Cory Louis Wagner, 27, and Tiffany Chanthavong, 22, both pled guilty to a charge of assault with intent to murder Wagner’s mother. Both waived their right to a preliminary hearing in District Court Aug. 24 in front of Judge Michael Schipper before entering the pleas.

According to the plea agreement, a 20-year-cap was set on the minimum sentence for both and the remaining charges were dropped in exchange for the guilty pleas. Wagner had his telephone privileges revoked while in jail, except to talk to his attorney, to stop him from trying to call his mother, Diane Wagner.

Wagner and Chanthavong faced the same charges of assault with intent to commit murder, kidnapping, extortion, motor vehicle theft and credit card fraud.

On July 4, Wagner was at his mother’s house on Huff Road in Assyria Township and asked her for money so he and Chanthavong could leave the state to get away from problems with the law.

When his mother refused, police said that Wagner and Chanthavong severely beat her, threatened her with a knife, bound her with duct tape, tied her to a chair and locked her in a bathroom, taking her car and credit card when they fled.

Diane Wagner was eventually able to call 911 for help and was transported to Bronson Battle Creek Hospital for treatment. The pair fled; they were arrested by Rockford, Illinois police on July 5. They were later extradited back to Barry County. Both are scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 5.