While Washington state’s most notorious teenage burglar, Colton Harris-Moore, was stealing headlines this summer, an Orcas Island man was busy carrying out a brazen crime spree of his own.
On Aug. 6, Adam Willow Hayes, 33, pleaded guilty in San Juan County Superior Court to three counts of felony burglary and to one count each of possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of methamphetamine, both of which are Class C felonies. Hayes, who’s criminal record includes three prior felony convictions as a juvenile and five as an adult — mostly property crimes — was ordered to serve a total of four years and three months in prison, and to pay $1,300 in fines and fees.
According to court documents, Hayes broke into an Eastsound dentist office on July 3 and the following night broke into a second dentist office in the village. He reportedly ransacked each while stealing cash and medical supplies, injecting himself with chemicals and painkillers, and using office computers to view pornographic Websites. He was reportedly seated at a computer and viewing porn when the wife of the dentist at the second office happened to stop by that building at about 11:30 p.m. and, with two young children in tow, stumbled upon Hayes, who then fled.
Hayes also confessed to stealing a laptop computer and electronic equipment from an Orcas Village hotel where he had at one time been employed.
On July 5, Hayes was apprehended at the ferry landing while behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle that vanished from the Island Market parking lot the night before. Some of the missing items from the hotel were found in that vehicle, and the woman who stumbled upon him reportedly picked Hayes out of a lineup shortly after his arrest.
Hayes pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree burglary, a Class B felony, which carries maximum penalties of 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both; however, he faced a sentencing range set by the state of 51-68 months in prison, based largely on prior convictions. Judge Don Eaton followed the recommendation of the prosecuting attorney’s office in imposing a 51-month prison term.
According to court documents, a restitution hearing is slated for November, in which four individuals will be seeking compensation.
