CLAY COUNTY — One of three men accused of the 2021 murder of an elderly Edgewood man as they robbed his home was sentenced Friday to 35 years in prison after he pleaded guilty

Walter West of Edgewood pleaded guilty in two separate cases to first-degree murder and escape.

He was sentenced to 30 years on the murder charge and 5 on the escape charge to be served consecutively.

A second charge of first-degree murder and a charge of residential burglary were dismissed per the plea agreement.

West, along with Christopher Gallatin of Centralia, and Jamie Charlton of Salem was arrested and charged with entering the rural Edgewood home of 80-year-old Roger Courson.

West admitted to strangling Courson while Gallatin and Charlton robbed the home. Officials say safe, multiple firearms, and a television were taken from the Courson home.

All three men have remained in custody since their 2021 arrests with bond set at $250,000 each.

However, a few months after his arrest West escaped from the Clay County Jail by evading a correctional officer and running through a door exiting the jail.

West must serve 100 percent of the 30-year sentence for First-Degree Murder but is eligible for credit on the Escape charge.

Gallatin is next due in court on February 27 for a pre-trial hearing while Charlton is next due in court on March 16 for his own pre-trial hearing.