Moses Lake man guilty of robbery

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake man connected to a robbery last year was found guilty in Grant County Superior Court recently.

After a four-day trial, Fidel Cortez Jr., 21, was convicted of two counts of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.

Cortez is scheduled to be sentencing on Aug. 6.

Last January, Moses Lake police were dispatched to a reported disturbance at a Fourth Avenue home.

The 9-1-1 caller reportedly heard yelling coming from the neighbor's residence.

When officers arrived the victims said they had been robbed by gun and knife point, according to the police report.

The victims told police three or four people burst through the back door of the home and ordered them to get on the ground.

According to court documents, the suspects stole the wallets and cellphones of the victims as well as a lap top computer.

The victims also reported being stomped and kicked while they were on the ground.

Police took one of the victims to his home so his wife could track his cellphone.

The man's stolen phone was reportedly tracked to a residence on Miller Drive and officers arrived at the scene with units from the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

Law enforcement told the people inside to come out. After there was reported movement inside the house the suspects eventually exited and were detained.

Police received a search warrant and found a lap top in a Ford Expedition at the scene as well as a hand gun, ammunition, knife, wallets and cellphones inside the Miller Drive residence.

The suspects were transported to Moses Lake Police Department for interviews, but gave conflicting stories.

According to court documents, in February of 2012 one suspect decided to cooperate with law enforcement in exchange for a plea agreement.

He reportedly told police that Cortez asked him if he could pick up a friend across town. Cortez offered to drive because the man had been drinking. Cortez and four other men all left in a Ford Expedition.

According to the police report, the group met another man in an alley and Cortez told the man that they were there to pick up drugs.

He didn't participate in the alleged robbery. He said when everyone returned to the home the police arrived shortly after.

Cortez was contacted by police and told that he needed to pick up some items at the station. When he arrived he was arrested and taken to Grant County Jail.