Published: Thursday, July 1, 2010
Tulalip man admits he killed toddler
James Fryberg faces an 11-year sentence in the manslaughter of Damoniko Ashby in May 2009.
EVERETT — James Fryberg claimed he didn’t mean to kill the toddler, but on Wednesday, the young Tulalip man stood up in a Snohomish County courtroom and admitted that was exactly what he’d done.
Fryberg, 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the May 2009 death of Damoniko Ashby. He also admitted to a March pharmacy robbery that in his final days of freedom netted a haul of powerful prescription painkillers.
Fryberg’s next stop is prison and a likely 11-year sentence.
Wednesday’s plea hearing in Snohomish County Superior Court was attended by those who loved 15-month-old Damoniko. The Marysville boy’s family filled most of two rows in the courtroom, some wearing T-shirts featuring his name and photograph.
Fryberg last year had been dating Damoniko’s mother and was living at her apartment. As part of a plea agreement reached in the case, he described how on May 14, 2009, he rapped Damoniko on the head with the knuckles of his closed fist and also speared the child in the stomach with stiffened fingers.
The abuse happened while the boy’s mother was away at work. He died a few hours later. Fryberg initially told the mother and investigators the child had fallen down some stairs.
An autopsy determined the toddler suffered multiple blows to the head and had severe hemorrhaging in the abdomen.
Fryberg’s admission in court Wednesday is consistent with the evidence, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Halley Hupp said.
The defendant originally was charged with second-degree murder and was freed after posting bail. He initially was looking at about 10 years in prison.
In March, however, Fryberg became the focus of a brief but intense manhunt after he ignored conditions of his release and also failed to show up for court. Then, while police were trying to track him down, Fryberg robbed a Marysville pharmacy.
He told pharmacy employees he had a gun and left with hundreds of prescription painkillers.
Marysville and Tulalip Tribal police learned that Fryberg was trying to hide in a wooded area on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. They found his makeshift campsite and not long after two man-trackers spotted him walking in an area used for horseback riding and off-road vehicles.
Under the plea agreement reached in the case, Fryberg agreed not to contest receiving the maximum punishment for manslaughter under state sentencing guidelines. He also pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and bail jumping. He’ll serve time on those offenses simultaneously with any sentence he receives for Damoniko’s death.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 13 in front of Judge Linda Krese.
Scott North: 425-339-3431, north@heraldnet.com.
Fryberg, 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the May 2009 death of Damoniko Ashby. He also admitted to a March pharmacy robbery that in his final days of freedom netted a haul of powerful prescription painkillers.
Fryberg’s next stop is prison and a likely 11-year sentence.
Wednesday’s plea hearing in Snohomish County Superior Court was attended by those who loved 15-month-old Damoniko. The Marysville boy’s family filled most of two rows in the courtroom, some wearing T-shirts featuring his name and photograph.
Fryberg last year had been dating Damoniko’s mother and was living at her apartment. As part of a plea agreement reached in the case, he described how on May 14, 2009, he rapped Damoniko on the head with the knuckles of his closed fist and also speared the child in the stomach with stiffened fingers.
The abuse happened while the boy’s mother was away at work. He died a few hours later. Fryberg initially told the mother and investigators the child had fallen down some stairs.
An autopsy determined the toddler suffered multiple blows to the head and had severe hemorrhaging in the abdomen.
Fryberg’s admission in court Wednesday is consistent with the evidence, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Halley Hupp said.
The defendant originally was charged with second-degree murder and was freed after posting bail. He initially was looking at about 10 years in prison.
In March, however, Fryberg became the focus of a brief but intense manhunt after he ignored conditions of his release and also failed to show up for court. Then, while police were trying to track him down, Fryberg robbed a Marysville pharmacy.
He told pharmacy employees he had a gun and left with hundreds of prescription painkillers.
Marysville and Tulalip Tribal police learned that Fryberg was trying to hide in a wooded area on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. They found his makeshift campsite and not long after two man-trackers spotted him walking in an area used for horseback riding and off-road vehicles.
Under the plea agreement reached in the case, Fryberg agreed not to contest receiving the maximum punishment for manslaughter under state sentencing guidelines. He also pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and bail jumping. He’ll serve time on those offenses simultaneously with any sentence he receives for Damoniko’s death.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 13 in front of Judge Linda Krese.
Scott North: 425-339-3431, north@heraldnet.com.
Comments
(
