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Packwood bus mixup: Mad mom will get to simmer off behind bars

Updated

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The mother who left an angry voice message at White Pass school after finding her son was dropped off a school bus in a strange neighborhood was convicted today of two felonies.

Cheryl A. Strong, 48, of Packwood, was arrested in early March after the phone call that prompted a lockdown at the school when it was heard the following morning. She told a deputy she didn’t mean what she said.

“Sorry Chris, but I’m going to f****** shoot everybody that goes to your f****** school, works there,” was the statement listened to by Christy Collette, the school secretary and Rebecca Miner, the district superintendent.

The trial in Lewis County Superior Court began yesterday, with Strong taking the witness stand this morning.

The jury deliberated about two and half hours before finding Strong guilty of one count each of felony harassment, threats to kill, regarding Collette and Miner. The jury also made special findings the crime affected more than the two individuals named.

The family moved or was in the process of moving from one residence on U.S. Highway 12 to another the High Valley neighborhood.

Strong’s boyfriend  James Taylor said when the 7-year-old didn’t get let off the bus, they drove around looking and found him wandering in the High Valley, seven miles away.

The offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Judges in Washington are constrained by the 1981 Sentencing Reform Act to imposing sentences within a fixed standard range, which is based upon the seriousness level of the crime and the particular person’s criminal history – which in in this case would be 33 to 43 months in prison, according to Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Mark McClain.

However, because the jury made the special findings regarding the so-called aggravators, the judge will be free to hand down the maximum if he chooses, McClain said. For Strong, the possibility exists of two five year sentences to be served consecutively, he said.

Strong remains free on bail until her sentencing, set for May 19 at 1 p.m.
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For background, read “Police: Angry mom’s message said she would shoot everyone at the grade school” from Friday March 7, 2014, here [1]