Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 36-year-old man pleaded guilty yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court to drive-by shooting, even though he didn’t fire a weapon from a vehicle.

Gilbert Borquez was the man who said he retrieved a shotgun from his girlfriend’s car when he saw the man he was meeting outside an Adna gas station had a handgun; Borquez initially told detectives he accidentally fired it into the ground.

The case involves two vehicles full of people from Raymond and a third car that all fled after a gunshot was heard at the 76 station off state Route 6 on April 16. Lewis County sheriff’s detectives said the group was trying to help a woman get back her rental car – containing $500 and all her belongings – from her ex-boyfriend who stole it.

After the plea deal wrapped up with Borquez sentenced to 34 months in prison yesterday morning, Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead said one doesn’t necessarily have to be in a vehicle when they fire a gun for the offense to qualify as drive-by shooting. In this case, a vehicle was used to transport the pistol-grip sawed off shotgun to the scene, Halstead said.

“The title isn’t really what you would think it is,” Halstead said of the statute.

There was no allegation anyone was shot.

In exchange for dropping a charge of first-degree assault, Borquez pleaded guilty to drive-by shooting, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a short barrel shotgun.

Both Halstead and defense attorney J.P. Enbody told Judge Nelson Hunt Borquez was straightforward with law enforcement and cooperative.

Halstead said when the rental car was located, detectives found an area on it that showed a scrape pattern consistent with buckshot. The victim, Paul Martin, was arrested in Oregon and is currently facing criminal charges related to taking the woman’s car, Halstead said.

The woman, Amalia Copp, 43, has pleaded guilty in Lewis County to unlawful possession of a firearm because it was on the seat next to her on the ride to Adna, according to Halstead.

Robert R. Ogilve, 42, who fled on foot and was found by sheriff’s deputies that afternoon along the Chehalis River, has pleaded guilty to escape in connection with not meeting with his community corrections officer.

Halstead said there are two other individuals who have yet to be arrested for their roles.
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For background, read “Sawed off shotgun found near Adna gas station, one arrested” from Thursday April 18, 2013, here

Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter

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