By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Two days of court hearings begin tomorrow morning on convicted triple murderer John A. Booth Jr.’s motion to vacate his life sentence.
Booth was convicted for the August 2010 fatal shootings on Wings Way in Onalaska of David West Sr., 52, David “D.J.” West Jr., 16, and Tony Williams, 50. West Sr.’s girlfriend, Denise Salts, survived a gunshot wound to her face. Prosecutors said he was collecting a drug debt.
John Allen Booth Jr.
The former Onalaska resident denied the shootings, but was given a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of release under the “three strikes” law following his December 2011 trial in Lewis County Superior Court.
The hearings are scheduled to begin in Lewis County Superior Court at 9 a.m. before Judge Richard Brosey.
Among the many witnesses Booth, through his lawyer, is expected to call to the stand is Robert J. Maddaus Jr., formerly of Rochester, who is similarly serving a life term in prison.
Maddaus was convicted earlier in 2011 for the first-degree murder of Shaun Allen Peterson. Peterson died handcuffed and shot on an Olympia street early on Nov. 16, 2009, in what prosecutors said was a weekend of threats and attempts by Maddaus to recover pounds of missing methamphetamine.
Maddaus was transported to the Lewis County Jail on Friday morning.
Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said Booth has subpoenaed a lot of witnesses, including many employees of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
The burden is Booth’s to make the case to the judge on his motion, Meagher said.
Booth is represented by court assigned defense attorney Erik Kupka. He contends eavesdropping on inmates in the jail jeopardized his rights to confidential communications with his lawyers.
The motion to vacate the judgement and sentence is based on court rule 7.8.
Meagher said he thinks this could be Booth’s final appeal.
“We beat his appeal, we beat his personal restraint petition, we beat another motion he made,” Meagher said. “I think this is his last hurrah.”
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For background, read “Judge to hear convicted triple murderer John A. Booth’s motion in May” from Wednesday April 13, 2016, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
This took place about 5 months after I moved here so I never met this guy, I understand the motives for his appeal, I imagine anyone looking at never getting out of prison would take any stab at it that they could.I also get the game playing, like chess or football, the art and skill of manuvering the legal system. So I get why someone would root for one side or the other and not be to particular when it comes to the whos and whats. So i get what Bo is getting at. I never new the three people that passed either. But i do know a few people that grew up knowing John terciarialy,(yes i am confindednt that is a word butnim not sure i spelled it correcttly)and they had nothing good to say about him. I also have made aquaintance with Denise on several occasions and i have to say I quite like her as a person.
Enjoy your last trip out of the prison alive barring a transfer John.
This guy is a total monster. Why was he not executed like a dog? Paying taxes to keep him alive is ridiculous.
Like he will be successful in his endeavor anyway. and hey Lucy Bates if you are talking about the flower box on my relatives grave at Greenwood memorial park, the one my retarded uncle painted blue and pink on a mans grave. A judge agreed I was well within my right to do what I did. You should see the brand new $800 dollar flower box I replaced it with. and don’t worry I am far from washington
When are we finally going to be done listening to this scumbag ? Our tax money is paying for these appeals and he is not worthy. He shot a child down in cold blood and we all know it. Regardless of what his folks were involved in he never deserved this , Booth does deserve the verdict his peers handed down and let us hope this whole thing is finally put to rest .Booth was an enforcer for hire and deserves no mercy . He gave none . There were eye witness’s who lived and the dead ones do not lie. So for all you idiots on here or you druggie sympathizers just shut the fuck up. If you have a problem with Lewis Co. law enforcement you probably earned that . As a mostly law abiding , tax paying working citizen I for one find them to be helpful and to be truthful they always have come running when I have called.
Why Mr. Rupert? Why do you wish him well?
@Bo Rupert-+ Who do you wish well and ” hopes he socks it to them? ” Surely you aren’t talking about Booth? Cause if you stand behind this psychopathic monster in any way, you need to get the fuck out of this state, cause people are gonna come after you, thinking you’re just like Booth,, which I know you personally are all mouth,the most harm you have done to someone is,,, Destroying a dead womans headstone,,,,
Bo Rupert you are an idiot. Only an idiot like yourself would wish a cold blooded murderer well.
I wish him well. May he sock it to them.
Enjoy life in prison!!!