Judge endorses Washington sentence

By Hannah Wever
Review Staff Writer

Published: June 19, 2008

A local man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of his friend last year may be out of jail shortly.
In April, an Orange County Circuit Court jury found Charles Stagg Washington guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Marilyn Baker. Following the verdict, it took the jury just two hours to agree on a 12-month sentence in the case. Washington was in court June 12 for a formal sentencing, and learned he will soon be released from jail; his 12-month sentence already served.
Washington has been held at the Central Virginia Regional Jail since the time of his arrest last year, when he originally was charged with first-degree murder. Police determined 62-year-old Baker died last July 4 after being struck in the head with a child’s scooter, wielded by Washington, while he was engaged in a brawl with another man at Cathedral Place in Orange. The charges were later reduced to second-degree murder.
Orange County Commonwealth’s Attorney Diana Wheeler said she couldn’t predict the exact date of Washington’s release.
“The jail calculates the sentence,” she said. “He’s been in jail since (July 4, 2007) and I haven’t let him out. He will get credit for that time.”
Wheeler explained that for every 30 days served on a felony sentence, about five days are excused for good behavior. Officials at the jail said Washington is still being held.
During Washington’s trial, witnesses said Baker and Washington were close friends who visited several times a week.
At Thursday’s formal sentencing, Orange County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Bouton told Washington that the events that lead to his trial were “a terrible tragedy for many reasons, in which an innocent, lovely person lost her life.”
Bouton said the jury’s recommendation of 12 months in jail was sound. 
“The court is going to follow the recommendation of the jury in that case,” Bouton said.
Washington agreed to pay $3,783.25 in restitution to Baker’s family for funeral and burial expenses.