A 58-year-old Onalaska man is facing a felony burglary charge after allegedly entering the home of an 85-year-old woman living on his property and assaulting her.
Wayne Anthony Griffith made his initial appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon. Judge Paul Strophy set his bail at $50,000 as he remains held in the Lewis County Jail.
Griffith faces a charge of first-degree burglary — a Class A felony punishable by up to life in prison and a $50,000 fine — as well as misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree assault and third-degree malicious mischief, gross misdemeanors punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
The allegations are linked to an altercation with a tenant living in a motorhome on his Gore Road property in Onalaska.
According to court documents, Griffith rents out a motorhome on his property to the 85-year-old woman.
The woman called 911 on July 28 reporting that Griffith had assaulted her. She told a dispatcher he was “shoving her around and throwing things in the motorhome,” according to court documents. She said he entered the home without permission. She additionally stated he had broken her cane. She had locked herself in a bathroom when she called 911.
The victim told a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy Griffith grabbed her by the collar and yelled at her during the incident.
Griffith “said he was trying to wake her up because she had a doctor's appointment,” according to court documents. Griffith said he made the cane and that the victim was hitting him with it, which was how it broke.
“She said she did not have an appointment,” according to a probable cause affidavit filed by prosecutors. “(The victim) again reiterated that Mr. Griffith grabbed her by the collar and was yelling at her to the point where she could not understand what he was saying, and then he began throwing items in the motor home and broke her cane.”
Griffith has no felony criminal history, though he was accused of assault in 2023 by someone who also lived on his property. The case was eventually dismissed through a diversion contract in Lewis County District Court.
“But it shows that Griffith has a history of assaulting other tenants on his property,” prosecutors wrote in the affidavit.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer asked for bail to be set at $100,000.
“Simply put, it’s quite alarming,” Meyer said of the allegations that Griffith attacked an elderly woman and broke her cane.
“There’s a strong likelihood he will not reappear (for court dates),” Meyer added.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller asked for bail to be set at $10,000, noting that Griffith’s recollection of the events are much different and that he considers himself a caretaker for the victim.
Strophy ultimately set bail at $50,000.
Griffith is next set to appear in Lewis County Superior Court for arraignment on Thursday, July 31.
