A Chehalis man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly sold a boat and trailer belonging to somebody else.
According to the victim, the items were valued at a combined $4,000. Robert E. Brunn allegedly sold them for a total of $350.
Brunn, 47, is charged with one count each of second-degree burglary, first-degree trafficking in stolen property, second-degree theft and forgery.
The burglary and trafficking charges are both punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison. The theft and forgery charges are both punishable by a maximum of five years in prison.
Brunn made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday. A judge set bail at $10,000 cash or bond.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the victim in April reported to law enforcement that his boat and trailer had been stolen from a barn on his Chehalis property. The victim reportedly believed Brunn to be the culprit, as he had been trying to evict Brunn from his property.
The victim estimated the boat’s value to be $3,500, and the trailer $500.
A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office sergeant learned on June 23 that the stolen boat had been seen at a home in Centralia. The sergeant went to the home and spoke with the property owner, who said he’d bought the boat and trailer weeks earlier.
According to the affidavit, the man said the items had originally been listed for $1,000, before being reduced to $500. He ultimately talked the price down to $350.
The man’s wife provided the sergeant what she and the man thought was a bill of sale. The bill of sale allegedly listed Brunn’s name.
The man said he had bought the items at a barn on a Chehalis property.
According to the affidavit, the man picked Brunn’s image from a photomontage. He said Brunn had told him the items belonged to Brunn’s “father who had recently passed away.”
The next day, when speaking to law enforcement, Brunn allegedly denied selling the boat and trailer — even after learning of the witness statements and alleged documentation.
He is scheduled for an arraignment on July 2.
