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.
[1]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 [2]