Eastman pleads not guilty to aiding in Butts’ escape

All suspects charged with aiding the escape attempt of the man said to have fatally shot Deputy Justin DeRosier have entered not-guilty pleas and are scheduled for trial next year.

Savannah Eastman, one of three criminally charged in connection with the manhunt for Brian Butts, pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon in Cowlitz Superior Court.

Eastman, 24, Matthew Veatch, 25, and Ricky Roberts, 25, all are charged with first-degree rendering of criminal assistance for allegedly helping Butts try to evade police detection. Butts, 33, died in a police shootout during the evening of April 14, a day after authorities say he fatally shot DeRosier.

Roberts, Veatch and Eastman are slated for trial starting Jan. 14, Feb. 18 and Feb. 25, respectively. Eastman’s lawyer declined to comment on her charges. Eastman is out of custody. Veatch is free on a $50,000 bond and Roberts remains in custody in lieu of $80,000 bail.

Several hours after DeRosier was shot late the night of April 13, officers found Matthew Veatch near the end of Modrow Road. He told officers that he was at his Fallert Road residence when he heard a gunshot, and that minutes later, Butts arrived from out of the bushes, according to police records. Butts gave Veatch a handgun to get rid of, which deputies later found in a safe in Veatch’s room, according to law enforcement documents.