Jury convicts Othello carjacker

by Cameron Probert<br> Herald Staff Writer
| January 23, 2011 5:00 AM

EPHRATA - An Othello man may serve more than 10 years in prison for a 2009 assault and carjacking near Royal City.

After roughly three hours of deliberation, a Grant County Superior Court jury convicted Lorenzo Renteria Ramos, 35, of robbery in the first degree, assault in the second degree and theft of a motor vehicle.

Ramos Renteria faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and one month when he is sentenced on Jan. 31.

Prosecutor Angus Lee stated prosecutors recommend he receive the maximum possible sentence.

"This was a very serious case and the sentence recommendation from the state will reflect that severity," he stated.

Ramos Renteria woke up a man he was living with at 6 a.m. Ramos Renteria told the victim he was going to kill him and pointed a rifle at the victim's head, striking him with it, according to the Grant County sheriff's report. The victim grabbed the gun, starting a struggle, which ended with Ramos Renteria trying to strangle the man with the rifle, and the victim yelling for help.

The victim's son got Ramos Renteria to let the man go, and both people told Ramos Renteria to leave, according to the police report.

After leaving the house, Ramos Renteria went to a nearby field, where he tried to steal a Ford pickup, which left in the area by a hunter. Another hunter spotted Ramos Renteria trying to get the truck unstuck from a ditch, according to the police report. When the hunter approached to help, he realized the truck belonged to a friend.

The hunter called his friend, asking about the truck, and found out Ramos Renteria didn't have permission to take it, according to the police report. The victim handed his phone to the man so his friend could talk to him, and walked back to his truck.

As he was standing at his truck, the hunter heard the sound of a gun behind him. Turning around, he saw Ramos Renteria pointing a gun at his head, according to the police report. Ramos Renteria stole the hunter's truck and drove off.

He was later arrested in Caldwell, Idaho with the vehicle.