A fifth person suspected of being involved in a July 27 home-invasion robbery in Marysville is being held on $500,000 bail.
Eric F. Christensen, 37, of Everett, appeared Wednesday in Everett District Court after he was arrested and questioned by Marysville police. He is being held for investigation of first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping and theft of a firearm.
Christensen has not been charged.
Four others have been charged in Everett District Court with similar crimes in the heist, which terrorized a family.
Christensen and another suspect, Richard J. Upchurch, 23, of Everett, were picked up after an anonymous tip to police, court documents said. The documents say that Christensen participated in the planning, drove others to the victim’s house and then helped place stolen items in a storage locker.
Christensen denied entering the victim’s house, and said he drove away after dropping the others off, documents said.
Three armed men knocked on the family’s Smokey Point Boulevard home in the early morning hours and forced their way inside. A man, his wife and two children were present.
The intruders allegedly were after some racing jackets, including one signed by NASCAR legend Dale Ernhardt.
Prosecutors allege that a Marysville woman, Christine L. Iverson, 34, recruited her boyfriend, Charles Lloyd Hiatt, also 34, of Marysville, and others to steal the racing jackets, which had been left in the victim’s possession by her ex-husband.
Once inside the home, one of the intruders struck the man on the head and bound him with duct tape. The gunmen then ransacked the house. A 15-year-old boy who came to his mother’s defense also was struck on the head.
After gathering household items, two of the intruders forced the bound man into the victim’s van and drove off. A Washington State Patrol trooper tried to stop the van near Highway 9 and 84th Street NE after noticing the van had a headlight out. After a short chase, the two intruders ran from the van, leaving the still-bound victim behind.
Hiatt and Mark Damon Tezzaras, 34, of Mount Vernon, were arrestedlater.Iverson, Upchurch and Christensen were booked after a police investigation.
Iverson, Hiatt and Tezzaras are being held on $500,000 bail each. Upchurch’s bail is $100,000.
Charges will have to be moved to Snohomish County Superior Court if the case is to be prosecuted.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
