Second man sentenced in alleged bathroom robbery

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake man was sentenced to 41 days in jail for allegedly robbing a man in a bathroom.

Alberto D. Serrato, 24, pleaded guilty to collection of an unlawful debt in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records.

Prosecutors initially charged Serrato with first-degree robbery, and lessened the charge as part of the plea agreement, according to court records.

Prosecutor Angus Lee stated the case against Serrato and his co-defendant Juan J. Garcia, 21, of Soap Lake, had one major problem. The victim had a pending felony charge in Grant County Superior Court.

"Not only does Mr. (Juan) Quintana have a criminal history as well as that pending charge, he has also disappeared and has an outstanding warrant for his arrest," Lee stated after Garcia's sentencing. "Furthermore, Mr. Quintana has made it very clear in the past that he despises law enforcement and will not cooperate with our office in any way. Without the victim, the State would have been unable to proceed with the robbery charge at trial, so it was in the best interest of the community to ensure a felony conviction against Mr. Garcia by amending the charges to Riot with a Deadly Weapon as part of a plea agreement."

Serrato's prior convictions include unlawful possession of a firearm, violation of the uniform controlled substances act, unlawful imprisonment, riot, custodial assault, first-degree possession of stolen property and taking a motor vehicle without permission, according to court records. He faced a sentencing range of zero months to a year in jail.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Knodell followed the prosecutor's recommendation, sentencing Serrato to 41 days in jail.

The victim reportedly went to Serrato's Division Street home in August, according to a Moses Lake police report. The victim told police Serrato, 24, of Moses Lake, was a former business associate. When he arrived, Serrato took the victim into the bathroom to talk.

As the men were leaving, Serrato allegedly turned around and pointed a gun at the victim, demanding he pay back the money he owed Serrato, according to court records.

After Serrato reportedly pointed the gun at the victim, Garcia came into the bathroom and began hitting the victim, according to the police report. Garcia allegedly took the victim's car keys, cellphone, ring and wallet.

The men reportedly escorted the victim out of the house following the robbery, and drove him to another street before dropping him off, according to court records. When the victim went to recover his car, he found it was gone.

Garcia entered an Alford plea to one count of riot while armed in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records. The Alford plea means Garcia doesn't admit to committing the crime, but felt he would be convicted if the case went to trial.

He was sentenced to two months in jail, according to court records.