Six arrested in drug, stolen property sting

RITZVILLE – Two of six people arrested Monday, July 13, remain in Adams County Jail as of Monday, July 20.

The arrests were made when multiple agencies served a search warrant to recover evidence from a Bobcat theft which occurred in Warden (Grant County). During the investigation, a global positioning device (GPS) on the Bobcat pinged at 1110 N. Rand Lane, and later at a location in the Kennewick/Richland area, where it was recovered.

According to court records, Glen Gilbert, 63, admitted to stealing the Bobcat with the help of Triston David Duplichan, 24. Gilbert said Duplichan drove the Bobcat from where it was stolen, onto a trailer being pulled by Gilbert.

While on scene, Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner recognized Duplichan driving past in a black Cadillac, and then speeding up. After a chase lasting almost 15 miles with speeds of 115 miles per hour, Duplichan was taken into custody for Felony Eluding, and 3rd degree Driving with a Suspended License.

Duplichan remains in Adams County Jail as of Monday, July 20, on $50,000 bail on charges of driving with a suspended license in the 3rd degree, and felony eluding of a police vehicle. Prosecuting attorney Rob Lehman said Duplichan had 29 warrants against him and active charges out of Grant County including attempt to elude, and a felony conviction of failure to register. Carson Van Valkenburg has been assigned as Duplichan’s public defender. Duplichan’s arraignment is scheduled for July 27 at 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, the search warrant at Rand Road was amended when more stolen property as well as drugs and firearms were recovered.

Gilbert was held on $50,000 bail, with charges of trafficking in stolen property in the 1st degree, possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine – and unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents, a .22 caliber rifle was located behind the couch of a trailer Gilbert was in. The rifle had the serial number sanded off. As a convicted felon, Gilbert is not allowed to possess firearms. According to court documents, Gilbert confessed to having the rifle and the met amphetamine in his trailer.

Lehman stated he was requesting $50,000 in bail due to Gilbert’s earlier convictions of escape in the 1st degree in 1998, and escape in the 3rd degree in 2004. Gilbert was no longer on the jail roster as of Monday, July 20. Calls to the Adams County Jail and the Adams County Prosecutor’s office were not returned before this issue went to press.

Lehman also said Gilbert has one active warrant, 72 prior warrants in the 1990s, and a criminal history in Oregon dating back to the 1970s. Defense attorney Barrett Scudder said Gilbert is a longtime Ritzville resident who has a girlfriend here, but Judge Steve Dixon upheld the suggested bail. Public defender Kyle Smith has been assigned to the case.

Bail was set at $10,000 for Noe Duarte, 31, arrested for possession of a prescription narcotic – Suboxone. According to court documents, Duarte was in a fifth-wheel trailer on the Rand Road property with his girlfriend, Darian J. Morgan, and her child, when the search warrant was served. Deputies located over 70 strips of Suboxone, along with a digital scale. Neither Duarte nor Morgan possess a prescription for Suboxone, which contains the opioid buprenorphine. According to the report, Duarte said he knew the strips were there, but Morgan denied knowledge of their presence. Duarte advised they were left there by Zane Berg. Lehman said Duarte had 18 warrants previously issued against him; including six for failure to appear, and six for failure to comply.

Scudder, representing all six subjects at their arraignment, said Duarte should be released on his own recognizance or the bail amount lowered, as “he has no violent history, and this is not a violent crime.” Scudder said there was no proof that Duarte, whose parents live in Warden, was living at the Rand Road residence with the other subjects.

Judge Dixon responded Duarte has “too much warrant history,” and kept bail at $10,000. Duarte was no longer in jail as of July 20. Scudder was assigned as Duarte’s public defender.

Morgan, 24, was arrested on possession of a controlled substance – Suboxone. Dixon said there was not enough probable cause to hold her on that charge, but Morgan remains in Adams County Jail as of July 20, on a Department of Corrections SEC warrant.

Marcus James Chamberlain, 28, was arrested on unlawful possession of a firearm. Chamberlain, a convicted felon, was in a trailer on the property when the search warrant was served. Law enforcement officers found four rifles in Wanda Rand’s residence, two of which she said belonged to Chamberlain, who brought them to her to hold in her safe.

Lehman said he was asking Chamberlain be held on $10,000 bail, as he has three felonies and 15 warrants previously issued against him. Lehman said all the convictions were in Ritzville District Court or Adams County Superior Court. Scudder said Chamberlain was not in possession of the firearm. Judge Dixon replied Gilbert stated the .22 found in the trailer was borrowed from Chamberlain. Dixon said the conditions of release were $10,000 bail, for Chamberlain to reside at his Ritzville residence, and not to have any contact with co-defendants. Chamberlain was no longer in jail as of July 20. Chris Bajalcaliev has been assigned as Chamberlain’s public defender.

Also arrested July 13 was Cassandra Charlene Hope Rand, for unlawful possession of a firearm. According to official documents, Rand was inside the main residence on Rand Road, where the four rifles were found, including the two allegedly owned by Chamberlain. Rand was said to be living in the residence with her mom, Wanda Rand, and Eden Duarte. Rand denied knowing her mother had firearms in the residence.

Judge Dixon said there was not enough probable cause for charges against Rand. She was released after a 72-hour hold.

The arrests were made July 13 by the Adams County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from Grant County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Warden Police Department and Moses Lake Police Department K-9 unit. Stolen property recovered includes a motorcycle and firearms.

The Adams County Sheriff’s office stated the investigation is ongoing.