Sentence could be 18 years for killing man in Mattawa

EPHRATA — Marcus Dean Quesnell, 30, pleaded guilty in Grant County Superior Court to killing a 22-year-old acquaintance near Mattawa in July 2005.

Superior Court Judge Ken Jorgensen accepted the plea Oct. 10, for the murder of Jonathan M. Carrico, and scheduled sentencing for Oct. 24.

Quesnell's public defender, Mike Haas, said his client is likely to receive an 18-year sentence, plus two additional years for deadly weapon enhancement.

"The weight of the evidence was such that this was the best choice for Marcus," Haas said. "(Quesnell) wanted to acknowledge his wrongdoing so the victim's family could move forward and so he could move forward."

Haas said there was no point in going to trial, based on the evidence against his client.

"On July 4, 2005, I shot and killed Jon Carrico," Quesnell wrote in newly filed court documents, pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Quesnell, who has no prior criminal history, was initially charged with first-degree murder.

"I didn't plan it, but it wasn't an accident," he wrote. "I am eternally sorry for my actions. And I'm ready to accept my punishment."

Carrico's decomposed body was found covered with an old sleeping bag in an abandoned root cellar by an orchardist about two miles southwest of Mattawa on Oct. 14, 2005. The Grant County coroner determined Carrico died from a gunshot wound to the forehead.

Carrico, living out of his car prior to his murder, was reportedly involved in drug dealings with Quesnell, according to court documents.

Carrico's mother, Naomi King of Ocean Shores, reported her son missing in August 2005. Ocean Shores police notified the Grant County Sheriff's Office because Carrico had friends in Beverly, Desert Aire and Mattawa.

A sheriff's office detective zeroed in on Quesnell after interviewing people in the Desert Aire and Beverly areas who knew Carrico. Quesnell and another suspect were the last two people seen with Carrico, superior court documents show.

Quesnell was living in Kennewick when Carrico's body was found and was arrested Oct. 19, following an extensive interview with the sheriff's detective.

At the time of his arrest, Quesnell named his former co-worker and roommate James Isom Collins, 25, Desert Aire, as the trigger man who shot Carrico, according to court documents.

Quesnell told authorities a dispute between Collins and Carrico involved money for drugs and defective car stereo equipment.

Quesnell now admits he shot Carrico, but says he was motivated by the fear Collins would kill him if he didn't.

Authorities believe a .22-caliber handgun was used in the slaying. When Collins was arrested by the Washington State Patrol in July 2005, he was found in possession of a .22-caliber handgun, court records show.

Collins is currently in federal custody for firearms violations. Prosecutors are expected to follow with murder charges against Collins.