Man sentenced to 16 years for second-degree murder

Published 1:30 am Saturday, December 2, 2017

EVERETT — A Snohomish County man is now serving a 16-year sentence for his role in the 2016 killing of a homeless Everett man.

James Archer, 48, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder in the killing of David Webster, 54. He was sentenced Nov. 16, court papers show.

The murder occurred in March 2016. Webster’s body was recovered about a month later in a swampy area known for homeless encampments.

The killing occurred because of a dispute over drug-related debts and missing money.

Archer’s former girlfriend, Christine Simpson, 50, was earlier sentenced to 8.5 years after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter. She allegedly asked Archer to confront Webster, and the violence resulted in his death.