Moses Lake man gets probation for selling drugs near school

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake man was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to selling cocaine 150 feet away from Park Orchard Elementary School.

Reynaldo Pichardo, 31, was sentenced to a year of probation after he pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.

Pichardo told police he was selling cocaine to support his children, according to court documents.

Officers responded to an anonymous call that Pichardo was selling drugs from his house. When officers arrived they saw a car leaving Pichardo's residence, according to the police report.

Officers learned the owner had a suspended driver's license. When they pulled the vehicle over, the driver had a small amount of cocaine in his wallet, according to the police report.

Based on that information officers obtained and executed a search warrant on Pichardo's residence. He admitted to having and selling drugs and told the officers where the drugs were located in his bedroom.

Officers found 6 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, drug packaging materials and four prescription pills that Pichardo did not have a prescription for.

Pichardo had no prior convictions and was sentenced to probation by Grant County Superior Court Judge John Knodell.