Denise Salts, 52, was taken into custody this morning after pleading guilty to use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
Updated at 4:05 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Prosecutors made a plea deal with Denise R. Salts to drop a delivery of methamphetamine charge admitting they were holding it over her head until after she testified in a triple-murder trial in which she was the only surviving victim.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt expressed his displeasure with the attorneys’ agreement Salts should serve no time on a lesser charge, and sent her to jail for eight days this morning.
Salts, 52, was shot in the face when her boyfriend David West Sr. and two others were slain in August 2010 inside her Salkum-Onalaska area home.
Then, the following June she was labeled one of the main narcotics distributors in East Lewis County when the sheriff’s office arrested her, alleging she gave a small baggie of methamphetamine to an informant in exchange for a $20 bill.
Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher amended the charge to unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor that comes with a sentence of zero to 90 days in jail.
He and defense attorney Michael Underwood agreed to recommend Salts get credit for the two days she served when she was arrested and no more time.
Both said there was no deal in place when she testified last month against John A. Booth Jr.
Meagher did not say Salts was unwilling to testify, only that he had lost track of her and didn’t know where she was. It was always his intent to reward her, he told the judge.
Hunt asked why they made a plea agreement.
“To be quite candid your honor, I felt sorry for her,” Meagher said.
Salts had no criminal history and is a former successful graduate of Lewis County Drug Court.
Hunt calmly blasted Salts for using the resources of his drug court and returning old habits, calling it beyond explanation.
She replied, “I don’t know, I can’t even tell you … I don’t know.”
The judge sentenced her 90 days in jail, with 80 days suspended and gave her credit for two days served.
•••
For background, read:
• “News brief: “Big” drug dealers in court tomorrow” from Wednesday June 22, 2011, here
• “Salkum triple murder: Victims cry, defendant lashes out at sentence hearing” from Friday December 16, 2011, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
@UPEEPSRALLFUCKEDUP- YES I KNOW DENISE ,THANK YOU VERY MUCH,I MET HER A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE SHOOTING AND I HAVE TALKED TO HER A LOT,IN THE LAST YR AND I WILL SAY ,I NEVER SAW HER USE OR SHOW DRUGS IN MY PRESENCE IN ALL TIMES WE TALKED,AND IT COULD BE BECAUSE SHE KNEW I AM NOT IN THE SCENE AT ALL,SINCE I HAVE BEEN CLEAN AND SOBER SINCE 94,AND SO WITH THAT SAID,I KNOW WHAT IM TALKIN ABOUT WHEN I POSTED MY PREVIOUS MESSAGE.DENISE WAS IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE PROSECUTOR THE WHOLE TIME THE BOOTH CASE WAS GOIN ON AND ALSO NEVER TOLD HIM WHERE SHE WAS STAYIN AS SHE DIDNT WANT ANYONE TO KNOW FOR SAFETY REASONS,SHE DID GRADUATE FROM DRUG COURT FOR WHEN HER AND DAVE SR GOT RAIDED A FEW YRS BACK,AS FOR KATIE JOHNSON BEING IN JAIL,WELL SHE HAS A NEW BABY AND SOMEONE SCARED HER INTO BACKIN OUT OF TESTIFYIN AND SO WHEN SHE WOULDNT TESTIFY,THE PROSECUTOR BROUGHT UP HER OLD CHARGES AS IF SHE HAD TESTIFIED,THEY WOULD OF BEEN DROPPED,BUT SHE DIDNT GO THROUGH AND THE D.A. DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO, IT WASNT 8 YRS AGO DENISE WAS IN TROUBLE,BUT A FEW YRS AGO AND U AND I BOTH KNOW IT,
So, you say Salts had “…no prior charges before the shooting.” (your words). Then you follow that up with “SHE HAD NOT BEEN IN THE COURTS SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST 8 YEARS AFTER SHE GRADUATED FROM DRUG COURT” (Again, your words). So which one is it? If she “graduated” from Drug Court, then that is most definitely a prior charge.
And if she was a “graduate” of Drug Court, then I would say that she failed every class, because she is using (maybe even dealing?) and hanging around with people who use (and deal).
Also, the charge in this case (the one that was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor) was filed for an incident that occurred AFTER she was involved in the shooting. AFTER. The shooting took place in 2010, and the charges against Salts were filed in 2011. Almost a full year after the shooting.
The charges in this latest case were reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor because someone felt sorry for her for having been shot, when she should have had the book thrown at her for not learning her lesson the first time.
So, now YOU have the facts. Perhaps you should check them before YOU tell us that we should.
