Ephrata man sentenced for punching deputy

EPHRATA — A Ephrata man was sentenced for punching a deputy with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office in the face.

Ruben Sabedra, 28, of Ephrata, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault. Grant County Superior Court Judge John Knodell followed a joint recommendation between Deputy Prosecutor Kevin McCrae and defense attorney Susan Oglebay and sentenced Sabedra to a year in jail. The charge was not amended by plea agreement between the attorneys.

On July 19, MACC Dispatch a received a call from a woman who stated her boyfriend, Sabedra, was “going crazy” in the 17500 block of Road B Northwest and she needed help. The woman said that Sabedra would “get crazier” when law enforcement arrived, according to police records.

When deputies arrived at the scene they reported hearing voices inside the residence and upon knocking on the front door a young girl opened the door. After the door was opened it was slammed shut from the inside and deputies reported hearing yelling inside the residence.

One of the three deputies at the scene forced open the door and all three of the deputies went into the residence. Sabedra was behind the door and punched the first deputy who entered the residence in the face with a fist. Sabedra threw a second punch at the deputy, which ended up striking the deputy in the head.

Sabedra was taken to the floor and handcuffed. The blow to the deputy’s face and glasses left a cut to the left of his eye, which started to bleed profusely. When Sabedra was searched deputies located a box of ammunition in his pocket, but he was not found to be in possession of a gun. Sabedra’s girlfriend did not immediately provide details about what happened between her and Sabedra and deputies did not locate any injuries on her.

The injured deputy received medical treatment from American Medical Response (AMR) and was transported to Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata for additional treatment. A CT-scan did not show any broken bones. The value of the deputy’s broken glasses was put at $250, according to police records.

“Ruben Sabedra was not of any state of mind to provide any statement beyond cuss words,” wrote a deputy. “The (Grant County) jail placed him in the padded room because of his continued resistance.”