2014 dog death brought burglary felony conviction

Linda Clark presented an incomplete narrative of her advocating for and intervening “on behalf of two dogs in town” in 2014 in her guest column “Why I challenged the sale of Hedlin Field” in the Oct. 13 Weekly News. Skagit County Superior Court, Skagit County Sheriff’s Office and Washington state appeals court documents offer a detailed, official record showing that in January 2015 she was arrested, went to trial that October and was convicted on two counts, burglary in the second degree, a class B felony, and taking/injuring/killing pets, a gross misdemeanor.

In addition to providing fact, the court, as State of Washington, plaintiff, v. Linda Renae Clark, imposed a ten year harassment no contact order, filed as protected persons, the victims/family of Clark’s actions and convictions.

In a state appeals court opinion dated Sept. 25, 2017, the court found that a La Conner family owned two dogs and hired Clark as a dog walker in 2014. After they dismissed her that spring, Clark threatened them. The family called Skagit County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brad Holmes, who told Clark “that she cannot go back to the residence for any reason or she could be arrested for trespassing.” Clark agreed not to return to the property.

But on Nov. 6, 2014, the appeals opinion recounts, the dogs were missing from the property and the “fence had been cut.” Later that day Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Sheahan-Lee went to Clark’s house. Clark admitted she had the dogs and turned them over. The court found “Sergeant Sheahan-Lee also noted that both dogs did not appear to be neglected or in need of any care.” One dog was under veterinary care and was taking medication and had not had his medication yet that morning. He was not to be exercised, yet Clark had walked him vigorously.

In a two day jury trial on Oct. 19-20, 2015, the jury took less than three hours to find Clark guilty of burglary in the second degree and taking, concealing, injuring or killing (a) pet, finding she “entered or remained unlawfully in a building … with intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein,” as Judge Brian Stiles instructed the jury in the case State of Washington v. Linda Renae Clark.

Clark lost her appeal in the state’s appeal court in September 2017. The court rejected Clark’s claims “that her attorney was ineffective for failing to present a necessity defense or communicate her acceptance of a plea offer.”

Her petition for review to the Washington State Supreme Court was denied in February 2018.