By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Convicted killer John A. Booth Jr. will be back in Lewis County next month, when a judge will hear his contention eavesdropping on inmates in the jail was governmental misconduct and jeopardized his rights to confidential communications with his lawyers.
The former Onalaskan was sentenced to life in prison for the August 2010 shootings at the home of 52-year-old David West Sr., from whom prosecutors contended Booth was seeking payment of a debt for a local drug dealer.
Booth was 31 years old when he was arrested for the slayings of three people, and wounding of a fourth person at the residence on Wings Way, off of Gore Road.
He’s lost his appeal, he’s lost his personal restraint petition and the upcoming hearing grows out of his December 2012 motion to vacate the judgement and sentence based on court rule 7.8.
He is represented by court assigned defense attorney Erik Kupka.
Kupka and Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher went before Lewis County Superior Court Judge RIchard Brosey this afternoon.
Booth and Kupka have requested various documents from the state to prepare for the hearing, and today Meagher told the judge his position is all information required to be turned over has been turned over.
Judge Brosey said he was denying any further requests for materials related to Booth’s request, noting his attorney would presumably make requests as he sees fit.
Four of the many individuals from the sheriff’s office expected at the May hearing have pre-paid planned vacations, according to Meagher.
Judge Brosey indicated they should be excused from the May 2 and May 3 proceedings, and if their testimony is still needed, the proceedings can reconvene when they return.
Booth was sentenced under the state’s so-called three strikes law.
Losing their lives on Aug. 21, 2010, along with West Sr., were 16-year-old David “D.J.” West Jr. and 50-year-old Tony Williams of Randle. West Sr.’s girlfriend, Denise Salts, survived a gunshot wound to her face
Booth denied shooting them.
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For background, read “”Ear hustling”: Convicted murderer John Booth tells judge about problems at Lewis County Jail” from Friday July 5, 2013, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Isn’t the proper syntax; ” I have written two books. The current one proposed, will mark a third. However, I have yet to secure a publisher.”
Who’s representing you?
Bo Rupert isn’t a publisher. He’s a wannabe attorney and law enforcement stalker. I hope you used the spell checker and grammar correction tools when you wrote those two books Bo. lol
I am sorry about the people that were killed my heart goes out to all who were left with the heart break of this crime. However I do believe in due process and this court has a track record of doing what ever it feels like doing to get the conviction it wants and violate OUR rights as U.S. people. Brosey has been doing this for many years it’s about time he steps down. John Booth in my opinion is guilty but should have had a fair trial so as not to cast any doubt on his conviction, That way we can move on with life and put this subject to rest and heal. I’m not saying Booth should get off it would be nice to see a conviction signed and sealed so there is not a way to waste tax dollars and put Booth and Brosey in the lime light again as it seams like it is like a drug to them both. They are a lot alike.
the only one being insensitive is you. And it’s ok for Ann Rule to profit off of these stories but I am not allowed to eh? pretty comical bunch…..pretty comical.
Bo, trying to profit off of a triple murder? You have been sensible on here up until that
Mr. Man thats why we have choices, you dont have to read a book if you dont want to. And Bo has the right to write a book if he wants too. Thats why we live in America for our freedoms. Yet you might not want to read a book about your murdered friend but others might.
Are you an As*hole or just insensitive? How would you like it if someone murdered your friend, then someone else complained because they wanted to read a book about it? F**k you.
so don’t, thats a pretty simple soulution
I dont want to read a book on the man responsible for murdering my friend.
I have wrote two books, this one will be three trying to get them published.
Bo Rupert, are you some sort of book publisher? If so, I’m a writer. I wouldn’t mind writing a real life crime drama/biography
Ok so you all want to put me down, explain why it is ok to violate attorney client privilege????? I have wrote Booth asking for a book deal on his story. He agreed. I am not sticking up for him but if they truly did what he is accusing them of then they violated his rights and due process and it needs to be fixed. RIGHT, WRONG, OR INDIFFERENT!!!!!!!!
They need to bury this creepy fucker in a deep dark hole and quit wasting tax payers money on him. Any of you folks who seriously think he got a raw deal , well you probably belong in there with him.
If you look at Booth’s track record he has plead guilty to lesser charges over the years, then files appeals, wins some of them and then get out earlier.
Sad really because Booth is not stupid and is wasted talent.
I went to school. With David “D.J” Jr. I remember that day really well. RIP D.J. You’ll not be forgotten.
You’re the definition of fucking stupid ^
booth knows that he is just wasting the courts time. it’s all a game he likes to play while he’s locked up. he will keep filing different motions in hopes of being transferred back to lewis county so he can keep up the appearance that he is somebody. he told people about the game before he ever left. jail staff did not eavesdrop on this coward. the sooner the state comes to their senses and starts execute the slime balls the quicker things will get better. and rupert is barely a step above this slime ball.
Are you kidding Bo…overturn it…and let a murderer and a repeat offender go…what’s wrong with you??? Missing your drug dealer?
Yeah they dont have body or dash cameras on the streets because the people would hear and see the police in action, but it looks like in the jail they have all the recording equipment they need. And when it comes to judge Brosey his rulings seem to be over turned quite often in the higher court. The jail also stole Forest Amose’s paper work before he went to his court proceeding. And the Wagoneer guy sued the jail for macing him and leaving him to suffer. Seems to me we need a live feed from the jail so we can watch the corruption on live TV. It would be a hit TV show.
agreed-but might be very hard to prove
If they were eavesdropping on his conversations with his lawyers then they VIOLATED a very serious right, attorney-client privilege is a very serious and sacred thing to our Justice System. If they indeed VIOLATED attorney client privilege they need to overturn his conviction.