— from the San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney’s office —
Orcas resident David Andreev, 40, was sentenced to 20 months in prison by Judge Donald Eaton for gun and drug charges. Andreev had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and two drug charges, one involving methamphetamine and one involving marijuana.
Other charges involving delivery of methamphetamine and possession of stolen property were dismissed by the prosecutor after the prosecutor had difficulty in securing the witnesses presence for trial.
The case attracted the attention of many on Orcas Island because Andreev had taken up residence in a property that had been subject to a bank foreclosure on Geiser Way, a narrow residential street. The neighbors banded together to form a “neighborhood watch” and assisted the Sheriff’s Office in the investigation that led to Andreev’s guilty plea.
Prosecutor Randall Gaylord was complimentary of the diligence shown by the neighbors. “People need to know that they can influence the way these cases turn out. I greatly appreciate the willingness of Andreev’s neighbors to speak out against the illegal drug activity on their street.”
Gaylord described the sentence as a “high-end, standard range sentence.” Gaylord said that at the sentencing hearing, Andreev spoke, apologized for his conduct, and tried to minimize it.” Gaylord acknowledged that to many, this sentence would seem light, but he said it fits the range that the legislature fixed as part of the sentencing process.
Orcas Resident David Thompson Convicted of Assault, Now on the Run
After a jury trial in October, David Thompson was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree with a Deadly Weapon and Felony Harrassment. The charges arose out an incident where Thompson threatened to kill three young men and pointed a gun at them because they would not let Thompson kill their dog.
After the jury convicted Thompson, he failed to appear for his sentencing hearing. Thompson has been at large since October 31, 2014. The bail posted in his case was forfeited.
Prosecutor Randall Gaylord said that he expected Thompson to be picked up someday and brought back here for sentencing.
Thank you for publicizing the positive results this case shows of neighbors banding together to protect their neighborhood, and to help our law enforcement provide the evidence could stand up in court. Too often, the fear of retaliation, or apathy, prevent good people from realizing what can be accomplished, and the power they have, by sticking together to confront crimes that are being committed.
I feel it is important to be informed about the criminal incidents that occur in our “paradise”, because without such information, we can neither protect ourselves and our neighbors, nor take steps to make our “paradise” even better.