Erik R. Massa waits after his court appearance to talk with his attorney.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Randle taxidermist Erik R. Massa pleaded not guilty today to second-degree murder in the apparent beating death of a 58-year-old welder from Federal Way.
Massa, 43, was in Lewis County Superior Court this morning for the brief hearing. He remains free on $25,000 bail.
Massa was charged two and a half weeks ago in the March 14 death of Guy W. LaFontaine.
Guy LaFontaine
LaFontaine died with two broken eye sockets and other blunt force injuries to his torso and extremities. Detectives found a broken shotgun with blood on it in an empty silo next to Massa’s shop, according to charging documents.
The two men are related by marriage.
Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher this morning told the judge Massa and his wife are going through a “bitter divorce” and asked the judge to remind him he’s prohibited from having contact with potential witnesses in the case.
Massa’s attorney, Chris Baum, asked Judge Richard Brosey if his client’s conditions of release could be changed, so he would be free to leave Lewis County to visit his children in Pierce County and for church in Longview. Brosey said yes.
The trial was scheduled for the week of Sept. 19
Both attorneys said they expected it would last five days.
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Read background on the case, here
Read Randle man who died over the weekend was witness in murder case” here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter