Herald staff
An Everett man pleaded guilty Monday to beating a teen-ager to death with a hammer May 11 in order to steal drugs.
Robert William Burch, 28, entered the first-degree murder plea during a brief hearing in Snohomish County Superior Court. He faces a maximum punishment of life in prison, but under an agreement reached with prosecutors, lawyers on both sides of the case will recommend 25 years.
Prosecutors charged Burch struck William Duff Clanton Jr., 18, of Everett, at least 12 times in the head with the sharp claw end of a hammer.
Burch later allegedly led police to the weapon and told them he killed Clanton to steal drugs. He allegedly told detectives he’d run out of money to buy cocaine after a three-day binge and decided to take the drugs by force from Clanton, who had sold to him previously, according to court papers.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 15.
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