Faircloth pleads guilty to manslaughter

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to killing his son during an incident in Moses Lake in January.

Jeffrey Faircloth, 53, of Moses Lake, pleaded guilty in Grant County Superior Court on Tuesday to first-degree manslaughter. Faircloth was initially charged with second-degree assault in connection with the death of his son, Dakota Faircloth, 20, of Moses Lake, but the charge was amended to first-degree manslaughter after Dakota died.

Manslaughter differs from murder in that manslaughter is an “unlawful killing that doesn't involve malice aforethought, intent to seriously harm or kill, or extreme, reckless disregard for life,” according to www.nolo.com. The Revised Code of Washington states that a person is guilty of first-degree manslaughter when they “recklessly” cause the death of another person.

A date has not yet been set for Jeffrey’s sentencing. He was previously out of custody on a medical furlough, but has since been booked into the Grant County Jail.

Jeffrey and Dakota Faircloth got into an argument at a home in the 1100 block of South Ashley Way in Moses Lake on Jan. 21. At some point during the argument Dakota threw an item at his father, which struck him in the head. Jeffrey claimed he went to the kitchen to treat the wound and was followed by his son.

“In the kitchen Jeffrey obtained a knife, turned and Dakota lunged at him. Jeffrey struck Dakota cutting his throat,” wrote an officer. “Dakota turned and exited the residence and fell to the ground in the attached garage where he was eventually contacted by officers.”

When police arrived at the scene Dakota was found in the garage with an arterial bleed from “an obvious neck wound.” Officers performed life-saving measures to treat the wound until emergency services arrived. Dakota was transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake and later transported to Confluence Health-Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, where he died Jan. 23.

Two witnesses to the initial confrontation between the father and son claimed Jeffrey was arguing with Dakota over the number of people at the South Ashley Way home and “Dakota’s failure to pay Jeffrey.” They said they witnessed Dakota throw something at Jeffrey’s head, but stated they didn’t see the moment when Dakota’s throat was cut. Jeffrey told police he grabbed the 10-inch kitchen knife to slash the tires on his son’s vehicle and he never intended to use the knife as a weapon against his son.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.