By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Salkum man who aimed a cross-bow at his 24-year-old niece and said he wanted to eviscerate her earlier this year pleaded guilty pursuant to a deal with prosecutors and was ordered by a judge to see a mental health professional.
Carl E. Griffith Jr., 45, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and felony harassment today in Lewis County Superior Court. The deadly weapon enhancement was dropped from the charges.
Carl E. Griffith Jr.
Griffith chose not to speak on his own behalf but indicated he wanted a court order prohibiting his niece from contacting him.
Judge Richard Brosey went along with prosecutor’s recommendation of 12 months in jail, which was twice what Griffith’s lawyer asked for.
“I’m of the opinion Mr. Griffith needs to get a message this kind of conduct will not be tolerated,” Brosey said.
Brosey called the crime beyond the pale and not acceptable.
Griffith has five assault convictions in his background, one of which was a felony, although he has been crime free for 16 years, according to the two attorneys.
Today’s conviction however was a second strike offense.
Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead told the judge there are mental health issues in this particular case.
According to charging documents, the incident came to the attention of law enforcement when a mental health provider at Valley View Health in Toledo reported Griffith had come in for a session, emotional and extremely agitated, and confessed what he had done.
He said his niece was at his mom’s home doing laundry when he began yelling at her, grabbed the bow, placed it in full draw and pointed it at her, according to the documents. He said he then pulled her out of the house by the hair and threw her into the front yard.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said Griffith went into great detail about what he wanted to do to her corpse.
Halstead said the information frightened the counselor so much, she no longer does that kind of work.
Judge Brosey gave Griffith 72 days credit for time already served and ordered 12 months of community custody following his release. He ordered him to have no contact with the victim.
Griffith is disabled and on social security, defense attorney David Arcuri told the judge.
The judge also ordered him to get a mental health evaluation and follow through on whatever treatment, if any, is recommended.
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For background, read “Salkum uncle charged for bow and arrow threat” from Friday February 26, 2016, here
he has been “crime free” for 16 years, big deal. Want to know why he had a cross bow? Because last time he had a gun he shot and killed someone because he was mad. Yeah a year in jail is gonna fix him, NOT
He threatens a relative and asks the court for an order preventing the victim from contacting him? It does seem there is legitimate mental health issues going on here. I am no bleeding heart liberal by any means but if someone is truly mentally ill the prison/jail system is not the answer.
I believe that there is much more to this story than we are being told.
JZ-1. I would only assume that if the person he wanted to kill was a very close relative of yours-you would be singing a different tune? NO?
2.-I don’t have a problem with it due to it is very likely that he never had to pay for anything himself-but since he is another disabled person on social security that probably ended up there due to lack of ambition to do anything but drugs and alcohol or some obesity, that we the taxpayers are once again footing the bill
3.- everyone-please forgive me for my assumptions
“…the incident came to the attention of law enforcement when a mental health provider at Valley View Health in Toledo reported Griffith had come in for a session, emotional and extremely agitated, and confessed what he had done.”
Is anyone else bothered by this? What happened to doctor/patient confidentiality?
“…the information frightened the counselor so much, she no longer does that kind of work.”
More likely she’s had her license suspended for violation of HIPAA privacy requirements.
“The judge also ordered him to get a mental health evaluation and follow through on whatever treatment, if any, is recommended.”
Because that worked out so well for him before.