Eduardo F. Morales Martinez, in green, signs sentencing documents in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – While there were three ounces of methamphetamine found under the seat of his car following a traffic stop at the McDonald’s parking lot in Chehalis, prosecutors found no evidence to corroborate he was intending to sell or distribute the drug.
So, a plea deal was made with 37-year-old Eduardo F. Morales Martinez.
Morales Martinez and his 38-year-old passenger were arrested last month and this week he was back before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court to be convicted of a lesser charge.
He was initially charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, but pleaded guilty to simple possession on Wednesday morning. He also pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal impersonation.
Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello told the judge the change was made because while it was a large amount of meth, the statute required him to show the defendant planned to deliver the drugs, and that information “wasn’t present.”
Morales Martinez also admitted to using a false name with law enforcement during the March 8 incident, showing them three Mexican identification cards.
Masiello told the judge he recommended Morales Martinez should be given 60 days in jail, something he called pretty standard for the type of situation.
Morales Martinez, who told the court he worked in construction and prior to that did oyster shucking, spoke through a Spanish-English interpreter. Court papers list a Shelton address for him.
Masiello had written in charging documents that Morales Martinez had prior convictions for delivery of a controlled substance and driving under the influence as well as multiple deportations and illegal entries.
Defense attorney David Arcuri told the judge he had gone over with his client in detail the potential immigration consequences of his plea, informing him it was highly likely federal authorities would process him for deportation when he finished serving his time.
Judge Andrew Toynbee accepted the guilty pleas and imposed the two-month sentence, giving credit for 29 days already served. He also ordered Morales Martinez to pay $4,200 in fines and fees. He called it a fair outcome, based on what he knew of the case.
The companion case for the passenger, Olympia-area resident Gloria N. Iniguez Gonzalez, 38, is still pending, according to Masiello. Her bail had been set at $10,000 and she is no longer in jail.
She had a 1-year-old son with her during the traffic stop on Median Street that Morales Martinez said was also his son.
Neither Arcuri nor Masiello knew where Morales Martinez might be deported to.
“South of the border, is all I know,” Masiello said. “I know they (ICE) know of this case, but exactly how they will be proceeding, I don’t know.”
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For background, read “Chehalis traffic stops yield large amounts of meth” from Friday March 10, 2017, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
It’s called adderall copper penny they prescribe it to children with ADHD. Sad but true.
It’s called Adderall and it’s chemical composition is nearly identical to meth.
And yes, it’s prescribed to children. So, while you’re crying about all the children meth destroys, try not to forget about all the children it helps.
It was medical meth.
Surely you’ve heard of the Jenny Crank weight/teeth loss program?
Send him back to where he came from. We have enough issues in LC.
3 OUNCES OF METH! Who gives a rats butt where this KILLER of OUR CHILDREN is from??? Urinate in the neighbors yard and spend more time in jail! This is unbelievable! Put the Judge in jail for violation of Oath of Office! No evidence of Dealing! Fire the DA while we are at it! This just can’t stand…
When you see a brown-skinned guy in a pick-up drive by real slow in front of your house you practically trip over the rug to call the police about a “suspicious” driver. Who do you think is doing all the stealing in Lewis County you hypocritical, racist rednecks? Yep, your white friends and family addicted to meth & other drugs. Keep blaming the Mexicans for your problems, while your white elected officials let white social service employees steal thousands and cut funding to the senior centers in Lewis County. Keep blaming the poor, red, black, and yellow “colored” people too for your problems. Trump loves the uneducated.
Once this poor misguided man serves his sentence we should provide him with transportation right to Seattle where Mayor Ed Murray will keep him safe from the big bullies of the federal government in their sanctuary city.
That way he could take Amtrak to and from Lewis County in the future to commit crimes and return home to his safe little enclave.
This is not a case of targeting someone because they are an “immigrant”. This is a case of someone entering the US illegally and committing crimes while here.
If any of us were to sneak into any other country and were caught committing crimes do you think we would find sanctuary? Heck no we would face the full brunt of justice in that country and then be kicked out.
There we go again…people making assumptions, as in Lewis County decides who gets deported. Deportations are made by the federal government and counties and states have nothing to do with it. The big question is if ICE will be waiting for him in the lobby of the jail when he is released.
No reason for cynicism here. It was probably just for personal use. You know, it takes a lot of energy, after shucking oysters all day, to still have the stamina to go out and tag businesses around town. Good thing, a specific criteria for which businesses do, and do not, get tagged, is in place. Any way, we all know, that the mechanisms of the Lewis County justice system, would ensure the case be adjudicated in such a way, that a built-in legal snafu is in place, to ensure the conviction can be thrown out on appeal.
POSSIBLE DEPORTATION? what the hell is wrong with the judicial system in LC. A person who gets in a traffic wreck gets treated worse then these scums of mexico
They should deport these people , they do not fear our jails. They would be in jail regardless of what country the are in and our jails are a lot easier then their jails. We need to send a message that people who want to work hard and pay taxes and obey our laws are fine but the criminals should be sent back to wherever they came from.
Looks like the Mexican Mafia and El Chapo can even pay off Lewis County Officials and let their drug mule get back to immigration violations in only one more month. This time he should use a drone to deliver the meth. Or if pulled over by a cop tie the dope to a helium balloon and let the evidence float away. This is a slap in the face from our pathetic public Officials in action. Remember this shit during re Election time.
And remember to only drink Fluoridated water because Lewis County Cares about your teeth since there’s so much meth going around. Always remember to rinse with fresh fluradated water after each toke on the meth pipe for a clean mouth. Couldn’t get the border wall up any faster. I say use these deportees as slave labor before we send them back… I’m sick of a 3rd World Centralia…