DAYTON–William Henry Fletcher was sentenced to 33 years after being convicted of first-degree assault in a September, 2020, jury trial in Columbia County Superior Court October 21.

Fletcher, 40, of 214 W. Patit Avenue, Dayton, was convicted of assaulting Laura Romig, 226 W. Patit Avenue, on January 7, 2019. Romig was attacked by Fletcher, who wielded a heavy crystal candle holder, striking her at least 14 times about the head. According to Columbia County Sheriff’s Office reports, the attack stopped when the candle holder broke. She was airlifted to a Spokane hospital due to the serious extent of injuries.

The First-Degree Assault conviction included Enhancements for Deliberate Cruelty to the victim, and Vulnerable and incapable of resistance.

An October 13 sentencing hearing was continued in Judge Thomas Cox’s court to October 21.