One of the six people charged in connection with the December slaying of a Vancouver man pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of first-degree robbery.
Joshua B. McAlexander, 31, will be sentenced Nov. 24. He faces 12 to 16 years in prison.
The three counts of first-degree robbery, a class A felony, relate to how McAlexander threatened Moore and his two roommates with a hatchet while the group stole items from the home, said Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Vu.
McAlexander was initially charged with first-degree murder as an accomplice, but agreed to plead guilty to robbery in exchange for prosecutors dropping that charge. His plea deal includes a cooperation agreement with prosecutors in the cases against the remaining co-defendants.
Charles N. Moore, 46, was shot dead Dec. 13 after four masked intruders forced their way into his home in the 5300 block of St. James Road. They ransacked the home, stealing items. One of them, Douglas A. Marquis, is alleged to have killed Moore.
Vancouver police started making arrests in the case in April.
A tip led Vancouver police officers to McAlexander. A witness told police a man with bullet holes tattooed on his forehead was involved in the home invasion and shooting of Moore, according to court papers.
McAlexander, who was already an inmate at the Clark County Jail for a probation violation, fit that description. Upon questioning, McAlexander told police he was present during the shooting but didn’t steal anything, according to court papers.
Court papers indicate he went on to say he was in the house for a prolonged period of time and when he left, Marquis had a shopping bag of stolen goods.
Two defendants, Minna R. Long and Caleb E. Soucy, previously pleaded guilty in connection with the case. Soucy was sentenced to 35 years in prison; Long, who was the getaway driver, will be sentenced in January after she gives birth to twins.
Marquis, 22, and the other defendants — Joshua B. McAlexander, 30; Garold T. Jacobsen, 27; and Cathleen M. Potter, 46 — are awaiting trial.
Prosecutors don’t believe Potter was in the group that went to Moore’s home, but allege that Potter met with the defendants at some point prior to the robbery and told them that she had been in a relationship with Moore and he had items that belonged to her and she wanted them back, according to court documents.
Jacobsen was scheduled to plead guilty Friday, but backed out at the last minute.
Laura McVicker: 360-735-4516 or laura.mcvicker@columbian.com.
