James W. Taylor of Onalaska confers with defense attorney Bob Schroeter as lawyers and the judge considered Taylor's bail on second-degree manslaughter, furnishing liquor to minors and failing to summon assistance.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The 29-year-old man charged last month in last year’s alcohol-poisoning death of Onalaska teenager Nickolas Barnes appeared before a judge yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis.
More than a year after the 15-year-old died after playing drinking games with vodka and other teenagers at James W. Taylor’s residence, Taylor is facing charges of second-degree manslaughter, furnishing liquor to minors and failing to summon assistance.
Prosecutors have said Taylor could face as much as 27 months in prison if convicted as charged.
The brief hearing was for the purpose of setting bail. His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 14.
Deputy Prosecutor Steve Scott asked for $100,000 bail and defense attorney Bob Schroeter asked for $20,000, unsecured, noting the moving company employee came to court on his own volition following a summons.
Judge James Lawler said he was required to consider community safety and whether Taylor is likely to return to court as directed. The judge ordered him held on a $25,000 signature bond, provided it’s co-signed by a property owner.
The judge also ordered Taylor to have no contact with any witnesses in the case, which means he will probably have to move out of the house where he lives with his wife and children, according to Schroeter.
Nickolas’s grandmother Susan Patterson spoke briefly to reporters before she and several other family members met with elected Prosecutor Michael Golden after the court hearing.
Patterson called it a very sad day.
“My grandson is dead because of stupidity, and another young man’s life is fixing to go to hell in a hand basket, because of stupidity,” Patterson said.
Young people need to realize when other kids pass out from drinking, “you get help,” she said.
Nickolas was a sophomore at Onalaska High School and was buried on Sept. 24 of last year, which would have been his 16th birthday.
Centralia defense attorney Don Blair was appointed to represent Taylor.
Taylor was booked into the Lewis County Jail after court yesterday and remains there today.
•••
Read the Sept. 23, 2010 story about Nickolas Barnes and what prosecutors believe happened at the party that night here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
What an interesting case. I mean really, people should know better then this by now. Teens should not be drinking period, and no one should be drinking that much. Books like The Sobering Truth by Jeff Herten, M.D. should be mandatory reading for all kids.