Evergreen man reaches plea deal in death of 2-year-old boy

KALISPELL (AP) — A 22-year-old Evergreen man charged in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son has reached a plea agreement.

An attorney for Brandon Newberry filed a notice saying a change-of-plea hearing will be held on Feb. 10. The details of the plea agreement were not filed.

Newberry had pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide for the February 2015 death of Forrest Groshelle.

An autopsy determined the boy had been hit in the stomach, causing a lacerated small intestine that slowly poisoned him.

The child’s mother told deputies that she had left Groshelle with Newberry during the day while she worked. Newberry reportedly told investigators he had been “roughhousing” with Groshelle a day prior to the child’s death.