Forks man sentenced for assault, witness intimidation

Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brian Coughenour issued a 31-month sentence.

PORT ANGELES — A Forks man has been sentenced to two years, seven months in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree assault and witness intimidation.

Joseph Angel Garza Jr., 26, was sentenced for the violent assault and intimidation of a La Push man March 14, the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said.

Upon his release, Garza will be subject to 18 months of state Department of Corrections supervision, a no-contact order with the victim and financial obligations, Chief Criminal Deputy Michele Devlin said in a news release.

Forks police said Garza believed the victim had been involved in the theft of about 5 pounds of marijuana from a third party.

Probable cause

“Joseph stated that he was offered drugs and money to find his stolen marijuana and hurt the people who took it,” Officer Donald Ponton wrote in the affidavit for probable cause.

Garza told police that he punched the victim in the face, held a blowtorch to his face and threatened to cut off his ear, according to the arrest narrative.

The victim, who sustained a broken nose but refused medical aid, told police that Garza also hit him with a flashlight and held him against his will, police said.

“The next day [the victim] was able to run away and delayed reporting the incident because he was frightened that Joseph would kill him,” Ponton wrote.

Garza admitted that heroin found on his bed belonged to him, police said.

Garza was originally charged in Clallam County Superior Court with two counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon — the blowtorch and a knife — unlawful imprisonment, intimidating a witness and heroin possession.

He pleaded guilty to the amended charges Tuesday.

Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brian Coughenour issued a 31-month sentence as recommended by Devlin and defense attorney Ralph Anderson.

Garza was being held Thursday at the Washington Corrections Center near Shelton.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.

More in Crime

Two men are now serving prison time for beating an employee last October at the AM/PM in Carlsborg and attempting to take his wallet. Joshua Pulliam, 28, pleaded guilty on Dec. 18 to conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and will serve a year in prison, while Julian Treat, 30, pleaded guilty Jan. 21 and was sentenced to two years in prison. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Second man pleads guilty to Carlsborg AM/PM burglary

Two-year sentence includes drug treatment, mental health evaluation

Sequim Police investigators report they continue to submit items for DNA and fingerprint evidence to discover person behind the murder of Sequim’s Valerie Claplanhoo in January 2019. (Rebecca Ruby)
Claplanhoo homicide investigation ongoing

Alliance with Missing and Murdered Indigenous team continues

Port Angeles man charged with murder to have hearing Feb. 21

Marquise Gregory Hagans-Moore, who is accused of killing a… Continue reading

Cold case solved through geneology analysis

PA police say DNA links Quilcene man to 1988 sexual assaults

January trial set for men charged with burglary at AM/PM in Carlsborg

Men allegedly assaulted AM/PM employee during October incident

Surveillance footage released by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office shows a suspect allegedly holding a Frugals employee at gunpoint on Thursday. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Frugals robbed at gunpoint

Frugals was robbed at gunpoint on Thursday and law… Continue reading

Deputies seize 36 livestock animals

Dead sheep found on property

Man investigated in coffee stand burglary

A 29-year-old man was arrested on investigation of second-degree… Continue reading

Man accused of second-degree murder pleads not guilty

Trial date slated for May in Clallam County Superior Court

Jefferson deputies investigating male body found in Port Ludlow

Sheriff’s office says autopsy will confirm manner of death

Prosecuting attorney reviewing fatal shooting

Final report will be made public, Nichols says

Report: Man is competent for trial

Hagans-Moore to be arraigned Nov. 19