Accused home invader's past comes to light
SANDPOINT - A North Idaho man accused of a brazen home invasion in Sandpoint last fall was convicted of shooting a movie theater manager to death during a failed robbery attempt in the 1980s.
The shooting Randy Carl Eiland was accused of perpetrating is outlined in Snohomish County, Wash., court documents obtained by The Bonner County Daily Bee. It occurred on July 10, 1985, in Lynnwood, Wash.
A probable cause affidavit states that David Clements, manager of the Lynn 4 Theatre, was dropping the cinema's receipts into a Seattle-First National Bank night depository. Eiland arrived on a motorcycle at 2:30 a.m. and displayed a pistol.
An assistant manager who witnessed the shooting said Clements turned to Eiland, raised his hands and was shot in the face, the affidavit said. Clements was mortally wounded and died three hours later.
Lynwood Police noted that an officer had earlier made contact with Eiland and his roommate at the theater. They reported the theft of a motorcycle shortly after midnight, according to the affidavit.
Eiland matched the description of the shooting suspect, which prompted police to check the duo's home. Officers discovered a Yamaha motorcycle and a .41-caliber Smith & Wesson magnum revolver at the home.
The roommate told police he went to the theater with Eiland to case its operations and plan the robbery. The roommate tailed Eiland as he followed Clements after the theater closed.
The roommate said he heard a gunshot and saw Eiland fleeing on the motorcycle. After he arrived at the home, Eiland admitted shooting the manager, the affidavit said.
Five days after the shooting, Eiland allegedly told a cellmate at the Snohomish County Jail that he shot Clements after the man dropped the theater receipts into the depository, the affidavit states.
Eiland, who was 21 at the time of the shooting, was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury following a five-day jury trial, court records indicate. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison and appears to have been placed on probation in 2006.
Eiland, now 51, is charged with battery with intent to commit a serious felony, aggravated battery and burglary in connection with a Oct. 21, 2014, daytime home invasion in which he discharged pepper spray into the face of the homeowner. Eiland allegedly fled on foot once the homeowner took refuge with his wife and daughter in a room.
Eiland pleaded not guilty to the charges and contends he was riding on a bus on the other side of town when the incident occurred. He is scheduled to be tried in April and remains held at the Bonner County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.