Funny, Funny… not one of you have a clue of the Real Situation, DO YOU? First Off! Bustybabes, George, Clever1,….etc. Do you even know Denise? I dont think so, wow! she had no prior charges before the shooting. The CI is in jail, “BECAUSE SHE DECIDED TO FURTHER HER CRIMINAL CAREER WHILE UNDER CONTRACT FOR LEWIS COUNTY TASK FORCE” THEY CAN NOT USE HER TO TESTIFY SHE IS NOT RELIABLE FOR TESTIMONY, ONLY FOR IDENTITY THEFT AND BURGLARY! OF COURSE THE PROSECUTER WONT LET ANYONE IN ON THE TRUTH. MISS SALTS DID NOT MISSUSE THE COMMUNITIES LAME RESOURCES, SHE HAD NOT BEEN IN THE COURTS SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST 8 YEARS AFTER SHE GRADUATED FROM DRUG COURT. HER CHARGES FROM JUNE 16TH WERE NEVER DISMISSED, SHE WAS IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE PROSECUTER ON THE BOOTH CASE. THIS LAST DRUG CHARGE WAS IN FACT THE SAME DRUG CHARGE AS THE ONE THAT SHE WAS EARLIER ARRESTED ON. THEY SAID HER CHARGES WOULD BE DISMISSED AFTER SHE TESTIFIED, BUT THEY LIED. THEY COERSED HER INTO ANOTHER CHARGE SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT LOOK LIKE THE FOOLS THAT THEY ARE. THEY COULD NOT CHARGE HER WITH THE ORIGINAL ONE WITH KATIE (CI) JOHNSON BECAUSE SHE HAD COMMITTED MORE DISHONEST CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE. THE EXCHANGE OR A SLIGHT “OVERLOOK” OF DICARDING ONES CRIMES TO INTRAP OR SET UP, OR LIE THEIR WAY TO ANOTHER CRIME OR CHARGE TO ANOTHER. WTF IS THE DIFFERANCE? A USER, BEING FRAMED AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRUG DEALERS IN THE COUNTY, OR A CAREER BURGLAR (RESIDENTIAL), THIEF, IDENTITY THEFT, & FACTORING OF CREDIT CARDS. WOW! WHATS WRONG WITH YOU IDIOTS. IF YOU ASK ME I WOULD THINK THAT YOU ARE ALL HIGH ON METH. OR SPEND WAY TOO MUCH TIME BELIEVING IN OUR MOST CORRUPT AND CROOKED LAW ENFORCEMENT! OPEN YOUR BUSY BODIED EYES, PAY SOME REAL ATTENTION TO THE FACTS, OR MAYBE JUST TRY TO FIND THE FACTS INSTEAD OF SITTING HOME ON YOUR BUTTS BELIEVING THE GOSSIPS AND SUCH.
@BUSTYBABE….. what kind of charges can they charge an informant with for not testifiying, when she felt intimidated and feared for her and her babies life? They must of had the “goods” on her for something. How do you know who the informant is? Does law enforcement just put their CI’s out there like that? All this smells of Booth’s last words….I’ll get out on appeal…look for him to be back on our streets within the next 5 yrs…Then him and ‘ol Robbie Russell, right back to business as usual…
When will they start feeling sorry for the community held hostage by drug addiction, and abuse? Good, “clean” people dont hang out in drug houses where people get killed. Because her record is for the most part clean, does not mean she is NOT a criminal, and or a drug addict. Perhaps if Lewis Co threw the book at these jerks the first time, they wouldn’t see them back, REPEATEDLY! They are using and abusing resources, that the community doesn’t have to give either. This is just disgusting, and a huge slap in the face to the residents throughout Lewis County. Drug abuse, sales, and violence are accepted behavior because the prosecuter “feels sorry” for these people? Compassion is one thing, when appropriate. Pity…..*#&%*% that!
“To be quite candid your honor, I felt sorry for her,” Meagher said.
In other words, he is bringing his PERSONAL feelings into play here, instead of the best interests of law and order, or the protection and well-being of the community.
Nice. Real nice. I hope he can sleep good at night.
Hey cleaver1, maybe she’ll be “scared straight” this time! Think about it….who the hell is she gonna testify against? Im thinkin the Prosecutor has been waitin and watchin for his chance to leap into action and show that he “is all that” afterall. Id bet on that straight up!
Maybe the judge, giving her eight days, was part of the plan too! That would be time enough for them to p.c. her up till they had the details figured out on how they were gonna do this!
Yep, it looks to me like there may be trouble in paradise, or should I say, “Cedar Creek”, for Rob Russell.
Who else are they gonna have her testify on in that particular trial…unless of course, John Booth wasnt really the shooter…yea…whatever!
I think the Prosecutor is about to show LEWIS FUCKING COUNTY that he is indeed worthy of his title! AND…maybe….just maybe…some of the corrupt in our Lewis County Government Offices may want to cover their asses right now, real good. Or resign and go far away!
Huh, sounds like a challenge Mr. Prosecutor, doesnt it? Feel the pressure? Come on, your rolling good now, dont let us down! Please be the hero and work some magic on all of Lewis Fucking County! Im betting on ya! Show us your stuff!
you all dont know it all,,the charges she was arrested for last june were actually dropped,this charge was before the shooting ever occured when she got busted before,,the D.A. dropped last junes charge because the informant got intimidated and she had just had a baby at the time(the informant)so she couldnt go through with it for fear for her and her babys life,,so last yrs charge was actually dropped,this is a previous charge,, and if u look at the lewis co,roster,the informants in jail because she wouldnt testify,
Several points to bring up here:
1) The prosecutor is either unable to do his job, or is unwilling to do it. Far too many cases are being pleaded down to lesser charges, or are being dismissed. Is this holding the people responsible for their crimes? Of course it isn’t! This is the person who is responsible for prosecuting criminals, taking them off the streets, protecting the law-abiding citizens of our county. He is failing to do his job. Miserably.
2) The original charges against Salts came up AFTER almost being killed in a monstrous case (that was, again, not prosecuted as it should have been). She didn’t learn her lesson from before, having been through the courts for drugs, and surviving a bullet to the head didn’t change her behavior. I won’t be surprised if she makes the paper again soon.
3) The judge is NOT obliged to accept the terms of a plea bargain, and the judges in this county do so on a regular basis, especially with people that are repeat offenders. The judges are not doing their jobs, and in accepting these plea deals, they are perpetrating the release of criminals back into society without them having to atone for their crimes.
Perhaps it is time for us to stand up and tell these people that what they are doing is unacceptable. we want safe, drug-free communities, and we are having these scum forced down our throats.
See, you can’t tell the good guys from the bad guys hu? The judge was displeased with the prosecuters? This is such a freaking joke. Next time maybe they’ll throw the book at her, and sure as sh!t there will be a next time.