Man pleads not guilty in double murder case

A Moses Lake man pleaded not guilty Monday in Grant County Superior Court to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree unlawful firearm possession.

Noe Pena, 40, is accused of shooting to death Epitacio Martinez-Molina, 52, and his brother, Moises Martinez-Molina, 37, on July 31 in the 8000 block of Road 18 Northeast, about 13 miles north of Moses Lake, according to court records.

Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the home around 11:45 a.m. and saw Pena walking around with a gun on Road 18 Northeast, ordered him to drop the gun and he eventually did. The .45 caliber Springfield XD was later determined to be stolen.

Pena was taken to the Grant County Jail and has a $3 million bail.

A witness told deputies two bodies were inside the garage of the home at 8057 Road 18 Northeast, where Pena was seen. Deputies found the two men’s bodies and the Grant County Coroner confirmed their identities and cause of death.

No motive was given, but court records state the dead men were sitting around a table with playing cards and empty alcoholic beverage containers, suggesting they were all involved in a poker game.