Wellington M. Waggener is brought before a Lewis County Superior Court judge for a bail hearing.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A 26-year-old who recently earned an associates degree in criminal justice and was arrested over the weekend by Centralia police for rape was not charged with that offense.
Wellington M. Waggener appeared before a judge yesterday where prosecutors asked he be held on $100,000 bail.
Waggener was detained at the Travelodge on Harrison Avenue on Friday night after a 28-year-old woman told police she was sexually assaulted in her room by someone she did not know.
Police on Saturday morning indicated the Centralia woman told them that a black man entered the room and forced sex on her. But charges filed on Monday in Lewis County Superior Court state the woman told an officer she woke up in bed and her clothes had been removed, and a strange male in her bed was touching her body with his hands.
Waggener reportedly followed the woman to the lobby where she went to call 911.
“Apparently he was not acting very rationally,” Centralia Police Department Sgt. Kurt Reichert said.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey yesterday afternoon noted he was familiar with the Centralia man, and suspected there were other issues that needed to be addressed.
“I know he’s been working with Cascade for some time, and may need to be on some mental health treatment,” Brosey said.
Charging documents offer some of the following details and allegations about what occurred:
Police were called at 10:10 p.m. on Friday for an alleged rape. The male was described as a tall black man with dreadlocks wearing a wife beater shirt.
Officer Buddy Croy arrived and saw Waggener in the lobby, who matched that description and who officers are familiar with. He was holding a cup of coffee and indicated he was leaving in an idling Jeep parked just outside the lobby doors.
“Croy asked Waggener if he was at the hotel with a girl, at which time Waggener started talking in circles and not making sense,” Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead wrote in the affidavit of probable cause.
Waggener talked about random things and at one point said he was just trying to get some sex and was going to pay $40 to get it.
The alleged victim, who is not named in charging documents, spoke with a different officer.
Officer Josh Mercer learned from the woman that she and her boyfriend had gotten into an argument and the boyfriend left the motel room.
She said she went to bed but left the door open so he could get back in when he returned.
She told Officer Mercer she was awakened by someone she thought was her boyfriend, but at some point realized it was not.
The charging papers continue on to state that Waggener left the room and the woman attempted to call police but couldn’t because the phone didn’t work, so she went to the lobby.
Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Sheila Weirth told the judge yesterday afternoon the high bail was needed given the nature of the charges and Waggener’s previous convictions twice of third-degree assault, felonies, and also for trespass, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke suggested $10,000 bail, unsecured was suitable, given Waggener’s strong ties to the community.
“He moved to Centralia three years ago to play basketball for Centralia College, and did very well,” O’Rourke said.
She noted he received his associates degree there and had no warrant history.
Judge Brosey set bail at $25,000.
Waggener is charged with residential burglary with sexual motivation, for allegedly entering the dwelling of the woman. The documents don’t indicate whether she lives at the motel. The crime is a class B felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
He is also charged with custodial assault, for allegedly spitting on a corrections officer’s face as he was being served dinner Sunday evening in the jail. That offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Waggener is employed, but brings home only about $600 each month, O’Rourke told the judge, asking for a court appointed lawyer to represent him.
Centralia attorney Don Blair was appointed.
Before the short hearing ended, O’Rourke told the judge the defendant wanted her to request he be furloughed from Thursday until Monday, to allow him to go to work.
The judge suggested Waggener could talk with Blair about that.
Waggener’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday morning.
•••
For background, read “Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup – POLICE: WOMAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT CENTRALIA MOTEL” from Saturday July 11, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Weird story, sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.
And just an FYI it is possible to have an argument and step outside to have a smoke because of the argument. Doesn’t really have to be one or the other. Quite possibly it could be both!
Has anyone stopped to think that maybe the boyfriend set her up for drugs or maybe the $40 Waggener was referring to? Maybe that is why it doesn’t make much sense? Regardless he illegally entered her room whether the door was open or not.
The problem with this story is that it will be swept under the rug. If this chicks lying she needs to be sued for defamation of character. On further thought are there security cameras in this hotel lobby…? ? This may prove his whereabouts. And if he is found not guilty he had every right to spit in his kidnappers face..
Excellent point XD. The story is not consistent. Was the boyfriend out smoking or did he leave after an argument?
The defendant had every right to be nervous when the cops approached him. If he was out “prowling for people to rape”, I find it odd that he was in the hotel lobby making a cup of coffee when the cops arrived. This is yet another case of guilty until proven innocent.
Guilty Bystandard fill us in about Saul? And when it comes to spitting in the jail gaurds face thats what i would do to my kidnappers if i was accused of a crime i didnt commit and kidnapped. I have a feeling this chick is the neighborhood Garden Tool.
None of this adds up, to start with it sounds like the “victim” is a train wreck. Who leaves their home to spend alone time at the Travel Lodge in Centralia? Just coincidently the boyfriend leaves when Wellington is out prowling for someone to victimize? Really? Sounds to me like Wellington was invited by the couple to spice up their sex life, a little three way action maybe? Maybe something went wrong or someone changed their mind and she crys rape…..
If you read the newest section above this story the accused has been threatening jail staff and spitting on them. It sounds like Judge Brosey was right. There are probably mental health issues going on here. Sad when you think of how young he is.
“You people speculate and judge and gossip when you don’t know anything about any of it but what Sharon reports and that is not always the whole story.”
You could end all of this speculation with a few sentences, since you imply that you know more than has been said here, but you choose to attack the character of posters instead. That’s called going on offense when you have no defense. Ever read Saul Alinsky?
Turning tricks & caught by boyfriend.
How does this guy have an idling jeep right outside the door? But yet hes upstairs raping a woman. Then the police say he was acting strangely by turning in circles. He was surrounding by cops that had beaten him before. Where are your body cameras Centralia Pd. They have several models to choose from on Ebay. You could use that 50,000 you took from the marijuana dealer and out fit the whole department. Until you get body cameras you police reports are just words. Your officers have been caught lying on the stand. Just ask Don Blair.
Who’s Dob Blair Sharyon? Isnt it Don Blair?
Wife Beater T Shirt.. really how is this even allowed to be said in todays culture.. If the Confederate flag was banned for so called racism then Wife Beater T Shirts should be banned for sexism.
Her aunt said the bf went to smoke. Not the victim. She did not know this man. She does not live In the hotel. She works at a very good job and resides in her home. You people speculate and judge and gossip when you don’t know anything about any of it but what Sharon reports and that is not always the whole story. Get over yourselves and I hope none of you are ever the victims of a violent crime where people judge you as harshly.
She got caught cheating by her boyfriend, they get into a heated argument, he leaves pissed off & she claims the brotha raped her to save face.
Remember the first story? Boyfriend was smoking now it is he left after an argument.
This chick needs charged for false reporting!
this story still doesn’t add up. maybe the woman woke up and went to the lobby and happened to see the man there and made up a story? where are the witnesses? sounds like he’s being railroaded. first it’s rape, then it isn’t. I would be angry too if i were falsely accused.