TULALIP — A thief posing as a landlord pleaded guilty to breaking into a home while the owners were away, posting framed photos of himself on the wall, and renting it out to unsuspecting tenants.
Matthew Robert Paul, 36, of Marysville, told at least four potential renters that his name was Ryan and his parents were out of town, putting him in charge of renting out the Hermosa Beach Road home, with a 240-square-foot deck overlooking Tulalip Bay.
He lit a fire in the fireplace when he showed people the place in early 2017. He collected $45 for background checks and called references to convince the renters that it was not a “swindle,” according to charging papers.
Eventually he told one man he’d been picked to be the new tenant. Paul collected about $2,300 for a damage deposit and rent. Then he told a second man the same thing, court papers say. He convinced the second man that $3,300 in checks needed to be written out to an uncle, because Paul owed the uncle money.
The purported uncle cashed the checks at the bank while Paul waited outside, in exchange for $20 in heroin, according to police. Police later obtained security footage from the bank.
The homeowners returned from an extended trip out of the country to find their TV, laptops and tools had been stolen, a loss estimated at $1,900.
Earlier this month, a judge dismissed another felony case against Paul, where he was accused of possessing heroin in April 2017.
In that case, a Marysville police officer confronted Paul in a van outside of a suspected drug house, and noticed Paul’s hands were stained brown — from heroin, in the officer’s opinion. The judge found that wasn’t a good enough reason to detain and arrest him, so any evidence seized afterward would not be admissible in a trial.
In July 2018, Paul used a credit card that had been stolen from a car for a spending spree of over $800 at a Cabela’s and Walmart off Quil Ceda Boulevard, according to charging papers. A detective identified him through security footage, in which a tattoo on his left shoulder matched a tattoo in past jail booking photos.
Paul has been behind bars since police caught up to him in December.
He admitted guilt Wednesday to first-degree theft, two counts of obtaining a signature by duress or deception, and second-degree identity theft.
Other than misdemeanor drug and driving offenses, Paul had no prior criminal convictions.
Paul has already served more time in jail than is recommended by a plea agreement.
His sentencing is set for June 5.
Caleb Hutton: 425-339-3454; chutton@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snocaleb.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
