Larioz sentenced to year for assault
EPHRATA - One of the men involved in the 2009 shooting of Juan "Pooky" Vasquez is serving a year in prison for beating a pregnant woman.
Frankie M. Larioz, 21, Moses Lake, pleaded guilty in Grant County Superior Court to assault in the third degree and interfering with reporting domestic violence, according to court records.
Prosecutors originally charged the man with assault in the second degree, but lessened the charge as part of a plea agreement. Prosecutor Angus Lee stated the victim and witness refused to cooperate with the prosecution.
"Without live testimony from the victim at trial the probability of obtaining a guilty verdict became very low," Lee stated. "We offered the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty to felony assault in the third degree, on the condition that he accept a sentence above the standard range so that he would be sent to prison to serve his time.
Larioz has prior convictions for attempted residential burglary, trafficking in stolen property and attempted assault in the second degree, according to court records. When combined with Larioz' present crimes, it led to a sentencing range of nine months to a year in jail.
Visiting Douglas County Superior Court Judge John Hotchkiss followed the prosecutor and defense recommendation, sentencing Larioz to a year in prison.
Larioz woke up the victim after coming home drunk in May, according to a Moses Lake police report. The victim told police Larioz was upset when he came into the bedroom and woke her up. When she started crying, he became angry, grabbed her and struck her in the face. She blacked out after being hit and didn't remember how she got to the entryway of the house, where police found her.
Larioz' mother heard the woman being struck, and got between the two, according to court records. When he pushed her out of the way, she went upstairs to call police. Larioz followed her, grabbing the phone and breaking it. When she tried to call on a cellphone, he grabbed it and broke it too.
The victim was able to escape to a bathroom, where she locked the door, according to the police report. Larioz kicked in the door.
Police responded to Larioz' home after a 9-1-1 hang-up. When the Multi Agency Communication Center operator tried calling back there was only static on the line, according to the police report. An officer discovered the victim bleeding from the nose and mouth and her right eye was swollen shut.
Police discovered Larioz hiding in a tool shed attic, according to the police report.
Larioz pleaded guilty to obstructing law enforcement in the 2009 shooting. He admitted to driving the shooter while the man was searching for someone who owed him money for marijuana.