Seven-year sentence in gang shooting

EPHRATA - Michael J. Montejano will serve seven years in prison for shooting at a group of people during a gang-related fight.

Montejano, 20, Moses Lake, pleaded guilty to four counts of assault in the second degree and unlawful possession of a firearm in Grant County Superior Court.

Prosecutor Angus Lee stated the state amended the charges from attempted murder in the second degree because of several mitigating factors discovered during further investigation, including a possible self-defense argument.

"This all started when Montejano was assaulted by a gang member who was accompanied by almost 12 other gang members at the time. That assault appears to have been unprovoked," Lee stated. "The 'victims' in this case were among the group of initial aggressors and were dismissive about the incident in their subsequent interviews on this case, and on the night of the incident many, if not all of them, went to another party afterward."

Lee pointed out witnesses and victims didn't appear credible and didn't cooperate with the investigation or prosecution, he stated.

"We consulted with the investigating officer prior to making this decision and he was in full and complete agreement that this action was in the best interest of public safety," he stated.

Montejano has previous convictions for residential burglary, malicious mischief in the second degree, taking a vehicle without permission and burglary in the second degree. When combined with his present charges, he faced a sentencing range of five years and three months to seven years in prison, according to court records.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz followed the prosecutor's recommendation, sentencing Montejano to the maximum end of the range.

Montejano was with a group of gang members at a party on the 800 block of South Division Street in Moses Lake when members of a rival gang arrived, according to the Moses Lake police report. A group of gang members gathered outside of the party and called for Montejano to come outside.

When Montejano and several other gang members came outside, the victim began confronting him, and another man punched Montejano in the face, according to the police report. Montejano responded by pulling a gun and shooting at the group, hitting a 20-year old Hispanic male, a 17-year-old white female and a 16-year-old Hispanic male.