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October 13, 2010 in News
Killer suspected of 2nd attack on a cellmate
A violent inmate who tortured and killed his cellmate at the Spokane County Jail six years ago, resulting in a $180,000 settlement by the county, is suspected of gouging out another cellmate’s eye at Airway Heights Corrections Center this week.
Michael L. West, 34, attacked Chad E. Bolstad, 25, in a cell the men shared with another inmate Sunday night, officials confirmed Wednesday.
“(Bolstad’s) left eye was gouged out at the socket and the right eye was damaged to the point where it appears he’s going to lose sight, too,” said Airway Heights Police Chief Lee Bennett. “It was pretty graphic. He was using his bare hands.”
West threatened to attack the third cellmate, Gary L. Welch, telling Welch “about how he’s Lucifer and he wants him to bow to him,” Bennett said.
Welch pressed a panic button to notify prison staff, and West attacked him, according to police. Prison guards arrived to find West trying to strangle Welch with a towel, Bennett said. Bolstad’s left eye was hanging out of its socket.
“It was a very intense crime scene,” Bennett said.
Spokane lawyer Jeffry Finer, who represented the family of the West killed in 2004, questioned why West was at a medium-security facility with cellmates.
“I’m not surprised that West may have done this,” Finer said. “Given his attack on Christopher Rentz and how horrific it was, it’s hard to fathom why he would be placed in confinement with any cellmate.”
West was awaiting trial for raping and stabbing his girlfriend in 2004 when he and another cellmate killed 21-year-old Christopher L. Rentz after watching an uncut DVD release of “The Passion of the Christ.” In 2007, Spokane County settled a $5.65 million federal lawsuit filed on behalf of Rentz’s family for $180,000.
Rentz was a property-crimes suspect when he was housed in cell with West and Brandon M. Martin, who were maximum-security inmates. West was convicted of third-degree assault and second-degree rape for the attack on his girlfriend and first-degree murder for the October 2004 attack on Rentz; Martin was convicted of rendering criminal assistance. He’s serving a life sentence for killing two men in Mead in October 2003.
Airway Heights spokeswoman Risa Klemme said West, Bolstad and Welch recently arrived at the medium-security prison and were temporarily sharing a cell.
Klemme said DOC officials are investigating why West was placed at Airway Heights on Sept. 28. He has been transferred back to the maximum-security Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.
“He had the custody level to be here,” Klemme confirmed, but prison officials are investigating how West achieved that custody level. “We have a lot of offenders that have committed violent crimes that have earned their way through the classification process,” she said.
Bolstad is scheduled to be released in 2015 for assault and robbery convictions stemming from a 2007 beer robbery that involved a stabbing. Welch is serving time for forgery, theft and drug convictions in Douglas and Chelan counties and is to be released in August.
West is not scheduled to be released until 2048.
Klemme said West was classified as a minimum-security inmate but wasn’t eligible for work camps because of his long sentence.
Now West faces two charges of attempted first-degree murder, Bennett said. Detectives are awaiting an interview with him; Bennett said he was “just too far out there” when they tried talking to him after the attack.
Bolstad’s father declined comment. His family has contacted an attorney. Bolstad is in stable condition at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.
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Bucky on October 13 at 12:49 p.m.
Wow, just shoot the SOB. Yes, why was he a medium security facility?
Diff on October 13 at 5:44 p.m.
“He had the custody level to be here” Klemme said…
DOC classification system needs to be reviewed. Not just for this in prison, but for those being supervised in the community.
Is part of the failure here with the state government AND the governor? Instead of closing big business tax loop holes, she’s laying off DOC prison & probation officers; plus placing existing staff on furloughs each month.
jrr on October 13 at 10:09 p.m.
My heart breaks for Mr. Bolstad and his family and my prayers are with them. I hope the investigation into why a monster like Michael Ward was in a medium security facility in the first place is thoroughly investigated. Whatever guidelines could allow such a gross breach of common sense need to be examined by those who are actually capable of recognizing the already proven brutality of this psychopath. I also hope the response time to Mr. Welch’s alarm and Mr. Bolstad’s piercing screams are also thoroughly pursued. Were guards delayed because of staffing issues? If so, all the more reason to keep the likes of Ward under a different kind of lock and key.
rterrylynch on October 14 at 11:29 a.m.
The management of GEIGER CORRECTIONS simply sucks. Who is supposed to be in charge?
The fact these thugs had a history of violence should have alerted the DOC folks not to put weiners in with them.
dallison on October 14 at 12:18 p.m.
Diff hit the nail right on the head!
And its only going to get worse since the governer has ordered more layoffs of corrections staff.
SusanGlass on October 15 at 2:43 p.m.
Ok First Off I just want to point out that this happened at AHCC not Geiger, two totally different institutions. As one is County and one is State. Also, the Gov. has been laying off more and more employees in DOC for over a year now. And is currently ordering More layoffs. Less corrections staff means less supervision.
kitsney on April 28 at 2:08 p.m.
I have worked with Chad personally after the attack. My heart bleeds for the young man. He is now confined to a single cell with no one to talk to and no sight. This is a tragedy on many levels and I pray for him and his family. The night of the attack will never be forgotten by any of the medical staff nor the correctional staff I am sure. I wish there was more I can do.
straightshooter on July 03 at 6:09 a.m.
Somebody %$%^ up! Another lawsuit and another payout. Pretty soon they’ll have to revisit that 5 billion dollar deficit. Lesson here boys and girls. Don’ t be naughty and go to jail….