JUDGE WILL DECIDE ON DENMARK PLEA DEAL TODAY

(10/23/2012)
William Albert "Seth" Denmark, 25, could be sentenced today in Calhoun Circuit Court following a plea deal reached between Calhoun prosecutor Rocky Holmes and Denmark's attorney Barbara Schamberger, according to a court docket.

Denmark has been accused of murdering teen David Wayne Beech III in 2006.

In August, Denmark agreed to an Alford-type plea which means he agrees to plead guilty without admitting to the crime.

In that deal, Prosecutor Holmes told Spencer Newspapers, "This way he (Denmark) serves a flat 10 (years)," but it was unclear regarding whether or not two and one-half years of time served would count in the sentencing.

The accepting of the plea deal is a decision of Judge David W. Nibert.

The case against Denmark has been muddled, primarily because of the lack of forensic evidence regarding the crime, although officials said in a complaint that evidence provided by the Smithsonian had new forensic information and confirmed a .38 caliber bullet was found in the grave and other samples indicating a human body was once at the site.

The failure to find Beach's remains is a key factor in the case.

Denmark had been incarcerated two years in March, 2012, before he was indicted for Beach's murder. "I'm asking for mercy," said Denmark, citing his long incarceration.

Jackie L. Denmark has filed a civil rights suit against Cpl. D.B. Starcher in U.S. District Court. In her complaint, Denmark, 58, alleges Starcher arrested her two years ago for the sole purpose of getting her son to disclose the whereabouts of David Wayne Beach III.

Jackie Denmark and her husband William had been charged and served jail time on multiple offenses related to the alleged crime.

Those charges were dropped.