Lewis County Sirens.com

This news story was updated at 5:30 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A plea deal has been reached with one of the two men charged in last summer’s triple slaying near Salkum.

Ryan J. McCarthy, 29, is scheduled to plead guilty next week in Lewis County Superior Court.

Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said today he would not discuss what McCarthy plans to plead to, or what if anything either side offered in exchange.

He is set to go before a judge on Thursday.

The Redmond man and former Onalaska resident John A. Booth Jr. were arrested after four people were found shot – three fatally – inside a home off Gore Road near Salkum last August.

The dead are David West Sr. 52, his son David West Jr., 16, and a friend Tony E. Williams, 50, of Randle. West Sr.’s live-in girlfriend, Denise Salts, 52, survived a gunshot wound to her face.

McCarthy’s lawyer couldn’t be reached immediately for comment this afternoon.

Attorneys brokered a plea deal last week, and yesterday set a date with the judge, but it won’t be final until McCarthy “signs on the dotted line,” Meagher said.

He did say he and Olympia defense attorney Rick Cordes have agreed upon the amount of time they will recommend to the judge that McCarthy serve.

McCarthy was charged with murder as well as attempted extortion. His trial was set for October.

Booth, 32, is scheduled to go to  trial on Nov. 7.

He is charged with attempted murder of Salts, second-degree murder of West Sr., first degree murder of David Jr. and Williams, attempted extortion and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The two men are former cell mates. Authorities have said they believe the two men’s Aug. 21 visit to the house was related to a drug debt collection.

Booth’s lawyer, Roger Hunko, said this afternoon he had no reaction to offer about the news.

“I don’t think it means much one way or the other to John,” Hunko said. “Mr. McCarthy is going to have to do what he needs to do.”

•••

Read background on the case:

• “West Sr. pointed shotgun telling pair of ex-cons to leave his house, triggering triple homicide, unsealed court documents allege” from Saturday Sept. 4, 2010, here

• “Unsealed document: More details on Salkum slayings” from Monday Sept. 6, 2010, here

Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter

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