Quincy teen pleads guilty in death of newborn

Plea agreement allows girls to avoid adult charges

EPHRATA — The Quincy teen-ager accused of leaving her newborn daughter to die outside her home on a January night pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in Grant County Juvenile Court Monday.

As per a plea agreement, Grant County Deputy Prosecutor Carole Highland dropped the charge of second-degree murder filed against 15-year-old Nicole Gonzales down to first-degree manslaughter, which is defined as recklessly causing the death of another.

"It does appear she is willing to take responsibility for her actions," Highland told Grant County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Jorgensen.

Highland added that Gonzales has no prior criminal history, a factor that contributed to the deal.

Gonzales will most likely serve the standard range for a juvenile charged with second-degree murder: 180 weeks in a juvenile facility or until she turns 21 years old.

The sentence is the same that Gonzales would face if she were found guilty of second-degree murder in juvenile court, Highland said.

A declination hearing to determine whether Gonzales would be charged as an adult was scheduled for Oct. 4.

Jorgensen continued the hearing until Oct. 4, which is when Gonzales' sentence will be confirmed.

Gonzales, who was represented by Ephrata attorney Douglas Anderson, said little during the hearing, other than to answer Jorgensen's questions that she understood what her guilty plea means.

Gonzales gave birth to the baby girl at her home in Quincy on Jan. 11, wrapped her in a plastic bag and placed the girl on a washing machine outside a window, according to Quincy police reports.

Chelan County Coroner Gina Fino later ruled that the baby girl suffocated to death.

Gonzales' mother and sister were home when she gave birth. According to police reports, no family members knew she was pregnant or giving birth, and Highland she had no evidence to prove they did.

Gonzales was driven for emergency medical treatment when she began hemorrhaging following the birth, according to police reports. It was there that she admitted to a police officer that she had been pregnant and left her baby outside, according to police reports.

Gonzales was not incarcerated during her court proceedings but was required to adhere to a curfew. After Monday's court proceedings, however, she was taken into custody.