Moses Lake felon gets 3 years for gun possession

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake convicted felon is gong to prison for about three years after pleading guilty for the second time of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Police initially questioned Juan Rodriguez, 21, after the owner of a local car wash business called authorities and said Rodriguez and three other young men were smoking marijuana in their car as it went through the car wash.

When police arrived, Rodriguez got out of the car with a large black winter coat and put it into the backseat, according to the police report.

When questioned by police he denied smoking pot in the car, but officers reported smelling a strong odor of it coming from inside of the car.

At least one occupant of the car was a juvenile. Police told Rodriguez they were applying for a warrant to search his car, according to the police report.

The other three occupants were told they could leave and left the area on foot, according to the police report.

When officers searched the car they found about 3 ounces of marijuana, a pipe and a loaded .44 caliber pistol.

Rodriguez was previously convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm in 2012 and complicity to commit burglary, theft and malicious mischief in 2006, according to court documents.