Third suspect charged in Moses Lake stabbing case
Travis Stotts
EPHRATA - A third Moses Lake teenager connected to an alleged stabbing of another boy is facing assault charges.
17-year-old Travis Stotts was charged with first-degree assault recently in Grant County Superior Court.
He was arrested Sunday night without incident at a Dogwood Street home and his bail was set at $50,000.
Stotts and 16-year-old Victor Mejia are charged as adults due to a Washington state law which allows prosecutors to charge 16- and 17-year-olds accused of certain crimes as adults.
Mejia and 14-year-old Dahndre Westwood are also charged with first-degree assault.
On July 10, Grant County sheriff's deputies responded to a reported stabbing at Lowry Street and Arlington Drive.
A 16-year-old male was reportedly stabbed twice in the back. He was then transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake for treatment. He survived the stabbing.
According to the sheriff's report, a 19-year-old male was with the victim during the altercation.
The 19-year-old reportedly told law enforcement that earlier in the night he had seen Mejia and Westwood walking on Adair Street and told them to leave. He was concerned that they might break into cars and houses.
The man reportedly came home, but left again to pick up with victim and find Mejia and Westwood. Mejia, Westwood and Stotts were found on Lowry Street and Arlington Drive. Westwood was allegedly in a fighting stance when the victim got out of the vehicle.
According to court documents, the victim and Westwood fought while Mejia, who allegedly produced a knife, and Stotts approached the 19-year-old.
The man stated Westwood allegedly had the victim in a headlock and told Mejia to get him. Mejia allegedly came over and started to stab the victim.
According to court documents, when the victim broke free he was chased by Westwood and stabbed in the back.
Law enforcement reportedly found a bloody knife in a garbage can at Mejia's home.
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