Outlook men arrested in drug raid that seized 100 pounds of methamphetamine | Crime and courts

Two Outlook men were arrested after a drug bust that resulted in the seizure of 100 pounds of methamphetamine and at least $100,000.

However, the preliminary hearing ended in a discussion about the lack of public defenders and how that should affect bail setting.

In July and August, the Law Enforcement Against Drugs Task Force, made up of officers from the Washington State Patrol, the Yakima County Sheriff's Office and the Sunnyside, Granger, Grandview, Selah and Yakama Nation Tribal police departments, conducted an investigation into drug sales at a home in of Arms Road, according to a probable cause affidavit.

A confidential informant working with the task force made three purchases of fentanyl powder and methamphetamine. During one of the purchases, the informant discovered what appeared to be a rifle in the front seat of a vehicle where meth was stored, the affidavit states.

LEAD searched the home on Monday and took the two suspects, ages 47 and 26, into custody on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy and maintaining a drug dwelling. The elderly man hid in a trailer and was only arrested after a Washington State Patrol SWAT team forced him out with a pepperball gun following a three-hour standoff, the affidavit said.

During the raid, investigators found 80 pounds of meth in a vehicle registered to the 47-year-old and 20 pounds of meth in a mobile home registered to the 26-year-old's wife. Investigators also found an AR rifle under a bed in the RV and several guns in vehicles on the property and in the house, according to the affidavit.

A large amount of money was found at the property, totaling at least $100,000, according to Yakima County Assistant Prosecutor Richard Fisher.

Fisher asked Yakima County Superior Court Judge Sonia Rodriguez True to impose $750,000 bail on each suspect, citing the potential danger to the community posed by the fact that on the Weapons, drugs and large sums of cash were found at the property.

But defense attorney Melissa Derry argued for an interim release, pointing out that the drugs and money had been confiscated, negating the perceived danger to the public. She said another concern was delays in appointing lawyers, with the earliest date for appointing one likely to be November 1 if they were still in custody.

The county's Department of Assigned Counsel, grappling with a shortage of attorneys specializing in criminal offenses, is prioritizing the appointment of pretrial defendants whose expedited trial deadline is two months after arraignment, Derry said. Defendants who are not in custody must be tried within 90 days.

“We are focused on individuals whose speedy trial rights are being violated,” Derry said.

Fisher said there is no court ruling that says the DAC's failure to appoint attorneys as ordered by the court requires the release of a defendant.

“DAC’s failure to appoint counsel or retain counsel for the defense does not eliminate or negate the fact that they continue to assert and still pose a threat to the community,” Fisher said. “The failure of the DAC to carry out its task is not a reason not to impose bail.”

Yakima County Superior Court Judge Richard Bartheld issued an order pausing the expedited trial countdown for defendants who are not in custody and for whom an attorney has not been appointed.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington filed a lawsuit against the county, seeking the release of defendants who had no attorney appointed to represent them.

Rodriguez True set bail at $50,000 for the younger man and $200,000 for the older man. She also ordered a review of the men's bail release in two weeks, when their arraignment hearing is scheduled.