By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Toledo High School student charged with hitting his father in the head with a baseball bat this summer pleaded guilty yesterday to a lesser crime, but still in adult court.
The boy, who turned 17 about a month ago, was arrested in mid-July and charged in adult court with first-degree assault, a felony for which he faced as long as 12 years in prison, according to Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Shane O’Rourke.
Charging documents contended he came upon his parents arguing about the father’s extramarital affairs and struck his dad with a metal 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.
O’Rourke said he understood the injuries included multiple skull fractures, although they appear to have healed.
Prosecutors had to get a court order to get interviews with the parents.
The teenager was in Lewis County Superior Court yesterday, where he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, but still in adult court as prosecutors insisted, according to O’Rourke.
“This is about as close as you can get to being a mortal injury,” he said. “It could have been murder two, that’s why we stuck to our guns.”
The standard sentencing range he now faces is 15 to 21 months, which includes a deadly weapon enhancement for the baseball bat.
O’Rourke called it a good outcome, that takes into account the defendant’s age, their desires and community safety.
Defense attorney Chris Baum said his client made the choice to take the plea agreement. He called it a tough situation.
“It’s kind of a sad case all the way around,” Baum said. “The victim didn’t want him prosecuted, but the state insisted.”
Sentencing will occur in January.
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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]