Roth To Settle Plea On Latest Charge Of Theft

SEATTLE

Randy Roth, awaiting sentencing on a first-degree murder conviction, is planning to plead guilty to second-degree theft.

He was to be tried on the latest charge in King County Superior Court Monday, but both his attorney, George Cody, and Senior Deputy Prosecutor Marilyn Brenneman said yesterday a plea settlement has been reached. He is expected to enter the plea Tuesday.

Cody said Roth, 37, will enter an Alford plea, which means he technically does not admit guilt, but accepts the punishment.

Prosecutors filed a first-degree theft charge against Roth after finding equipment and material from the car dealership at which he worked at Roth's Woodinville home. Roth had maintained he was simply working with the equipment at home and planned to return it to the dealership.

Roth, who was earlier convicted of drowning his wife, Cynthia Baumgartner Roth, in Lake Sammamish last July and of two counts of first-degree theft, is scheduled to be sentenced for those crimes in two weeks.