Moses Lake man sentenced to 67 months in prison for arson

MOSES LAKE -- A Moses Lake man was sentenced to 67 months (about 5 1/2 years) in state prison last month, after a jury found him guilty of setting fire to his father’s vehicle and boat in March and endangering a nearby residence in the process, according to court records.

Andres R. Rocha, 33, was found guilty of first- and second-degree arson on Oct 9. He was originally sentenced Nov. 2, but refused to sign the needed documents or be fingerprinted, according to online documents. His amended judgment and sentence was Nov. 23.

On the morning of March 22, police were dispatched to a gas station on West Broadway Avenue for a report of a domestic dispute between Rocha and his father, according to the police report. When police arrived, they confronted Rocha about two fountain drink cups he was carrying that had been filled with gasoline, according to court records.

Rocha initially told officers that he couldn’t afford a gas canister and was just using the cups to carry the gas so he could fill up his car. As no crime had occurred, officers left the scene, according to court records.

Shortly after 1 p.m., officers were called again for a report of a vehicle explosion in a residential neighborhood near the 3000 block of West Peninsula Drive in Moses Lake.

Witnesses said they saw Rocha smash the windows to his father’s vehicle with rocks or bricks, before setting something on fire and tossing it into the car, according to court records. Rocha then reportedly tossed a plastic bag into the vehicle, causing it to burst into flames. By the time firefighters were able to put out the fire, it had destroyed the vehicle as well as a nearby boat that also belonged to Rocha’s father. A Blazer which belonged to Rocha was also significantly damaged, according to court records.

In addition to prison, Rocha was sentenced to 18 months of community custody for committing violent offenses, according to court records. He also must pay $500 in fines and fees.