The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – Juan Castaneda, of Pasco, has pleaded guilty to multiple counts relating to a home invasion and shooting in Dayton last September, and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

According to Columbia County Deputy Prosecutor Dale Slack, on April 4, Castaneda entered guilty pleas to counts of first-degree burglary and first-degree assault, both with firearm enhancements, and also to unlawful imprisonment.

The charges stemmed from an incident at Cameron Court trailer park in Dayton on Sept. 20. Law enforcement reports said that Castaneda and two other males entered a trailer there and pointed knives and a handgun at the occupants, blocking the exits. One of the occupants, Jason Love, of Dayton, was shot in the leg by Castaneda before the intruders left.

The following day, the Pasco Police Dept. and the Tri-Cities Regional Swat Team served a search warrant on a home and took Castaneda and another alleged assailant, Blake Wallace, into custody. A third suspect, Jesus Garcia, remains at large.

Wallace has pleaded not guilty to charges similar to Castaneda’s and has requested a continuance of his scheduled trial. It will be reset on April 18.

“The victims and I are happy with this outcome,” said Slack, “and I hope this sentence sends a message that Columbia County does not tolerate violent crime or gang-related activity, especially against innocent citizens.”