Man allegedly points gun, threatens Basin resident

EPHRATA - An argument about a scale used for drugs reportedly led to a Moses Lake man threatening another man with a shotgun.

Prosecutors charged Robert J. Rosenberger, 21, with second-degree assault, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and aiming or discharging a firearm in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records.

Prosecutors requested a $100,000 bail for Rosenberger, citing concerns about the nature of the crime, according to court records. Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline said he couldn't set an abundant amount for bail, but some bail was appropriate, setting bail at $10,000.

Rosenberger sent text messages to the victim reportedly angry about a scale the victim used when he used to sell drugs, according to a Moses Lake police report. The victim was at the intersection of Pioneer Way and Nelson Road on Friday when Rosenberger and his girlfriend reportedly spotted him, and started honking.

The two people allegedly followed the victim to his Hope Court residence, where the victim stopped and went into to get a baseball bat to defend himself, according the police report. Rosenberger reportedly got out of the car with a shotgun, cocked it and pointed it at the victim, saying he was going to blast him.

Rosenberger reportedly left the scene without firing the gun, according to court records.

Police allegedly found a Remington 870 Magnum Express pump-action shotgun in Rosenberger's girlfriend's residence, according to court records. A shell left near the victim's residence reportedly matched the shells in the gun.

Rosenberger initially denied the incident, reportedly telling police he couldn't own a gun, and he got into a verbal argument with the man, according to the police report. He later allegedly admitted to following the victim and having a shotgun in the car before requesting to speak to an attorney.