Sentencing in March for Centralia toddler’s torturer

A 25-year-old man who pleaded guilty last week to rape and homicide by abuse in the death of a Centralia toddler will be sentenced in March.

During James M. Reeder’s sentencing hearing March 6, a Lewis County Superior Court judge will decide the minimum sentence Reeder will serve. Prosecutors indicated they will argue for the higher end of the range - 371/2 years.

The hearing will take place on March 6 at 10:30 a.m. Family of the victim are expected to make statements prior to the judge.

Reeder pleaded guilty to homicide by abuse, two counts of rape of a child in the first degree, second-degree assault and possession of methamphetamine Jan. 9 in an Alford plea agreement.

He was arrested last May after emergency personnel responded to a 911 call reporting a 2-year-old girl had drowned in a bathtub. But when police and paramedics arrived at the trailer park on West Oakview Avenue about 3 p.m. May 24, they discovered 2-year-old Koralynn Fister was already cold and spotted with bruises, cuts, burns and other injuries.