Gold Rush Jewelry Theft Trial Rescheduled for September in Sequim

Kurt Miller, owner of Gold Rush Jewelry and Coin at 425 E. Washington St. in downtown Sequim, and his employee Kimberly Stober are now scheduled for a 10-day joint trial beginning Sept. 28, 2026, after Judge Simon Barnhart struck the previous April 13 start date during a status hearing in Clallam County Superior Court.

The Washington Attorney General's Office, under AG Nick Brown, is prosecuting both defendants through its Major Economic Crimes Unit. Section chief Tienney Milnor told the court that prosecutors intend to try Miller and Stober together because "they are the same actors." Milnor also indicated that additional charges against Miller are forthcoming and that she anticipates more than 20 victims providing testimony during the trial.

Miller faces 40 felony charges for theft and writing bad checks. The alleged offenses span September 2022 through August 2024, during which court documents state Miller and Stober bought, sold, or consigned precious metals and accepted jewelry for repair, while in most instances paying customers using three different Wells Fargo accounts with insufficient funds. Police report that the two took more than $132,000 in total from 24 individuals or couples, though the Attorney General's probable cause statement from Dec. 31 references 22 individuals or couples who allegedly lost money or services.

The Sequim Police Department and the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team served a search warrant at Gold Rush Jewelry on Aug. 29, 2024, following months of investigating dozens of customer complaints about services not rendered and checks bouncing. Sequim Police Chief Mike Hill said Miller was arrested that same day but later released after declining an interview. Both Miller and Stober remain free on personal recognizance with conditions including continued court appearances.

The volume of case material has slowed the defense's preparation. Stober's attorney, William Payne, told the court he was still working through nearly 5,000 pages of discovery. Miller is represented by court-appointed attorney Alex Stalker.

With prosecutors signaling more charges and a witness list exceeding 20 victims, the September trial is shaping up to be a significant test of consumer protection enforcement on the Olympic Peninsula.