County Seeks Charges As Adult In Beating

Spokane County prosecutors want a 16-year-old boy accused of beating his father with a baseball bat to face assault charges as an adult.

The teenager, William Enright, will be held without bond until a judge decides next week if he should be prosecuted as an adult.

“The basis for moving the charges to the adult level is this is a very serious assault,” said Deputy Prosecutor Bill Reeves.

Enright is charged with second-degree assault and first-degree malicious mischief.

Police say Enright became enraged and attacked his father Saturday in their Riverside home, striking him several times with the aluminum bat. The boy is also accused of causing more than $1,500 damage to the house and its contents.

Afterward, the boy ran into nearby woods, authorities said. He was arrested later by sheriff’s deputies.

The father was treated for two broken arms and a broken leg at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Enright, who has no felony convictions, faces much stiffer criminal penalties if prosecuted as an adult.

If convicted of the charges as a juvenile, he would spend 21 to 28 weeks in detention. If convicted as an adult, Enright could be sentenced to up to six years in prison.

, DataTimes