Three sentenced for holding girls in car

EPHRATA - Three of the people, accused in a gang-related kidnapping in September, were sentenced.

Scott F. Lopez, 20, of Warden, and Corina Caballero, 27, of Moses Lake, pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment, according to court records. Jack E. Thompson, 57, of Moses Lake, entered an Alford plea to one count of riot while armed. The Alford plea means Thompson doesn't admit to committing the crime, but felt he would be convicted at trial.

The three were initially charged with second-degree kidnapping, according to court records. The charges were lessened as part of a plea agreement.

"The first alleged victim in this case retracted her earlier statement and there was no evidence corroborating the existence of a gun," Prosecutor Angus Lee stated. "The other alleged victim would not cooperate at all. Additionally, both alleged victims have a significant history of drug use. Without establishing the existence of a gun there was no way to establish a kidnapping in this case, only unlawful imprisonment."

Lopez' prior felony convictions include possession of methamphetamine, attempted second-degree burglary and attempted intimidating a public servant, according to court records. When combined with his present conviction, he faced a sentencing range of four to 12 months in jail.

Caballero has no previous felony convictions, according to court records. She faced a sentencing range of one to three months in jail.

Thompson had one previous felony conviction for possession of methamphetamine, according to court records. He faced a sentencing range of zero to 12 months in jail.

Lopez found one of the victims at a friend's home and asked if she wanted to come outside and have some marijuana, according to the police report. The victim agreed, suggesting having it inside, but Lopez insisted they go around the corner.

When the victim allegedly got into the car with Caballero, Lopez and Angel Ramirez, 18, of Warden, she was assaulted, as Caballero drove to Warden, according to the police report. They picked up the second victim in Warden and assaulted the two women as they drove back to Moses Lake.

On the drive, one of the victims reported Lopez called Thompson. The victim allegedly heard Lopez and Thompson discuss taking them to a house where they would be killed, according to court records.

Lopez held the women at gunpoint during the assault, according to the police report.

When the car stopped at a Stratford Road gas station, the victims forced their way out and escaped, according to court records. They made it to Papa's Casino, across the street, where they contacted police.

Thompson was arrested in the house the victims were allegedly being taken, according to court records.

Caballero and Ramirez initially reported a woman walked up to the car at the gas station and started a fight, according to the police report. When investigators pressed, Caballero allegedly told police she drove the car to pick up the women, but didn't see anything else. Ramirez reportedly said he couldn't remember anything because he was intoxicated.

Lopez admitted to transporting the women, but denied the assault. He reported the women robbed Thompson and they needed to deal with the consequences of their actions.

Ramirez remains charged with second-degree kidnapping in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records.