By GEORGE KUNKE
Incest, impersonating a police officer, a prison assault, and more meth were on tap in Pacific County Superior Court the past two Fridays. Pacific County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mark McClain discussed some of the highlighted court cases.
Michael Pedrazzetti, 43, of Raymond was sentenced to 9 years in prison, followed by 12 months of community custody whereby he will be required to complete drug treatment. Pedrazzetti accepted the state’s plea bargain to plead guilty to two counts of delivery of methamphetamine and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. Pedrazzetti is next scheduled to appear this Friday to enter his plea and Oct. 25 for sentencing.
Heather Dawn Church, 40, entered a guilty plea to first-degree incest, possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexual intercourse, and failure to report child abuse. Church was charged following the conviction of her husband, who had early pleaded guilty to second-degree rape, third degree rape of a child, and incest. Church was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 16 years. Heather Church faces 2½ years in prison, but will not be sentenced until a pre sentence report from the Department of Corrections is completed. Church is being held without bail and sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25 at 1:30.
"While Ms. Church did not actually engage is sexual intercourse with her daughter, she agreed, along with her husband and the child's stepfather, to the sexual relationship and at one point videotaped the intercourse and I believe that warranted the nearly three-year prison sentence," McClain told the Herald. "At the time, Ms. Church was a part-time employee for the Department of Human and Heath Services and, as such, had a duty to report the sexual relationship and she failed to do so."
Michael A. Brock of Long Beach had previously entered a guilty plea to possession of methamphetamine, which was aggravated by having recently been released from custody. Brock had requested a Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA), which would have allowed him to serve up to six months in a residential treatment facility, followed by community custody.
“I opposed his request and asked the court to sentence Mr. Brock to 18 months in prison followed by 12 months of community custody because Mr. Brock had been on probation through the Department of Corrections at the time of his offense,” McClain said. “While drug treatment is appropriate in certain cases, too often it is a request for a lighter sentence, rather than a true desire for treatment. I was pleased that the Judge agreed with the sentence.”
Christopher Shaw, 32, of Ocean Park entered a guilty plea to second-degree assault, a strike offense, in the assault of a fellow inmate at the Pacific County Jail. Shaw struck another inmate and broke his nose. Shaw was sentenced to 6 months in custody and 12 months of community custody.
Patrick Gatens of Naselle entered a guilty plea to second-degree assault while armed with a firearm and first-degree possession of a firearm. Gatens was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in prison. Pacific County Sheriff Scott Johnson made the arrest.
“Mr. Gatens was in a dispute with his stepson and his friend and when they would not leave the home,’ McClain recalled of the case. “Mr. Gatens pulled the power from the home, which, apparently, heightened the argument and Mr. Gatens retrieved a firearm and fired what he later described to be a warning shot. While the victim later asked that the State not pursue charges, we could not abide by the conduct and the unlawful possession of a firearm. Mr. Gatens will be required to complete anger management as part of his 18-month community custody sentence, which will follow the prison sentence and he seems truly regretful for his conduct.”
Audrey Anderson of Raymond entered a guilty plea to criminal impersonation, cyber staking and bail jumping. Anderson had sent a text message indicating that she was a police officer to another in an attempt to frighten the victim. Anderson was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Dale P. Jones, 38, of Ocean Park entered a guilty plea to attempting to elude police vehicles and negligent driving in the first degree.
Jaseph A. Garza, of Forks, pleaded guilty plea to possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced under a first-time offender waiver sentence, which authorizes chemical dependency treatment and up to 90-days in jail. Garza received an agreed sentence of 30-days, followed by a year of chemical dependency treatment. Garza was also charged for a first offense possession of a stolen vehicle.
In some recent jail bookings by local law enforcement, Michael Lewis Silva, 24, was arrested for residential burglary and theft in the third degree. Pacific County Deputy Kimball made the arrest.
Lisa Grace Millam, 42, was arrested by Raymond Police for vehicle prowling and three counts of theft in the second degree.
Shelley Marie Stratton, 51, of Raymond, was arrested last Thursday on a drug related court ordered sentence and booked in jail with a bail set at $50,000.
Kelly Christopher Ginther, 46, was arrested by State Patrolman Macomber for DUI and a parole violation and held on $50,000 bail.