Adult charges dropped against two teens

EPHRATA - Adult charges filed against two teens connected to a stabbing in Moses Lake were dropped from Grant County Superior Court recently and both cases were moved to juvenile court.

Travis Stotts, 17, and Victor Mejia, 16, were both charged with first-degree assault, but prosecutors agreed to dismiss the charges with prejudice following plea agreements in juvenile court.

A third boy, 14-year-old Dahndre Westwood, was also charged with first-degree assault for his involvement.

On July 10, Grant County sheriff's deputies responded to a reported stabbing at Lowry Street and Arlington Drive.

According to the sheriff's report, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed twice in the back and transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake for treatment. He survived the attack.

According to court documents, a 19-year-old male was with the victim during the altercation and reportedly told law enforcement earlier that night he had seen Mejia and Westwood walking on Adair Street. He reportedly told them to leave because he was concerned they might break into cars and houses.

The man reportedly came home, but left to pick up the victim and find Mejia and Westwood. Mejia, Westwood and Stotts were found on Lowry Street and Arlington Drive. When the victim left the vehicle, Westwood was allegedly already in a fighting stance.

According to the sheriff's report, the man stated Westwood allegedly had the victim in a headlock and told Mejia to get him. Mejia allegedly came over and began to stab the victim.

According to court documents, when the victim broke free he was chased by Westwood and stabbed in the back.At the time, sheriff's deputies released the names of the juvenile suspects because they were being sought by law enforcement.