By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A 44-year-old man accused of firing a rifle towards his girlfriend as she ran away from him outside her trailer home in Onalaska was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison.
Todd H. Bergfalk made a so-called Alford plea, regarding two counts of second-degree assault.
[1]Todd H. Bergfalk
His lawyer said because of inebriation, his client couldn’t recall enough to admit to specific events.
Bergfalk was arrested March 21, after deputies were called to the 700 block of state Route 508, and told he fired approximately 10 rounds from a 22 rifle, and also pointed the weapon at his girlfriend’s grown son. Deputies reported he was intoxicated and emotional, rambling about abused animals and told them they should just take him to jail.
Defense attorney David Arcuri said the original charges each included an “enhancement” that the offenses were committed with a firearm, but prosecutors dropped those as part of a plea dea. Each one of those would have meant an additional three years of incarceration, which are required to be served consecutive to the sentence, Arcuri said.
The standard sentencing range for second-degree assault is 12 to 14 months, and the two sides agreed to the low end, as did the judge today in Lewis County Superior Court. Bergfalk had no previous felonies, Arcuri said.
Neither charging documents nor the sheriff’s office indicated why he may have been upset, and Arcuri said outside the courtroom he wasn’t going to talk about that.
The sheriff’s office said Bergfalk lives in Tacoma. He gave his home address as Onalaska in court documents.
He will be under the supervision of the state Department of Corrections for three years after his release, Arcuri said.
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For background, read, “May trial set for boyfriend’s rampage with 22 rifle in Onalaska” from Friday March 27, 2015, here [2]