Bail was set at $100,000 for a Centralia man accused of assaulting a 3-year-old boy on Tuesday and causing significant bruising to his face and head.
The victim’s mother reported the assault from a Centralia furniture store bathroom, which she said she had locked herself and the victim inside to get away from the defendant, Edward Martin Smith, 49.
In her report to the Centralia Police Department, the victim’s mother said she had left her son in Smith’s care the morning of Jan. 16, and when she returned at about 1:15 p.m. that day, she found the victim had significant bruising on his face.
When she asked Smith what had happened, he reportedly said the victim “may have run into something when he had gone to the bathroom,” according to court documents. The victim’s mother told police she wanted to take the boy to the hospital, but Smith allegedly “said taking (the victim) to the hospital with bruising on his face wouldn’t look good to (Child Protective Services)” and refused to take them when asked. Smith reportedly suggested they go to a furniture store, and the victim’s mother agreed “so that she could get out of the house with (the victim) and call for help,” according to court documents.
Centralia Police Department officers transported the victim and his mother to Centralia Providence Hospital, where medical personnel ultimately determined he “had a possible brain bleed,” according to court documents. He was ultimately taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma for further treatment. Staff at Mary Bridge have since determined the victim did not suffer a brain bleed and, as of Jan. 17, he was still at Mary Bridge undergoing additional testing.
When questioned by law enforcement personnel, Smith “again said (the victim) must have fallen when he went to the bathroom” before invoking his right to remain silent and questioning stopped, according to court documents.
A search of the Centralia residence where the assault allegedly occurred yielded “no evidence related to the event or injuries,” according to court documents.
Smith was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail at 5:05 p.m. on Jan. 16, according to jail records.
He was charged Jan. 17 in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of second-degree assault of a child.
While defense attorney Rachael Tiller argued for bail to be set no higher than $25,000, citing Smith’s limited criminal record and lack of assault-like criminal history, Judge J. Andrew Toynbee opted to set bail at $100,000, the amount recommended by the prosecution.
“I’m concerned that without sufficient bail, he will commit another violent offense or interfere with the administration of justice,” Toynbee said Wednesday.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 25.
