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Parents of Toledo teen charged with assaulting father won’t cooperate with prosecutors

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The parents of the 16-year-old Toledo boy accused of hitting his father in the head with a baseball bat are refusing to talk with police or prosecutors about the case.

The Toledo High School student was arrested in mid-July and charged in adult court with first-degree assault, a felony with a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Charging documents allege he came upon his parents arguing about the father’s extramarital affairs and struck his dad with a metal baseball bat.

When police and aid were called to the Toledo home, the father Leslie Bagley was unconscious on the floor with what was described as major trauma to his head, according to authorities. The mother appeared intoxicated, police noted.

Bagley, 55, was airlifted to Harbor Medical Center in Seattle that morning, July 19. Within days he was upgraded to satisfactory condition.

When Toledo Police Chief John Brockmueller traveled to the hospital to speak to Bagley, the mother Tena Bagley stopped him at the door and turned him away, according to court documents.

“I’m going to put a stop to this right now,” Tena Bagley is quoted as telling him. “I told you that I don’t want to give a statement and Les does not want to give one.

“You need to contact our attorney Chris Baum.”

Baum, who represents the teenager, has said in court the parents are upset the police report does not accurately reflect the situation.

Bail was set at $75,000, but a judge allowed the family to post $7,500 cash with the court and put up the grandfather’s property as security.

No contact orders are in place preventing the teen from communicating with his parents. A judge said the boy could stay with an adult brother.

Prosecutors write in court documents they have spoken with a family friend who says the couple is not releasing any information, even to their friends, “perhaps because they do not want police to have the information.”

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Shane O’Rourke said today the mother is a witness, the father the alleged victim and he needs to interview them, but he’s exhausted all avenues in trying to reach them.

“These are my witnesses, I need to talk to them,” he said. “They’re not talking.”

Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey signed an order yesterday for the parents to appear for a deposition. O’Rourke said next week he will be scheduling the meeting.

The boy has pleaded not guilty. A trial is set for the week of Oct. 15.

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For background, read “Toledo teen charged in adult court for allegedly taking bat to father’s head” from Tuesday July 24, 2012, here [1]