crimes once he gets out. he’ll get out and do it again..or do worse. don’t kid yourselves – the revolving door prison system doesn’t work..but at least he’ll be off the streets for awhile.

old timer October 13, 2009 (8:55 pm)

JenV +10

Carole October 13, 2009 (9:57 pm)

Even if he gets 17 months, he will get credit for the 2 months or so he’s been in jail. And he’ll get good time credit on the 17 months at the rate of 50%…so he’ll maybe spend about 6 months at most in the prison system. But any sentence over 12 months, even 12 months and a day, will be prison, not KC jail.

WTF October 13, 2009 (10:00 pm)

Good god. Already alright. Are we done with him, NOW?!

rnl October 14, 2009 (7:16 am)

why the fascination with this person? WTF is right..move on & focus on the good & the people that are doing that in our community.

OP October 14, 2009 (9:42 am)

So, JenV, illuminate us on how d-bags like Skylar here should pay their debt to society. Are you advocating that the sentence isn’t long enough, or something else?

To Skyelar (because you probably have net access in prison thanks to the ACLU): Don’t drop the soap.

seven October 14, 2009 (10:03 am)

Geez…lighten up people. This kid is not a rapist or a killer he’s just a little pathetic thief. Your suggestions that he be raped in prison is pretty disgusting.

Good work WSBlob. Such articles truly bring out the best in people and encourage such tasteful commenting.

WSB October 14, 2009 (10:21 am)

Seven, you beat me to it but that line of commenting needs to stop (and I have already deleted one comment) – TR

Ex-Westwood Resident October 14, 2009 (10:47 am)

JenV,

If prisons were run correctly the revolving door would stop. Prisons should be bad enough that NO ONE wants to return there. Instead we have prisons that coddle these “people” give them access to the internet, TV, gyms…etc. They should have three 1 hour breaks a day to walk “the yard” and eat/shower, then be locked back in their cell.
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Prisons SHOULD NOT be rehabilitation centers, but PUNISHMENT centers. Rehab is for AFTER you get out of prison, and should place the onus on the person being who got out, NOT on society.

E-WR

burglarbustindad October 14, 2009 (12:37 pm)

We need to pay attention to these criminals. We should not fear them, but make the effort to insure that they mature and follow the rules. If they fail, they should be off the streets and out of our homes and neighborhoods.
My experience is that these failed citizens first fail at home, then in school and finally on the streets. I don’t consider these failures “my fault”, but what we do as a community to prevent failure is important. I volunteer in our schools and urge everyone to participate in efforts like the High Point Volunteer Program noted earlier in the West Seattle Blog.

KBear October 14, 2009 (1:54 pm)

Um, Ex-Westwood, if we don’t rehabilitate criminals while they’re IN prison, how can we expect them to behave once they’re out? Of course prison should be punishment, but we can’t expect prisoners to rehabilitate themselves without any help. I mean, it would be great if they did, but it’s just not going to happen in most cases. We also can’t afford to lock them up forever just because we don’t think we should have to deal with them. I would argue that the rest of society DOES have a responsibility for the rehabilitation of offenders, in that citizens have a responsibility to provide for everyone’s safety.

whaletailgirl October 14, 2009 (2:05 pm)

Thanks, BBdad. If some of these commenters would give a hand out to troubled youth, instead of throwing out nasty barbs, we might actually help ourselves in some way in the future, by showing a young person that someone cares about them. There are so many organizations begging for volunteers and advocates to help struggling youth. . .I wish some of you could see that what you put out there in terms of attitude, you might just receive back someday from someone who never got a hand up, and not in a good way (karma, baby). I, too, volunteer in the schools and have for years. No, I don’t have lots of time on my hands, but I find it to be a much more constructive use of my time than sitting around throwing out angry comments.

onceachef October 14, 2009 (2:22 pm)

You know, Skyelar has had the “hand out” approach too many times…I’m not a strong advocate of prison for everyone but sooner or later he needs to pay his dues. I am in agreement that comments about him being sexually or otherwise harmed while there are WAY out of line. Personally I hope he does turn his life around and MAYBE some prison time (I imagine it will be a minimum security prison?) will help him find the “way”. Others have succeeded and it’s possible he can too.

AdmiralWayish October 14, 2009 (2:25 pm)

I think that people tend to help in many ways, not always just volunteering at school but through donations, kindness to neighbors, food drives, etc.
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I also think that it’s perfectly fine to share a little anger at someone who is a repeat offender known amongst his peers to be someone who is willing to screw over not only strangers but his own friends at home, at schools, ad nauseum.
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Perhaps he is diagnosably mentally ill, and we can lament his lack of treatment either by choice or by failure of a system that was ineptly prepared to deal with him as a minor. As an adult, he’s making his own choices.
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Perhaps those who are feeling bad for Skyelar’s unfortunate youth could volunteer to go visit him in prison and let him know how cared for he is by the community at large. Let us know how it goes and if he’ll be staying with you as he transitions back out post-incarceration. I wish you the best.

Kayleigh October 14, 2009 (3:51 pm)

This thread is even more offensive than the Hatin’ On the Homeless threads. Yuck.

Leroniusmonkfish October 14, 2009 (5:03 pm)

He looks so remorseful in that pic…just let him go like any decent fly fisherman would do

JenV October 14, 2009 (7:56 pm)

I don’t have any answers. I wish I did. But for people to pretend that he’s going to come out of prison all shiny and new with his life turned around are just kidding themselves. it’s not reality. I don’t know what the answer is…I was just making an observation. and if he does come out a changed man, then great. I just doubt it will happen…his stints in county jail over and over and over again have shown his track record on wanting to change his life.

Josh alpers October 15, 2009 (10:38 pm)

Wow this guy was one of my best friends about three years ago. We were partners in crime. I’ve cleaned up my act unfortunetly he didn’t do the same. And this kid is not a gangster and doesn’t act like one. A theif but not a bad person. He’ll clean up his act after this for sure.
I hope

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