Newton man to stand trial in toddler’s death

A 21-year-old Newton man will stand trial in the death of an 18-month-old child found dead in a car seat.

The Wichita Eagle reports Jason M. Bugner has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the 2012 death of Farrah Pendland. According to an amended autopsy report, the girl died by strangulation after she was fastened into a car seat by only its top buckles and placed on the edge of a futon mattress while Bugner was in another room.

The report says Bugner later found the car seat partially overturned and the toddler suspended with the car seat strap around her neck.

Bugner waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday and will stand trial Aug. 25.

He’s being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on $100,000 bond.