CHEHALIS, Wash. - A 28-year-old Onalaska man has been arrested in connection with last week's death of a 15-year-old boy from alcohol poisoning, officials said.

James Willard Taylor, 28, was arrested Wednesday night at his place of work in Lacey and taken into custody by detectives of the Lewis County Sheriff's Office.

Taylor was booked into the Lewis County Jail for investigation of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Nick Barnes, 15, of Onalaska.

Barnes died Sept. 21 at Mary Bridge Hospital from alcohol poisoning. His blood alcohol level was .38 - more than four times the legal limit for an adult driving under the influence.

An investigation found that Taylor provided alcohol at a party at his residence on Sept. 19, said a spokesman for the Lewis County Sheriff's Office.

The alcohol was given to numerous juveniles, including Barnes, the investigation found.

Barnes, a student at Onalaska High School, was found passed out in the front yard by other residents when they arrived home later.

Taylor then took Barnes to Providence Hospital, where the teen was found to unresponsive and not breathing. Medical staff began life-saving measures on Barnes, and Taylor left without speaking further to anyone at the hospital.

"This is horrible tragedy which could have been prevented had an adult been thinking about the consequences of their poor judgment and behavior," said Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield.

"There is good reason we have laws prohibiting minors from drinking alcohol. A teenager's brain is still developing and is very sensitive to alcohol's effects on judgment and decision-making," he said.

The news of Barnes' death hit the small community hard. Neighbors said Barnes and his mother had just moved from Seattle a few years ago. Barnes worked at the high school's friont office and played on the football team.

"He was just a good friend to all of the other kids," said principal Kevin Ryan. "That's what we want him to be remembered as."

Police officers are educators are both hoping the young members of the community learned a valuable lesson in Barnes' death.

"Absolutely. Teenagers make bad choices and we hope that others can learn from that," said Ryan.

"It is a dangerous drug that people continue to use and abuse. And this is the result of that and to have an adult be part of the equation even makes it more disturbing," said Mansfield.

Taylor has been released from jail for the time being. The prosecutor is awaiting final autopsy results before deciding on charges.