Teen sentenced for Mattawa drive-by

EPHRATA - A man is serving more than a year in prison for his part in a November drive-by shooting in Mattawa.

Alejandro T. Rivera, 18, pleaded guilty to drive-by shooting in Grant County Superior Court.

The charges did not change as part of the plea agreement, but prosecutors agreed to dismiss an assault in the third degree charge in an unrelated case, according to court records.

Prosecutor Angus Lee stated two other people were primarily responsible in the assault case.

Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline followed the prosecutor's recommendation, sentencing Rivera to the minimum end of the sentencing range, a year and three months in prison.

Rivera has no prior convictions and the maximum end of the sentencing was a year and eight months, according to court records.

"When Rivera was contacted by law enforcement about the shooting, he was cooperative with law enforcement. He quickly confessed his involvement as a driver, and then he later agreed to a second statement and named the gang members who were in the car," Lee stated.

The prosecutor pointed out Rivera quickly took responsibility for the crime and didn't "waste taxpayer money."

"By shortening the time between charge and disposition it enhances the rehabilitative prospects of the guilty when they are ultimately imprisoned," Lee stated

Rivera and several other people came to the victims' door about 20 minutes before the shooting, and started banging on it, according to the Mattawa police. Investigators reported the male victim was an inactive gang member and the other was his mother. The men were from a rival gang and challenged Rivera to fight them.

After the people left, the male victim was standing in front of a window, when Rivera and three other unidentified men returned, firing twice and striking the woman's car, according to the police report. When he saw the initial flash, the victim dived to the floor, telling his mother to do the same.

A police officer spotted the car, driving fast, while he was heading to the scene. A chase started, ending when the suspect's Acura drove off the shoulder of Road 25 Southwest and down a four-foot embankment. Four people ran from the car into nearby vineyards, according to the police report.

Rivera admitted to taking part in the shooting, telling police he was trying to scare the victim, according to the police report.

Lee stated prosecutors and law enforcement are investigating the rest of the gang members in the car with Rivera.

"If they are charged we will likely call Rivera to testify," he stated.