By Brenda Starkey
Chronicle correspondent

     Cory J. Monaghan, 35, Ravensdale, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and arson charges Oct. 7 in Ferry County Superior Court.
     Monaghan is being held on $1.5 million bail in the Ferry County jail. He accused of killing Jeremy Karavias, 19, Kent, and burning the Malo mobile home of his uncle, Ron Wessel, Oct. 22.
     Monaghan is accused of shooting Karavias, then breaking his neck before burning the Wessel home on Art Creek Road to destroy evidence.
     An escape charge was dropped because the incident allegedly took place at Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane. Charges may be re-filed in Spokane County at a future time, according to prosecutor John Hillman of the state attorney general's office.
     Security was unusually tight in the courtroom, with Ferry County sheriff Pete Warner and deputies making a pre-arraignment security sweep to check for weapons that might have been stashed under seats and in other areas of the room.
     All those who attended the proceedings were checked with a metal detector and were told to sit at least four rows back from the attorney's tables. Women were asked to leave their purses in the court clerk's office.
     The extra security, which officials say has been used in a few other cases, is not the norm for Ferry County.
     Threatening language aimed toward Monaghan was posted on the Topix Web site.
     Monaghan arrived shackled with security guards from the jail.
     He entered his pleas to first-degree murder with a firearm sentencing enhancement and to arson.
     Judge Rebecca Baker set the trial for Jan. 5 and signed six no-contact orders brought by Hillman to protect Wessel family members should Monaghan make bail.
     State law governing the right to a speedy trial requires trial of an accused person in custody take place within 60 days of arraignment. Unless Monaghan signs a waiver to a speedy trial, the trial must begin before Jan. 6.
     Monaghan's attorney is Brett A. Purtzer, Tacoma.
     Hillman is assisted by attorney Justin Ericksen, also from the attorney general's office.
     Following the court hearing, Hillman met with Karavias family members in the courtroom and Purtzer with Monaghan supporters on the second floor of the courthouse.
     Ericksen said his office prosecutes cases in various counties where there is a conflict of interest with the elected prosecutor or, as in this case, where there is a caseload that prohibits adequate time for the prosecutor to handle a major trial.
     Hillman was the prosecutor in Ferry County's last murder trial, held earlier this year, in which Jeb Strong was found guilty of killing Trent Irby in April 2007.