{Charleston, West Virginia}...Retired U.S. Marshal John Perrine testified Wednesday morning that Shawn Lester admitted to being present for at least one of the three 2003 sniper-style killings in Kanawha County. Lester is accused of killing Gary Carrier, 44, Jeanie Patton, 31, and Okey Meadows, 26. His trial is set to begin July 30th. The marshal said he was investigating Lester for possible federal weapons law violations when Lester confessed to being at the Speedway in Campbells Creek when Jeanie Patton was shot and killed, but Lester denied he pulled the trigger. Perrine also testified that he informed other law enforcement agencies that Lester could be linked to all three of the murders, but an FBI agent told him "let the professionals handle it." Since Lester was never read his rights and Perrine's tip was never investigated, the judge had to throw out the evidence and Perrine can not share testimony in the trial. Darrell Spurlock testified he saw all the victims and Lester together smoking pot less than a month before the shootings. Lester's attorney, George Castelle, says several witnesses did not have their statements properly documented at the time of the initial investigation, and that could damage the defense of Lester.
