An inmate who allegedly offered an “eight ball” of methamphetamine to “his people” in downtown Olympia if they would murder the judge who’d sentenced him was ordered held without bail during a court hearing Monday.
James Randall Burnett, 27, of Yelm, who already was in custody at the Nisqually Jail, was re-arrested there Friday on suspicion of criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder, felony harassment and two counts of issuing a bomb threat. He now is being held at the Thurston County Jail on suspicion of those charges.
According to court papers:
On Thursday, Nisqually Jail corrections officers learned that Burnett had sent a handwritten note soliciting Thurston County District Court Judge Kalo Wilcox’s murder out of the jail with an inmate who was to be released Sept. 9. Sheriff’s detectives were called to investigate.
Burnett had recently appeared before Wilcox for sentencing on a state Department of Corrections violation. During the court hearing, Wilcox admonished Burnett for having a “chippy” attitude, “and he took offense to that.”
Detectives interviewed Burnett at the Nisqually Jail, and he admitted to sending a note, offering the drugs “for the head of Judge Wilcox.”
“Burnett stated that where he comes from, if someone disrespects you, they have to be dealt with,” court papers state.
Burnett said an eight ball of meth, typically one-eighth of an ounce, typically sells for between $180 and $220.
“When asked if he thought someone would carry out his request to kill Judge Wilcox he stated, ‘I am sure of it, these are people that can’t afford $20 worth of dope,’” court papers state.
Burnett told detectives that he collects drug debts for a local dealer, according to court papers. Detectives also learned that Barnett had phoned two bomb threats to the Governor Hotel in downtown Olympia and an Olympia bail-bonds business, court papers state.
Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5465
jpawloski@theolympian.com
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