ARLINGTON — A man who broke up a heist at his son’s indoor marijuana plantation nearly two years ago is now facing a felony assault charge.
Prosecutors say that Carmen Scoleri, 65, was outside his legal rights when he shot one of the fleeing burglars from behind. Scoleri allegedly fired a shotgun at the retreating man, striking him in the legs. The impact broke bones, and the man was in wheelchair for about a year, according to Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Chris Dickinson.
Dickinson recently charged Scoleri with second-degree assault. The Arlington man is scheduled to be in court next month to answer to the charge.
The incident happened during the summer of 2013 along Carpenter Road. The man who was injured is homeless and lives outside Snohomish County. It took time to track him down to ask if he’ll cooperate with prosecutors, police said. Detectives were able to catch up with him about three weeks ago.
Police reports say the man and about seven others were recruited to break into Shawn Scoleri’s marijuana growing operation.
Shawn Scoleri is a veteran grower, who operated a medical marijuana dispensary in Seattle. He told The Herald last year that he began growing marijuana when his father, Carmen, started using it to manage pain after an organ transplant.
Scoleri has been vocal about legalizing marijuana and easing regulations on the new industry.
The mastermind behind the heist at Scoleri’s grow was a former associate who felt he had been wronged and was out to get revenge, Dickinson wrote in court papers.
The burglars were told different stories about why they were breaking in and were promised a reward for their help. They came up from south King County and “found that they had bitten off more than they could chew,” Dickinson wrote.
The house was heavily fortified with multiple security cameras, alarms and iron bars on doors. The band of thieves was unsuccessful in busting down the door but the ruckus set off the security alarm. Carmen Scoleri lives nearby and was alerted to the break-in. He could monitor the house’s security cameras through his cellphone, police said.
The would-be burglars were pondering their next move when Scoleri pulled up to the house. The men scattered, Dickinson wrote. Two jumped into a vehicle and headed for the driveway but Scoleri’s pickup was blocking their exit. The driver swerved into some brush, lost control and crashed into a fence.
With their getaway car wrecked, the men made a run for it. Prosecutors allege that Scoleri shot one of the men as he was running away. The man, severely injured, collapsed. Scoleri reportedly walked up to the man, 48, and asked, “How does it feel to get shot?”
Scoleri drove off in his pickup without calling 911, Dickinson said.
A neighbor who heard the commotion called 911. Police found the wounded man lying on the ground. The officers rounded up several other would-be thieves hiding in the woods and brush. While they were investigating, Scoleri’s attorney called prosecutors and arranged for him to surrender. He drove back to the marijuana grow and was arrested.
The wounded man was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he spent several weeks and underwent surgeries.
Carmen Scoleri found himself on the wrong side of the law 15 years ago when he was caught up in an investigation into his son’s marijuana grow in Stanwood. Detectives found an elaborate grow operation. Shawn Scoleri told detectives he started growing marijuana after a bad business deal. Power lines had been diverted to provide stolen electricity to the grow. The account was in Carmen Scoleri’s name. He eventually pleaded guilty to soliciting marijuana, a gross misdemeanor. He avoided any jail time.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley
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