PORT ANGELES — The trial of a Port Angeles man accused of high-level drug dealing has been postponed until October, putting it right before Election Day.
Bernard Gilbert “Pete” Barnes, 53, was charged in December 2004 with cocaine dealing and organized crime.
The trial had previously been set for three weeks and slated to begin May 8.
Last Friday, it was reset to begin Oct. 23, 16 days before Election Day.
Clallam County Prosecutor Deborah Kelly, who will stand for re-election after finishing four years in office, said she asked for the continuance last Friday because of scheduling and “logistical” reasons.
Kelly is currently weeks into the first-degree murder trial of Robert Gene Covarrubias, 25, who is accused of raping and murdering 15-year-old Melissa Leigh Carter in December 2004.
“Just coming out of this and going into that,” Kelly said.
Also pushing the date back was the schedule of Superior Court Judge George Wood, she said.
