West given 10-year sentence for convenience store assault

Lincoln County District Judge Matthew Cuffe handed down a 10-year sentence to a Eureka man accused of clubbing another man unprovoked in a local convenience store in December.

Kenneth Lee West, 60, of Eureka, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault with a weapon after reaching a deal with prosecutors earlier this year. The maximum penalty for the charge is 20 years behind bars and a $50,000 fine.

West will receive 111 days credit for time served.

“I’ll keep my mouth shut,” West said when asked if he wanted to address the court during his June 8 sentencing.

“Probably a good idea,” Cuffe replied.

Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office arrested West after the Dec. 31 attack inside a Eureka convenience store. As part of the investigation, deputies secured surveillance footage of the assault from the retailer.

Detective Dan Holskey detailed the video in an affidavit. The footage showed West strolling up to the victim with a club in his hand. The two could be seen speaking, according to the affidavit, and then West struck with the club.

The blow knocked the victim into nearby shelving, court documents said. He later exited with West on his heels.

A witness told authorities she had seen West earlier in the day and he looked as though he were under the influence of methamphetamine, according to court documents.

In an interview, the victim told authorities he used drugs with West in the past. He had avoided the man in the months leading up to the attack because he had heard rumors of West making threats against him, court documents said.

In his affidavit, Holskey said West, who had previous felony drug convictions, was well known to local law enforcement. Holskey wrote that West had begun using and distributing drugs since his most recent release from incarceration.

“West has a history of violence and appears to be getting more aggressive and violent over the past several months,” Holskey concluded in the document.