The Court has ruled that justice for Grant is 8.5 years. After being convicted of manslaughter back in October, 45-year-old Ruperto Aguayo of Kelso was given his sentence in the 2023 death of Grant Hadler yesterday; it was eight and a half years in state prison. He is also required to attend anger-management and alcohol-abuse classes, and to submit to regular drug testing.

Aguayo was convicted of first-degree manslaughter but acquitted of the later-added second-degree murder charge he faced. On February 19th, 2023 Aguayo assaulted Hadler after a ride from a Tavern in Longview. Hadler was found in the streets with bad injuries and intoxicated; he later went into cardiac arrest and then died after a week at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.

Aguayo’s then-girlfriend (now wife) told police Hadler sexually advanced on her during the ride, and Aguayo admitted to hitting him because of that.

In a social media post yesterday, Hadler’s widow, Sherry Hadler, said, “While I believe a more severe sentence may be warranted, the judge’s verdict demonstrates a commitment to justice.”