A Pasco man who participated in a May drive-by shooting was sentenced to nine months in jail.
Richard Ray Castillo pleaded guilty Tuesday in Franklin County Superior Court to one count of second-degree assault and one count of attempting to elude a police vehicle.
Castillo admitted to assisting in shooting at Miguel A. Paniagua's West Pearl Street apartment May 13. No one was hurt in that incident, but three children were inside sleeping at the time.
The shooting was in retaliation for a May 1 fight at the Pasco Flea Market.
Castillo admitted to helping assault someone May 9 and Aug. 11, and driving around 100 mph trying to lose a police car.
He was sentenced to 90 days for attempting to elude police, but that will be served at the same time as the nine months for assault. Castillo also will need to participate in anger management, according to the sentence.
Pasco man enters guilty plea to charges in assault on officer
A Pasco man who knocked out a Pasco police officer who was trying to arrest him for allegedly shooting at an acquaintance in 2009 pleaded guilty to third-degree assault, second-degree escape and attempting to elude police.
David Jimenez Jr. was sentenced to 12 months on two of the counts and six months on another, which will be served at the same time.
On April 13, Pasco police went to a North Arbutus Avenue home at 2:25 p.m. to arrest Jimenez on outstanding warrants.
When Jimenez fled, Officer Tom Ninemire tried to stop Jimenez but was knocked down and hit his head on a curb. Ninemire briefly lost consciousness and was treated at a hospital.
Three other officers wrestled down and handcuffed Jimenez. He was put into the back of a patrol car while police checked on Ninemire.
But Jimenez left the patrol car, and a chase ensued until his truck stopped and the still-handcuffed Jimenez tried to take off, court documents stated.
Two pursuing officers shocked him with a Taser and re-arrested him.
Man could face more charges in shooting
More charges could be entered against a 19-year-old man accused of a drive-by shooting in Pasco.
Deputy Prosecutor Teddy Chow told the court that he is considering filing more charges against Juvenal Torres.
Torres already is charged in connection with a drive-by shooting, possession of a stolen firearm and assault in the first degree.
If the case proceeds to a trial, Chow said he likely would file at least two counts of first-degree assault and a gang aggravating factor and a firearm enhancement that could add time to a sentence if a jury found Torres guilty of those charges.
Torres' lawyer, Matt Rutt, said he would object to any added charges. Such charges would be inappropriate and would mean Rutt would need more time to prepare than the trial date of Oct. 19 would allow.
Torres is accused of firing several rounds May 31 from the front passenger seat of a Honda Accord toward a house at Fourth Avenue and A Street. The home is said to be visited by members of a rival gang involved in a shooting May 30 at a Kennewick Sun Mart.
Police and court documents said the May 31 incident was in retaliation for what happened the night before.
Two other men already pleaded guilty in the shooting.
Jaime J. Tovar, 16, was sentenced in Franklin County Superior Court to three months in jail for second-degree assault. He has served the time and was released.
Ivan Madred Valdez, 18, got a 15-month prison sentence for second-degree assault and drive-by shooting.
Setting trial dates in alleged beating delayed
Setting trial dates for a Pasco man accused of beating his girlfriend and holding her against her will was delayed once again, despite Larry Dean Buck's protests.
But Superior Court Judge Cameron Mitchell said trial dates will need to be set next week.
Rutt, Buck's attorney, asked to continue for one week to allow him to review the report from Eastern State Hospital. He said he is not contesting his client's competency to stand trial.
Buck, 40, said he already has been in custody eight months and believes his rights have been violated.
Buck was arrested by Pasco police after officers were called to the Shopping Spot Mini Mart, 128 S. 28th Ave., for a report about a hysterical woman asking for help, court document said.
The woman had bruising on her face and chest, a cut on the bridge of her nose and cuts on her left ankle, documents said. Officers said she had "head-to-toe" bruising.
She said she was held against her will by Buck at the Sage N Sun Motel and inside a motor home at 2714 W. Hopkins St., documents stated.
She told officers that Buck beat her and attempted to drown her, documents showed. The woman said she was able to escape from the motor home and run to the store for help.
