Brian A. Carreon, right, and his lawyer Shane O’Rourke face Judge James Lawler today in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The 17-year-old Centralia boy who admitted to being one of three males captured in surveillance video at a roughly 45 second home invasion that ended with a pet dog shot dead got a break.
Brian A. Carreon appeared before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was sentenced to six months in jail.
The judge said he would allow the term to be served on electronic home monitoring.
The other two men involved were sentenced last week to 10 and 12 years in prison.
Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher and Carreon’s defense attorney spent a great deal of time this afternoon addressing the different levels of culpability and the reason they agreed he could resolve his case with a conviction for first-degree rendering criminal assistance.
When the teen was charged in adult court last year, he faced one count of first-degree robbery.
Centralia attorney Shane O’Rourke praised the year and a half long process of getting to the bottom of what happened.
His client didn’t go to the home with the intent to commit armed robbery, he said.
Meagher focused on the issue that without Carreon’s cooperation, authorities would not have known who committed the crime.
“The guy that came clean from the get go is sitting right over there,” Meagher said, pointing to Carreon.
It happened the night of Feb. 19, 2015 at a small house on the 1200 block of Marion Street in Centralia.
The victim and his girlfriend were home with their two dogs when about three males barged through the door demanding money and weed, and fired numerous shots killing their pit bull Misty. Officers found nine shell casings and two bullet jacket fragments at the scene.
Meagher said there was one gun involved.
He told the judge today that Deandre J. Perry of Portland, then 26, kicked the front door in.
Meagher said Hennessy R. Turner-White, then 22 and also from Portland, shot the dog.
Meagher said Carreon provided his cell phone to law enforcement while the Portland suspects as recently as this summer still claimed an alibi.
“So all in all, we think this is a fair resolution,” Meagher said. “It’s probably light handed, but we make no apology for that.”
Turner-White was given 12 years last week for first-degree attempted robbery, first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of first-degree animal cruelty. Perry was given 10 years for the same convictions, minus the animal cruelty.
Meagher reminded the judge Carreon had been to house before, and had taken a video of himself trimming the victim’s medical marijuana plants. O’Rourke told the judge his client shouldn’t have talked about the marijuana grow, and shouldn’t have been hanging out with the two men.
“This is someone who’s 17, dealing with adults,” O’Rourke said.
Carreon has been free on bail, working and attending Centralia College.
His lawyer asked that he be allowed to go to work and go to classes while he’s on house arrest.
On of the two victims, Dustin Palermo, was present in the courtroom for today’s hearing.
Carreon apologized when it was his turn to address the court, but he did so facing the judge.
“I would like to apologize to Mr. Palermo as well,” Carreon said. “I’m sorry. A dog is definitely part of your family.
“I sincerely apologize.”
Judge James Lawler agreed with the two lawyers deal they’d worked out, noting to the defendant that he wasn’t required to.
“Make something of yourself and don’t come back here,” Lawler said.
Carreon has until 7 p.m. on Nov. 15 to get signed up for electronic home monitoring, or he must report to the Lewis County Jail.
Palermo outside the courtroom was surprised by the short amount of time Carreon got. The last he was aware, prosecutors were seeking a year, he said.
“I’m very upset with it, because he’s the one that brought them to our home,” he said. “Without him, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Carreon’s sister, Taina Duncan, from Portland, is expected for a hearing tomorrow. She allegedly drove the three to Palermo’s home.
Meagher said she’s planning to plead guilty to first-degree rendering criminal assistance, and he’s prepared to recommend she be sentenced to six months.
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For background, read:
• “News brief: Second Portland man gets prison for Centralia home invasion” Thursday October 13, 2016, here
• And, Two arrested, two sought in February Centralia home invasion” from Thursday July 9, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter