Moses Lake attorney charged with assault

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake attorney reportedly shot his brother following an argument about the victim leaving the duplex they shared.

Prosecutors charged Rolando M. Adame, 59, with assault in the first degree in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records.

Adame and witnesses allegedly presented different versions of the events on Dec. 8 at the Stratford Road residence.

The victim's girlfriend reported the brothers were living in the duplex and had been reportedly arguing about an electricity bill for at least two weeks. She told police they'd left the residence about two weeks ago after Adame allegedly had cut a hole in the wall dividing the duplex, according to a Grant County sheriff's report.

The victim's girlfriend and a friend of a victim reported Adame allegedly came outside and unplugged a generator to a trailer parked on the property before the two started arguing, according to the police report.

Both witnesses reported a window of the fifth wheel was broken, but the accounts differ. The victim's girlfriend reported the window was broken after the argument began. The witness reported Adame reportedly grabbed a rake and broke the window starting the argument, according to the police report.

The two allegedly struggled over a shovel during the argument, before both men said they were going to call the police, according to a witness report.

"(Adame) turned and walked to the house. (The victim) followed (Adame). They were still yelling back and forth," the victim's friend reported to police. "He heard (the victim's girlfriend) say 'He has a gun.' (The witness) looked out the back window and saw (Adame) with a rifle or a shotgun."

Both witnesses reported Adame shot his brother with the shotgun, according to the police report. The victim was struck in the hand, leg and lower torso with pellets.

Adame allegedly repeated several portions of the story to the police, saying he wanted his brother and girlfriend off of the property, and he broke the window on the trailer to get it ready for salvage. He reportedly said the action started an argument, which ended when the victim pushed Adame against a pickup truck, according to the police report.

"(Adame) said he went inside and found a telephone book and was looking for the number to call the cops, but found out he had a Yakima area phone book," according to the police report. "He attempted to call his ex-wife ... but she didn't answer her phone."

Adame allegedly told police he heard a window break and grabbed a shotgun, according to the police report. The victim was reportedly walking away from the home when Adame walked out with the gun.

"(When Adame came out of the house, the victim) turned and started back towards the house in an aggressive manner," according to the police report. "He had something in his hand. (Adame) didn't think it was a gun, but could have been a rock. (Adame) said he pumped a round ... and raised the shotgun above (the victim) and fired a warning shot."

Adame reportedly said he went back inside the home to call police, and saw a police cruiser outside the house.

"(Adame) admitted that as a man he felt he was justified, but as an attorney he knew he'd gone outside the scope of self-defense," according to the police report.

Adame could not be reached for comment.