[1]Wellington M. Waggener is brought before a Lewis County Superior Court judge for a bail hearing.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A 26-year-old who recently earned an associates degree in criminal justice and was arrested over the weekend by Centralia police for rape was not charged with that offense.
Wellington M. Waggener appeared before a judge yesterday where prosecutors asked he be held on $100,000 bail.
Waggener was detained at the Travelodge on Harrison Avenue on Friday night after a 28-year-old woman told police she was sexually assaulted in her room by someone she did not know.
Police on Saturday morning indicated the Centralia woman told them that a black man entered the room and forced sex on her. But charges filed on Monday in Lewis County Superior Court state the woman told an officer she woke up in bed and her clothes had been removed, and a strange male in her bed was touching her body with his hands.
Waggener reportedly followed the woman to the lobby where she went to call 911.
“Apparently he was not acting very rationally,” Centralia Police Department Sgt. Kurt Reichert said.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey yesterday afternoon noted he was familiar with the Centralia man, and suspected there were other issues that needed to be addressed.
“I know he’s been working with Cascade for some time, and may need to be on some mental health treatment,” Brosey said.
Charging documents offer some of the following details and allegations about what occurred:
Police were called at 10:10 p.m. on Friday for an alleged rape. The male was described as a tall black man with dreadlocks wearing a wife beater shirt.
Officer Buddy Croy arrived and saw Waggener in the lobby, who matched that description and who officers are familiar with. He was holding a cup of coffee and indicated he was leaving in an idling Jeep parked just outside the lobby doors.
“Croy asked Waggener if he was at the hotel with a girl, at which time Waggener started talking in circles and not making sense,” Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead wrote in the affidavit of probable cause.
Waggener talked about random things and at one point said he was just trying to get some sex and was going to pay $40 to get it.
The alleged victim, who is not named in charging documents, spoke with a different officer.
Officer Josh Mercer learned from the woman that she and her boyfriend had gotten into an argument and the boyfriend left the motel room.
She said she went to bed but left the door open so he could get back in when he returned.
She told Officer Mercer she was awakened by someone she thought was her boyfriend, but at some point realized it was not.
The charging papers continue on to state that Waggener left the room and the woman attempted to call police but couldn’t because the phone didn’t work, so she went to the lobby.
Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Sheila Weirth told the judge yesterday afternoon the high bail was needed given the nature of the charges and Waggener’s previous convictions twice of third-degree assault, felonies, and also for trespass, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke suggested $10,000 bail, unsecured was suitable, given Waggener’s strong ties to the community.
“He moved to Centralia three years ago to play basketball for Centralia College, and did very well,” O’Rourke said.
She noted he received his associates degree there and had no warrant history.
Judge Brosey set bail at $25,000.
Waggener is charged with residential burglary with sexual motivation, for allegedly entering the dwelling of the woman. The documents don’t indicate whether she lives at the motel. The crime is a class B felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
He is also charged with custodial assault, for allegedly spitting on a corrections officer’s face as he was being served dinner Sunday evening in the jail. That offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Waggener is employed, but brings home only about $600 each month, O’Rourke told the judge, asking for a court appointed lawyer to represent him.
Centralia attorney Don Blair was appointed.
Before the short hearing ended, O’Rourke told the judge the defendant wanted her to request he be furloughed from Thursday until Monday, to allow him to go to work.
The judge suggested Waggener could talk with Blair about that.
Waggener’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday morning.
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For background, read “Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup – POLICE: WOMAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT CENTRALIA MOTEL” from Saturday July 11, 2015, here [2]