The courtroom was crowded Dec. 13 for the sentencing of Charles Watts for the death in 2015 of Jeffrey Beach. A Seattle TV news crew covered the proceeding.

SOUTH BEND — It was nine years in the making if you ask Pacific County Prosecutor Michael Rothman and the family of Jeffrey Beach, who was beaten to death on July 3, 2015. On Dec. 13 in the Pacific County Superior Court, justice was finally served.

Earlier this year, the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office and Rothman hit the ground running in the case after acquiring a special inquiry judge to lock down witness statements. Information from these interviews resulted in the arrest of Charles J. Watts, 43.

Pull Quote

‘I understand the reasons and circumstances for only five years of prison, but you need to know I have already lived nine years in my [own prison]. In five years, you [Watts] will be able to go home to your family, friends, and grandchildren you have. I will still have the loss of my son.’

Laurie Beach

Watts had been on law enforcement’s radar since the investigation into Beach’s death was initially launched. At the time, law enforcement was able to place him at the scene, including attacking Beach at least once — after Watts’s daughter alleged Beach inappropriately touched her.

It was an alleged second attack as Beach fled that led to his death. Nine years later, Watts officially admitted to the attack that resulted in Beach dying from blunt-force trauma.

The admission came out following a sudden plea agreement resolution in the case on Nov. 20 in which Watts pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter and five counts of witness tampering over the years.

According to court records, Watts faced a standard range of 46-61 months on the first count and 17-22 months on the rest. Under the law, all charges will run concurrently, meaning he only has to serve the highest-imposed sentence.

Parents speak

A depressing total of 3,451 days after their son died, Keith and Laurie Beach were present inside the courtroom to speak and watch Judge Vini E. Samuel officially sentence Watts. Samuel, who ordinarily serves in Grays Harbor County, stepped in since Pacific County Judge Donald J. Richter served in the prosecutor’s office for Pacific County when the incident occurred and declared a conflict of interest in the case.

“I don’t know what all that happened on July 3, 2015,” Laurie said. “Over the years, I have heard many versions … and most don’t make sense. What I do know is he did not deserve to be left on the beach to die.”

“I understand the reasons and circumstances for only five years of prison, but you need to know I have already lived nine years in my [own prison]. In five years, you (Watts) will be able to go home to your family, friends and grandchildren you have. I will still have the loss of my son.”

Keith had harsher words for Watts, including not believing his son did anything inappropriate to Watts’ daughter.

“I don’t believe my son ever touched your daughter,” he said. “The accusation that was made … did not reflect his character or his person in any way. Anyone who knew Jeff did not believe for a second the words you use to describe [him].”

“For a long time, I have known where you live and where you work and I could have sought revenge, but I believe that would have only … ruined my life and others that love me. Your family would have experienced what you put my family through, but what does that gain?” he added.

Keith spoke directly to Watts, about him knowing all this time what he did and that it was wrong. He also told the court that he would like to “believe Watts didn’t mean to kill his son,” but he did intend to “cover it up.”

“Even after nine years, you continued to try and hide by intimidating others,” Keith said. “Those others that had to live all these years with the lies that they said, knowing that they were wrong. I believe you deserve more, a lot more punishment than you are getting.”

Keith also told the court that there was an outpouring of support from his friends following his son’s death, including receiving over 100 messages and in-person support at his son’s funeral.

Watts did not speak during the hearing and asked his lawyer to speak on his behalf. He offered an apology to the Beach family, his family and his friends for what he put them through.

“My client has asked me specifically to extend an apology to the Beach family at this point in time,” Watts’ attorney Timothy R. Lewis said.

Judge’s remarks

Samuel made lengthy remarks about all the factors she weighed in her sentencing decision and whether to step outside the standard sentencing range. She noted that she considers victim input, the complex negotiations in a plea agreement, and serving justice.

She found no substantial circumstances to step outside the range but appeared visibly shaken by the toll the case took on all parties, including noting that the case hit hard as a parent. She accepted the sentencing recommendations.

“Mr. Watts, I will leave then with the words of Mr. Beach, and that is there is always grace, and there is always a step forward,” Samuel said. “So I will pose that to you … I would hope that part of the burden you put on yourself is how you live to represent Jeffrey Beach.

“You took his life; now you can perhaps make something better of your life as an honor to him,” Samuel added.

Family grateful

Keith and Laurie Beach praised Sheriff Daniel Garica, Detectives Cory Nacnac and Kevin Acdal, and Rothman for bringing the case to an end.

“The time and effort and commitment they made to our family helped to overcome some of the past mistakes that prior administrations made,” Keith said. “And every time that I would go to thank them for the work that they were doing, they would just say, ‘We are just doing our job.’”

“The people of Pacific County need to know that these people care about doing the right thing, and in this case, the right thing was to care that justice would prevail,” Keith added.

Garcia said he is glad that he could help solve the nine-year-old cold case.

“We are very glad that we are able to draw this to a conclusion, and now everybody can move forward,” Garcia said.