Man sentenced in attempted theft

EPHRATA - A man is serving about a year in prison for kidnapping a man, and forcing another to help try to steal from a residence.

Gabriel C. Correa Jr., 29, of Moses Lake, pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment, two counts of forgery, second degree theft and third degree malicious mischief in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records.

He was originally charged with second degree kidnapping and residential burglary, according to court records. The charges were changed as part of the plea agreement.

Correa's prior convictions include second degree theft, second degree burglary, theft of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute and threats, according to court records. When combined with his present crimes, he faced a sentencing range of a year and 10 months to two years and five months in prison.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz followed the prosecutor's and defense attorney's recommendation, sentencing Correa under a drug offender sentencing alternative, according to court records. He will serve a 12.75 months in prison and 12.75 months in community custody.

The victims were at a Peninsula Drive residence, where one of the men was house-sitting, according to a Moses Lake police report. Correa entered the residence and began walking around.

One of the victims said Correa went into a bedroom and came out wearing different clothes and carrying a machete, according to the police report. He called a friend. As one of the victims prepared to leave the residence, Correa told him he wanted to see some friends and threatened to kill him if he argued.

Correa ordered one of the victims into a black Isuzu an unknown accomplice was driving, according to the police report. When the victim got into the vehicle, he saw a shotgun. They drove around the area before stopping, and the accomplice got out of the vehicle. When the man was out of sight, the victim ran away and was chased by the man in the Isuzu. The victim made it to a gas station where he contacted police.

At the same time one of the victims was riding in the vehicle, Correa ordered another man into a bedroom where a safe was located, according to the police report. He ordered the man to help carry out the safe and other items in the house.

When police arrived at the house, they found the items in a white station wagon owned by one of the people visiting the residence, according to the police report.