By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Instead of going forward with an arraignment yesterday, prosecutors released from jail a 22-year-old accused of injuring her boyfriend’s toddlers.
Chandra M. Munsey was arrested last week, held with no bail and then charged on Monday with two counts of second-degree child assault. The judge set her bail at $50,000.
[1]Chandra M. Munsey
Authorities have revealed little about the case, other than alleging it occurred in Lewis County between Monday and Wednesday of last week.
The boys, ages 2 and 3, were taken from their father into protective custody. Thirty-one-year-old Casiano Baldovinos has said he believes his girlfriend is innocent and that he found his children with bruises when he picked them up from Munsey’s parents home outside of Centralia, and then called police.
Baldovinos and Munsey live together in Chehalis, her lawyer told the court earlier this week.
Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said yesterday he asked the judge to reduce Munsey’s bail to a $10,000 signature bond.
“We’re continuing our investigation, we need more time,” Meagher said as to the reason why.
The court related timelines and deadlines that apply for a defendant who is out of custody are less strict than for those who are locked up, according to Meagher.
“The only way to buy more time is to let her out of jail,” he said.
The documents detailing the allegations have been sealed by the judge at the prosecutor’s request. Meagher indicated the reason for the temporary closure of the records is to prevent information in them from interfering with the sheriff’s office continuing investigation.
Munsey’s arraignment is now expected to take place next Thursday in Lewis County Superior Court.
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For background, read “Lewis County Sheriff’s Office investigating child assault, one arrested” from Tuesday July 28, 2015, here [2]