PORT ANGELES — The state has rejected a plea offer in the case of a Port Angeles man charged in April after deputies found the largest ball of black tar heroin some had ever seen.
Trials are currently set for Nov. 13 and Nov. 27 for Gerald Neil Walkup, though another plea offer from Walkup is expected.
Walkup’s attorney, Ralph Anderson, said in Clallam Superior Court on Thursday that the defense had made a plea offer, the state countered and Walkup countered back.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney April King said she couldn’t accept the counter-offer.
“At this time, this is not going to be something the state can accept as a resolution,” King said. “We ask that we keep this set for trial.”
Anderson said he expects Walkup to make one more plea offer, but he needed to talk to Walkup first.
“We’ll have one last counter,” Anderson said.
Walkup, 27, is charged in one case with single counts of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver heroin and methamphetamine, possession of a stolen firearm, unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon and four counts of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
After a high-speed chase April 2, Walkup allegedly crashed a vehicle in Gales Addition. The wreck led to the discovery of 950 grams of heroin, more than 400 grams of methamphetamine, four guns, about 20 cellphones, dozens of car keys, 100 ounces of silver and about $9,000 in cash, according to the affidavit for probable cause.
Walkup, a convicted felon, is charged in another pending case with second-degree intentional assault/reckless infliction of substantial bodily harm for his role in an alleged assault in the Clallam County jail July 12.
Video surveillance at the jail shows Walkup and Nicholas Tyler Roberts, then 21, beating another inmate, punching and kicking him, and fracturing his ribs, according to court records.
Walkup posted $210,000 bond in May but returned to jail in July accused of driving on a suspended license.
Absent a plea deal, Walkup’s Nov. 13 trial for the drugs and weapons case is expected to last three days. A Nov. 27 trial on the assault charge is also scheduled for three days.
Walkup is being held in the Clallam County jail on $260,000 bail.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
