A San Juan Island man who admitted to breaking into a home, theft of a loaded handgun and stashing it in a milk crate in the living room of the Friday Harbor apartment that he shares with his wife and young children was ordered to serve two years and four months in prison.
On Aug. 20, Brian Michael Flierl, 35, pleaded guilty in San Juan County Superior Court to one count of theft of a firearm, a Class B felony, and to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, a Class C felony. He was sentenced Aug. 25 to a total of 28 months in confinement by Superior Court Judge pro-tem Glenna Hall, and was ordered to pay $400 in fines and fees.
Prosecutors, in calling for a prison term at the upper end of the state-standard range of sentencing, note that the theft of a firearm and its concealment where it might have been discovered by children demonstrate a disregard for the safety of others. The loaded revolver and its holster reportedly were visible through the milk crate in spite of a flower pot placed on top of it.
A Class B felony, theft of a firearm carries maximum penalties of 10 years in prison, a $20,000, or both; however, the standard range of sentencing set by the state is 15-20 months. The standard range for unlawful possession of a firearm is 3-8 months. Flierl was sentenced to 20 months for the theft and eight months for unlawful possession.
Initially, Flierl, one of two San Juan Island men prosecuted for the May 22 break-in and theft of a loaded 9-mm Glock pistol and jar of coins, and a $20 bill, at a home near Lampard Road—unoccupied at the time—was also charged with first-degree burglary, dismissed at sentencing.
His alleged accomplice, Paul Guard, 25, earlier pleaded not guilty to first-degree burglary and theft of a firearm when arraigned in late June. He had been scheduled for trial Aug. 4.
According to authorities, the two men were identified at the scene by footage from a surveillance camera, with audio-recording capacity, which was installed at the home following several earlier break-ins and thefts.
