Centralia Mom Pleads Guilty After Allegedly Trying to Drown Son in May

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    A 21-year-old Centralia woman was sentenced to seven months in the Lewis County Jail for allegedly trying to drown her 6-year-old son in a bathtub May 19 in the 2800 block of Russell Road.

    Mercedes Kimberly Joanna Lopez pleaded guilty to third-degree assault of a child, felony harassment and domestic violence on Aug. 31, according to the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

    Lopez had remained in jail on a $100,000 bond following her arrest and received credit for time served.

    According to court records, police were called to Providence Centralia Hospital on May 19 in reference to an assault.

    A woman who identified herself as the boy’s grandmother said Lopez “became enraged” when she realized the boy had cut his sister’s hair and screamed that he had ruined his sister’s “beautiful black hair.”

    The grandmother said Lopez had hit the boy in the back about two or three times and held his head underwater for several seconds.



    The grandmother said she finally was able to wrestle the boy away, according to court records.

    During questioning, the boy told police that “mom tried to drown me” and that he could not breathe until his grandmother rescued him, according to court records.

    In a taped interview with police, Lopez admitted to having an anger problem, according to court records.  

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    Adam Pearson: (360) 807-8208