Erik R. Massa, center, waits for court to begin with his lawyers, Chris Baum, left and Joe Mano.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher asked a judge today to set bail in the Randle murder case at $25,000 unsecured, but with 10 percent of that posted with the court.
The defendant, forty-three-year-old Erik R. Massa of Randle, was accompanied by two lawyers in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon who agreed with the recommendation.
Guy LaFontaine
Massa is charged with second-degree murder in the March death of Guy W. LaFontaine, 58, of Federal Way. The two men are related by marriage.
Massa, a taxidermist, was arrested last March 14 after LaFontaine died from blunt force injuries to his head, torso and extremities and Lewis County sheriff’s detectives found evidence including a broken shotgun with blood on it in an empty silo next to Massa’s shop. He was released from jail three days later, with prosecutors telling a judge they did not yet have enough evidence to charge him.
Meagher charged Massa last week with first-degree assault, but on Monday upgraded the charge.
Six of LaFontaine’s family members and a former co-worker from Todd Shipyards in Seattle were in the Chehalis courtroom for this afternoon’s proceedings.
Meagher told the judge he was confident about the bail arrangement since Massa has no criminal history and owns a home here. He asked the judge to limit Massa’s travel to Lewis County.
Chehalis attorneys Joe Mano and Chris Baum are representing him.
Baum said his client has already surrendered all his firearms to Mano.
Judge Richard Brosey agreed with the bail arrangement.
Charging documents describe a night in which LaFontaine – who had gone to Randle to go fishing – called his wife and said he had been beat up and he thought he was going to die.
According to the documents: His wife Gail picked him up and took him to Morton General Hospital where they found both his eye sockets were broken and he had a broken arm.
At 3:45 a.m., the hospital advised a sheriff’s deputy they released LaFontaine because they couldn’t keep him in his bed.
LaFontaine’s wife took him to St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way where he was pronounced dead.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled LaFontaine’s death a homicide.
Massa’s arraignment was scheduled for Feb. 24.
Massa is one of six people charged in Lewis County with murder for homicides that occurred during 2010. His is the only second-degree murder case.
The others are:
• Ronald A. Brady, 60, is charged with first-degree murder for the April 19 shooting death in Onalaska of Thomas McKenzie, 56. Also, first-degree assault. Bail: $50,000 unsecured bond
• Richard Joseph Frank Roth, 65, is charged with first degree murder for the Nov. 4 shooting death in Winlock of Jackie Marie Lawyer, 64. Bail: $500,000
• Jack A. Silverthorne, 20, is charged with first-degree murder for the death of Austin King, 16, whose body was found in Morton on July 20. Bail: $2 million
• Ryan J. McCarthy, 29, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the Aug. 21 shooting deaths in the Salkum-Onalaska area of David West Sr., 52, David West Jr., 16, and Tony Williams, 50. Also extortion. Bail: $2 million
• John A. Booth Jr., 31 is charged in the same deaths as McCarthy but with aggravated first-degree murder for West Jr. and Williams and attempted first-degree murder of Denise Salts. Also extortion. Bail: $10 million
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Read previous story on Massa and LaFontaine here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter