Mattawa man sentenced to 35 years

EPHRATA - A Mattawa man will serve more than 35 years in prison for holding an officer at gun point and shooting at another officer.

Jose J. Garcia-Meraz, 19, pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the first degree and assault in the first degree in Grant County Superior Court, according to Prosecutor Angus Lee.

Garcia-Meraz offered to enter the plea the day before his trial was scheduled to begin.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz followed the prosecutor's recommendation, sentencing Garcia-Meraz to 35 years and three months in prison, the maximum end of the sentencing range, according to Lee.

"I think this conviction shows that even a criminal knows that if you shoot at a cop you need to get ready to do serious prison time," Lee stated. "This office takes a very tough stance on assaults on those who keep us safe at night."

Garcia-Meraz and his father, Nicolas Garcia-Godinez, 61, Othello, were fishing at Crab Creek, when Washington State Fish and Wildlife Agent Chad McGary found Garcia-Meraz didn't have a fishing license on him. McGary was following Garcia-Meraz back to his vehicle, so he could get his license, when the agent heard something metal in the other man's pocket, according to a police report.

After the officer asked about the item, McGary reportedly heard a gun being racked and Garcia-Meraz turned around, aiming the gun at McGary, according to a police report. Garcia-Meraz demanded McGary throw his gun away. The agent initially refused, but complied after Garcia-Meraz held the gun a foot away from his face.

After McGary threw his gun over a fence, Garcia-Godinez ran up a trail, pointing a knife at the officer, according to a police report. While the father and son started talking, the officer ran up the hill. Garcia-Meraz chased the officer before asking his father for the keys to their Honda Civic and fleeing the scene in the car.

Garcia-Meraz fled on state Route 243 and was followed by a fish and wildlife captain. When they turned onto Beverly Burke Road, Garcia-Meraz fired two to three shots at the police car, striking it, according to court records.

The chase ended on Interstate 90, when the car broke down at Naylor Junction.

Garcia-Meraz admitted to pointing the gun at the officer, saying he was scared according to a police report.

Garcia-Godinez pleaded guilty to assault in the second degree and was sentenced to five months in jail.