SEATTLE—A transient pleaded innocent July 30 to first-degree murder in an ax attack on former radio talk show host Mike Webb.

Scott Brian White, 28, who previously lived for a time with Webb but was in a homeless encampment when he was arrested, remained in custody with bail continued at $1 million after a brief appearance in King County Superior Court. If convicted, he would face a standard sentencing range of 22 to nearly 29 years in prison.

Webb, 51, an outspoken liberal and gay rights advocate, was last seen on April 13 and was reported missing on May 14. His remains were found on June 28 by a property manager in a basement crawl space of his rented house.

An autopsy showed he had been stabbed five times in the shoulder and chest, had been hit five times in the face with an ax or similar weapon and had a fractured skull.

In filing the charge, prosecutors wrote that White admitted after he was arrested on July 18 that he killed Webb with an ax and hid the body.