Plea change planned in child death case

An Evergreen man facing trial March 14 for allegedly murdering a toddler is expected to change his plea next week. 

Vicki Frazier, attorney for Brandon Lee Walter Newberry, 21, filed a notice on Thursday that a change-of-plea hearing will be Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. at the Flathead County Justice Center.

Newberry had pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide for the Feb. 17, 2015, death of 2-year-old Forrest Groshelle.

An autopsy concluded the Groshelle died of internal injuries related to blunt force trauma to the abdomen. Groshelle had scratches and scrapes on his body.

Newberry had called 911 on Feb. 17 about an unresponsive child at a home on Shady Lane in Evergreen.

Newberry was heard screaming, “It’s my fault, it’s my fault” during the call, according to court documents.

The toddler was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical responders.

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

Flathead District Judge Heidi Ulbricht previously had denied a change of venue in the case after attorneys claimed that the high-profile nature of Groshelle’s death had inflamed the community so much that a fair trial could not be held.

Vandals smashed the windows of a vehicle and wrote “burn in hell Brandon” in spray paint after Newberry was arrested.  

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.