Danny and Brenda Wing make an appearance in Lewis County Superior Court at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis.
Jasper Henderling-Warner, 3
Danny Wing talks about the circumstances surrounding the death of 3-year-old Jasper Henderling-Warner at the Lewis County Jail in Chehalis. Lewis County prosecutors are expected to charge Wing, 26, and his wife, Brenda A. Wing, 27, with homicide by abuse for the Oct. 5 death of Henderling-Warner, a child they had been asked to care for by his mother.
With neither of their lawyers able to make the initial hearing in Lewis County Superior Court, Danny and Brenda Wing wait in the jury box during a December hearing at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis.
Danny Wing walks past Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead, left, as he makes an appearance in Lewis County Superior Court in December 2014 at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis.
Vader resident Danny Wing, who was arrested along with his wife for the death of a toddler under their care, pleaded guilty to his role in the crime Thursday.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer told The Chronicle plea agreement negotiations began when Vancouver-based defense attorney Todd Pascoe began working on the case.
“But it’s been an intense negotiation for the past six weeks,” Meyer said.
Danny Wing pleaded guilty in Lewis County Superior Court to first-degree manslaughter, domestic violence, and third-degree assault of a child, domestic violence, for the death of 3-year-old Jasper Henderling Warner.
The 26-year-old was initially charged with homicide by abuse or, in the alternative, first-degree manslaughter. Homicide by abuse carries a higher standard sentencing range than first-degree manslaughter.
“I think that either charge was appropriate given the information provided by Mr. Wing. We believe that he is being held accountable,” Meyer said.
As a result of the plea agreement, Meyer said the prosecutor's office has received additional details about the case.
Meyer said that an offer was extended to Danny Wing’s wife, Brenda Wing, but the offer was not accepted. The state is now preparing to go to trial in her case.
“We anticipate (Danny Wing) will be participating in the prosecution against Brenda,” Meyer said.
He told The Chronicle on Tuesday that he was unsure if Brenda Wing, 27, knew her husband took a plea deal.
The state will recommend more than 16 years of imprisonment, the high end of the standard sentencing range, but Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead said that could change if the prosecution gets more information about the case.
“I definitely think there will be more information that comes to light as a result of this,” Meyer said.
Danny Wing wrote a statement filed in court about how he caused Jasper’s death.
Wing stated that he didn’t get Jasper medical care for injuries he received while living with Danny Wing, his wife, Brenda Wing, their three children and a 18-year-old not related to them from July 2014, to Oct. 5 2014.
“Jasper died within two hours of my wife placing the call to 911 from our home in Vader, WA,” he wrote.
He wrote that in August 2014 he “open-palm” hit Jasper in the mouth, causing his lips to swell and for the boy to be in pain for an extended amount of time.
“I am truly sorry,” he wrote.
Sentencing is scheduled to be set May 7. Meyer said he anticipates that Danny Wing will be sentenced after Brenda Wing’s case is completed. She is scheduled to appear in superior court on Thursday for an omnibus hearing.
According to court documents, the prosecution will also recommend various court fees, community custody and evaluations for domestic violence, drug and alcohol treatment at Danny Wing’s sentencing
Wing’s criminal history includes hit and run with injury domestic violence, attempting to elude and two felony violations of no contact orders.
The maximum sentence for first-degree manslaughter is life imprisonment and a $50,000 fine.
The couple was arrested on Nov. 7, 2014, for Jasper’s death. The boy’s mother allegedly asked the Wings to care for him for a while at the beginning of July.
During a November interview at the Lewis County Jail, Danny Wing told a Chronicle reporter that both he and his wife had been using heroin during the weeks leading up to Jasper’s death. The couple both said they tried to save the boy with CPR on Oct. 5, but were unsuccessful.
According to court documents, the couple disagrees on the timeline of events leading up to the toddler’s death, including when they picked up Jasper to care for him.
The Chronicle left a message for comment at Pascoe’s law firm Tuesday. It has not yet been returned.
