[1]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 [2]