Driver gets 80 months in burglary that turned fatal

KENNEWICK --A 21-year-old man made "a poor choice" in January when he drove a group of friends to a Kennewick home, knowing they were armed with guns and planned to rob the resident, a judge said Wednesday.

Now, Armando Rodriguez-Willis must face "severe consequences" for his actions that led to the shooting death of Tyler Stock, said Judge Carrie Runge in ordering a six-year, eight-month prison sentence.

"It's unfortunate that you didn't think through your decision earlier and make a choice not to be involved," Runge added, noting that it affected Stock's family and Rodriguez-Willis' wife and two sons.

The Kennewick man pleaded guilty in May in Benton County Superior Court to first-degree burglary with a firearm allegation. He had no prior felony convictions before the early Jan. 11 incident that left Stock, 20, dead on the front steps of the targeted home.

However, Rodriguez-Willis got a mandatory five-year term because at least two of his accomplices were armed with firearms. That must be served in full before he starts the one year and eight months for the burglary.

Rodriguez-Willis drove Stock, Jorge Hernandez and Dwight Norwood to North Buntin Street, according to court documents. Their plan reportedly was to take $70,000 in cash from Ramon Madrigal because they believed he had a lot of marijuana in the house, Prosecutor Andy Miller has said.

But Madrigal feared for his safety when a masked man knocked on his door at 1:21 a.m., and he opened fire as the armed intruder pushed open the door.

Stock, of Kennewick, was killed. Kennewick police reported that he partially was inside the front door, and a revolver was found at his feet.

He was wearing a blue bandanna over his face and socks over his hands.

Hernandez fired one shot back at the house before running away. The Pasco man got more than eight years in prison for attempted first-degree robbery with a firearm.

The getaway car was found at Hernandez's home, out of view in the backyard. Hernandez was arrested a day after the shooting and gave information to police, including the identities of Rodriguez-Willis and Norwood, according to documents.

Rodriguez-Willis was not honest with police, denying he knew the location of his car after the shooting.

Investigators, though, got jail recordings of a phone call between Rodriguez-Willis and a relative in which he tells the person to have his hidden car cleaned to hide evidence.

Norwood, the alleged organizer, is charged with first-degree burglary. His trial is Sept. 12.

Miller decided shortly after the shooting that Madrigal was justified under state law when he shot Stock, an intruder in his home, in self-defense.

On Wednesday, Rodriguez-Willis told the court that he wanted to go ahead with his sentencing even though the judge's husband, Kennewick Detective Rick Runge, was involved with some interviews in the case.

Judge Runge said she didn't know Rodriguez-Willis or the case, but offered to step off the bench and let another judge preside over the hearing.

Miller recommended the sentence at the top of the standard range.

He pointed out that Stock's grandfather was in the courtroom and said, "If not for the action of the other three individuals, Mr. Stock would not have been killed."

But he added that Stock also made the decision on his own to go with the other men to the planned home invasion.

Rodriguez-Willis never possessed a firearm or got out of his car during the incident, but he waited for it to happen so he could drive his friends from the scene, Miller said. He knew of the plans and was a part of organizing it, Miller said.

Defense lawyer Tracy Collins described it as "sort of a novel situation" how his client went from zero criminal history to a case where a person was killed.

Rodriguez-Willis has realized that his friend is the one who ended up dead, and "it has changed his life extensively while he's been in custody just because of that knowledge," said Collins of Spokane.

"He has a tremendous amount of sympathy for the family of Mr. Stock because of the circumstances of how this happened. He had a lesser role, but he did drive the car to the scene, people got out of the car and they ended up in these circumstances."

Rodriguez-Willis read a letter he had written to the court, in which he apologized for what happened that night.

"I lost a good friend and also my freedom that day. We all make mistakes ...," he said. "I wish I could take back the events of that tragedy ... but we can't, so I move forward."

Rodriguez-Willis said he doesn't believe 80 months behind bars is a reasonable sentence for his involvement. He added that the 20 months for the burglary was a fair recommendation, and at most five years.

While in custody since January, Rodriguez-Willis told the court he has developed a relationship with God. "I can't say I'm happy I am incarcerated or a friend is dead, but I can say I'm happy I met with God and am moving forward."

"I have really opened my eyes, and honestly, have made big changes in my life," he added.

Rodriguez-Willis said his wife, sons and family have suffered since he has been locked up.

He has his GED and wants to take college courses in prison to make his family proud.

"Understand I'm a changed man for society, my family and myself," he said.

The judge told Rodriguez-Willis that she is glad he has utilized his time productively while in custody. Runge also pointed out that she liked the attitude he displayed in court.

"That's certainly something that speaks well for you and is something of great benefit to you," she said, noting a number of supportive letters submitted on the defendant's behalf.

But Runge also said a tragedy clearly occurred, "and took place as a result of your actions and your decision on that particular day to be involved, knowing that the event was going to take place and knowing that somebody was armed with a weapon."

"Part of why the state takes a hard look at these crimes when guns are involved is because somebody could end up dead," she added. "The real tragedy in all of this is that Mr. Stock ended up being killed."

-- Kristin M. Kraemer: 582-1531; kkraemer@tricityherald.com

This story was originally published July 14, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Driver gets 80 months in burglary that turned fatal."