Moses Lake attorney sentenced for assault

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake attorney will serve eight months in jail for shooting his brother with bird shot following an argument.

Rolando M. Adame, 60, Moses Lake, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and bail jumping in Grant County Superior Court in July.

Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline recently called the incident tragic before sentencing Adame to the middle of the sentencing range. He faced a range of six months to a year in jail for the incident.

Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Valaas and defense Attorney George Trejo both recommended the sentencing.

Valaas didn't speak about the sentence. He gave Sperline a copy of a letter from the victim.

Trejo agreed with the recommendation, saying the situation was extremely sad, and Adame was a father figure to his brother after their father died. He disagreed with a section of the victim's letter, which stated another brother raised him.

"Yes, Mr. Adame could have gone to trial," he said. "There were other firearms there, more violent firearms, (which) without a doubt would have caused more harm than the firearm Mr. Adame used ... Mr. Adame, negotiating with the state, both came to conclusion that this was probably the best resolution."

The resolution requires Adame to serve time in jail, and he was suspended from practicing law, Trejo said.

Adame didn't speak at the sentencing.

Sperline started by saying the case involves tragedy on so many levels, including the injury to the victim, injury to a family, loss to a community and the destruction of Adame's career.

"(It's) such a tragic case that there is no joy to be found in moving up or down in sentencing, or in showing or denying leniency, or in some feeling that justice, to some measure, has been done," he said. "(It is) too tragic for any of that, and too tragic for any of us to say, if we're objective about it, that there is any winners or losers in the case."

Sperline referred to a letter sent by Adame's pastor. The letter stated Adame had a spiritual awakening since the incident occurred.

"That's a good thing. That tells me that, in your heart, you take this seriously, but I also want you to know that while I believe in the guidance that comes from the Heavenly Father, I also really believe that forgiveness is God's response to sin, and imprisonment is society's response to crime," he said. "They're two entirely different things."

Punishment concerns the consequences for the action taken, while forgiveness needs to be addressed in other forums, Sperline said. It remains the same no matter who the person is.

"Given those thoughts, it seems appropriate to me to impose the mid-range sentence," he said.

Problems between Adame and his brother started about prior to the December shooting. The victim and his girlfriend left the residence about two weeks prior to the December incident after Adame cut a hole in the wall dividing the duplex, according to a Grant County sheriff's report.

The victim's girlfriend and a friend of a victim told police Adame came outside and unplugged a generator to a trailer parked on the property, according to the police report. Adame and his brother began arguing.

The two struggled over a shovel during the argument, before both men said they were going to call the police, according to a witness report.

The two continued yelling at each other as Adame walked into the house. The victim followed and Adame returned with a shotgun, according to court records. Adame shot his brother striking the victim's hand, leg and lower torso with pellets.

Adame told police he wanted his brother and girlfriend off of the property, and he broke the window on the trailer to get it ready for salvage. He said the action started an argument, which ended when the victim pushed Adame against a pickup truck, according to the police report.

"(Adame) said he went inside and found a telephone book and was looking for the number to call the cops, but found out he had a Yakima-area phone book," according to the police report. "He attempted to call his ex-wife ... but she didn't answer her phone."

Adame told police he heard a window break and grabbed a shotgun, according to the police report. The victim was walking away from the home when Adame walked out with the gun.

"(When Adame came out of the house, the victim) turned and started back towards the house in an aggressive manner," according to the police report. "He had something in his hand. (Adame) didn't think it was a gun, but could have been a rock. (Adame) said he pumped a round in the chamber and raised the shotgun above (the victim) and fired a warning shot."

Adame said he went back inside the home to call police, and saw a police cruiser outside the house.

"(Adame) admitted that as a man he felt he was justified, but as an attorney he knew he'd gone outside the scope of self defense," according to the police report.