Now adults, two suspects face murder charges as juveniles

EPHRATA — Two suspects accused as 15-year-old teens in the fatal shooting of a Moses Lake man five years ago should be tried as adults on charges of first-degree murder and drive-by shooting, says Grant County prosecutor Brandon Guernsey.

The suspects, Melquiades Manuel Benavidez of Moses Lake and Gilberto Antonio Sanchez Medina of Mattawa, are now 20 years old. Both are in custody in the Grant County Jail. But they are currently charged as juveniles in connection with the slaying of 24-year-old Kristopher Loren Vincent.

Guernsey contends both men should be remanded as adults from juvenile to superior court. He made that request in a motion filed on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Judge Anna Gigliotti scheduled a June 8 hearing to consider the two defendants’ status. County public defender Brett Hill said it may be difficult to find legal counsel without a conflict in representing them. Hill reserved arguments regarding bail, which has been set at $1 million for both men.

In Washington state, most 16- and 17-year-olds accused of serious violent offenses are automatically remanded to adult court. But in cases involving younger criminal defendants, prosecutors must petition the juvenile court to decline jurisdiction.

Factors considered in the declination process include the seriousness and alleged premeditation of the offenses, maturity of the defendants, prospects for rehabilitation, and a long-term need to protect the public.

Penalties for a conviction are starkly different. As a juvenile, a standard disposition — even for murder — ranges from 180 weeks to age 21 in a state Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration facility. As an adult, the standard range for first-degree murder is 20 to 26 years in prison. Use of a firearm can add another mandatory five years.

Vincent’s deceased body was found on a sidewalk on Airway Drive NE near Moses Lake in the early morning hours of May 26, 2021. An autopsy confirmed that he died from a shotgun blast to the torso. No suspects were immediately identified, but Grant County sheriff’s detectives continued to investigate the homicide.

Over time, they pieced together the felony case against Benavidez and Sanchez through interviews with acquaintances and forensic evidence that includes video footage from area cameras.

Based on their findings, investigators allege that Sanchez, then 15, was involved in stealing a gold 2002 Chevrolet Malibu in Mattawa, then driving to Moses Lake and contacting acquaintances about getting alcohol. Benavidez, also 15, was among them and joined others in the car. They saw Vincent walking along the street and stopped, with Benavidez purportedly getting out with the intent of robbing him. But, it’s alleged, Sanchez also got out, armed with a shotgun, and gunned down Vincent. His body was later found by a passing motorist.

Based on probable cause evidence, Superior Court Judge Jennifer Richardson approved arrest warrants last Friday, May 22. Moses Lake police located Benavidez at a local residence later that day and took him into custody.

Sanchez was already in jail when served with his warrant. He is also accused of first-degree murder and drive-by shooting for alleged involvement in the May 28, 2025 slaying of 44-year-old Juan Pablo Acosta at a remote location along Lower Crab Creek near Mattawa. He has pled not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in mid-September.

Benavidez also has a criminal history. He has prior convictions as a juvenile for residential burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and unlawful possession of firearms. In early 2024, at age 18, he pled guilty as an adult to domestic assault on a former girlfriend and her young son and punching a fellow jail inmate who sustained fractured teeth and a broken jaw. He served 12 months in prison on those charges. In March of this year, Benavidez was accused of being in a vehicle with three other individuals when a gun was pointed at another man during a verbal dispute at a gas station. He was free from custody pending trial this September when arrested last week on the Vincent murder charge.

In a statement issued by the sheriff’s office, Guernsey said he was grateful to see the arrests made and is looking forward to seeking justice for Vincent.

“Our hearts remain with Mr. Vincent’s family as they continue to endure this unimaginable loss,” he said.