PORT ANGELES — Bail was set at $1 million Thursday for Robert Covarrubias, accused of the Christmas weekend rape-murder of 15-year-old Melissa Leigh Carter.
The courtroom of Superior Court Judge George Wood was crowded with about 40 of Carter’s family and friends — and a heavy police presence that included Clallam County Sheriff Joe Martin.
Out of sight to spectators, two deputies stood wearing flak jackets. One carried a shotgun; the other had an assault rifle.
After hearing earlier cases, Wood cleared the courtroom, and spectators had to pass through a metal detector to re-enter. They sat quietly, although one young woman softly cursed Covarrubias as he was led back to jail.
“There are so many guys in this town that are willing to go to jail to work him over,” she said.
Black-and-white stripes
Covarrubias, wearing black-and-white-striped jail coveralls, sat attentively through his initial court appearance next to his attorney, Ralph W. Anderson, who said he had defended a dozen murder cases before joining the Clallam Public Defender’s staff.
Covarrubias probably will face a charge of first-degree murder. Conviction will not carry the death penalty, said Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deborah Kelly, because premeditation in Carter’s killing cannot be proven.
Police on Wednesday arrested Covarrubias, who already was in jail on a residential burglary charge.
He initially had been arrested for a parole violation five days after Carter’s body was found in a brushy hollow above the Port Angeles Waterfront Trail.
Wednesday’s arrest followed a State Patrol forensic pathologist’s report that Covarrubias’ DNA linked him to Carter’s rape.
In court Thursday, Kelly moved that Covarrubias surrender more DNA samples if they are needed. Wood granted the motion.
Anderson told the judge that Dr. Randell Livvey of the University of Washington will be the defense’s expert witness on DNA.
