Moses Lake man charged for rape, incest

EPHRATA — A Moses Lake man accused of raping a family member at knife point allegedly stated drugs made him commit the crime.

Prosecutors charged Mario Noyola Jr., 31, with rape in the first degree and incest in the first degree after he allegedly attacked the victim on March 23.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz set bail at $1 million.

The victim reportedly allowed Noyola into her residence, after he told her he was locked out of his home. When she let him in, he allegedly threatened her with a hunting knife, telling her he’d “stabbed a subject last week,” and raped her, according to a Grant County sheriff’s report.

Noyola was tracked to a West Craig Street residence near Moses Lake. After officers asked for Noyola at the residence, the man allegedly attempted to escape out the back. Spotting officers behind the house, Noyola apparently retreated back inside, according to the police report. A more than five-hour standoff ensued involving 50 members of law enforcement including the Moses Lake Tactical Response Team, according to the police report. Noyola agreed to exit the residence after speaking with a Moses Lake police officer.

The man allegedly told police he attacked the victim because of the drugs he used, according to the police report. He also claimed he didn’t use a knife during the alleged incident.

“Noyola stated the drugs caused him to have thoughts running through his head and voices and conversations with himself,” according to the police report. “He stated he made bad choices as he was overwhelmed by the drugs he took.”