By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Lewis County prosecutor is claiming a Vader couple didn’t hold up their end of the deal in a plea agreement that allowed them to admit to manslaughter instead of facing a more serious charge, but wants them to be sentenced for manslaughter anyhow, and face much more prison time.
[1]Danny Wing
Danny and Brenda Wing, both 27, have both been held in the Lewis County Jail since their arrest late last year in the death of 3-year-old Jasper Henderling-Warner who was living with their family.
Each of the two have pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and third-degree child assault. In exchange for prosecutors dropping a charge of homicide by abuse, the couple promised to share information with authorities and undergo polygraph examinations.
Jasper died last Oct. 5. from what the coroner labeled chronic battered child syndrome. His 21-year-old mother had given the couple temporary custody last summer while she was homeless and looked for work out of state.
[2]Brenda A. Wing
Prosecutors filed motions last Friday, and Monday, asking the court to find the Wings violated the plea agreement and the state wants to make sure the agreement is enforced. Prosecutors want to add back into the case so-called enhancements and seek exceptional sentences.
Had the Wings done what they said they would, prosecutors agreed they would face standard sentencing ranges of between 146 months and 194 months in prison.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said Brenda Wing admitted some information she gave was a lie. And her husband withheld information in three of four areas, he said.
The idea was for prosecutors to find out the details of Jasper’s death, so they could hold everyone accountable who needed to be held accountable, Meyer said today.
[3]Jasper Henderling-Warner
The Wings were initially charged on Nov. 7 with homicide by abuse or, in the alternative, first-degree manslaughter, two crimes with widely different penalties. Each of the two were charged as either the principal or accomplice.
Their sentencing hearings are currently on the court schedule for tomorrow, in Lewis County Superior Court, at 9 a.m. for him and 1:30 p.m. for her.
Brenda Wing’s lawyer John Crowley has asked for the hearing to be postponed. Yesterday, prosecutors filed a response to the defense motion.
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For background, read, “Despite convictions, investigation still underway in death of 3-year-old Vader boy last year” from Friday August 21, 2015, here [4]