[1]Defense attorney Bob Schroeter converses with his 16-year-old client in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Toledo High School student arrested for allegedly assaulting his father early Thursday morning had come into the room where his parents were arguing about the father’s extramarital affairs when he hit his father in the head with a baseball bat, according to lawyers and charging documents in the case.
The 55-year-old father was described in critical condition when he was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He has been upgraded to satisfactory condition.
Th 16-year-old was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree assault, domestic violence; a crime with a maximum penalty of life in prison.
He appeared before Judge Richard Brosey.
Lawyers said although he’s a juvenile, because he’s charged with a serious violent offense and is at least 16, he is automatically subject to adult jurisdiction.
Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher told the judge the teenager observed his parents arguing, came up behind his father and struck him with the bat.
Temporary defense attorney Bob Schroeter argued for low bail, noting the boy is a good student and the father is recovering quickly.
“I think you’ll see the argument caused (him) to act out,” Schroeter told the judge. “Though I’m not going to get into the facts of the case.”
Schroeter said the father is about to be released from Harborview and transferred to a Longview hospital and has conversed with family members.
“He’s doing phenomenal,” Schroeter said.
The lawyer proposed the teen has two adult brothers – one in Chehalis and one in Kelso – willing to take him in, since there will be a no-contact order in place between the boy and his dad.
Judge Brosey disregarded Schroeter’s request and set bail at $75,000.
“The mere fact that he was struck in the back of his head, that’s the kind of injury that easily could have been fatal,” Brosey said.
Charging documents describe the police call to the home on Oak Street where Leslie Bagley was laying in the middle of the living room floor with a large pool of blood.
Police stated the mother Tena Bagley had been drinking and appeared intoxicated.
“Tena Bagley, Leslie’s wife, reported she and Leslie were talking about Leslie’s extramarital affairs when (their son) came into the room and hit his father in the head with a metal baseball bat,” charging documents state.
Afterwards, he apparently took a beer and left the residence, charging documents state.
The teenager was arrested later in the morning, when police returned to the home and found him hiding under a bed, according to charging documents.
He was taken to the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center but has been transferred to the Lewis County Jail.
Chehalis attorney Chris Baum is appointed to represent him.
The arraignment is set for Thursday morning.