Moses Lake woman sentenced for biting State Patrol trooper

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake woman is serving about five months in jail after biting a Washington State Patrol trooper on the back of the head.

Tawna T. Perez, 26, pleaded guilty to first degree malicious mischief, third degree assault, driving under the influence, first degree negligent driving and reckless driving, according to court records.

Perez had no prior convictions, according to court records. She faced a sentencing range of three to eight months in jail, according to court records.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz sentenced Perez to 5.5 months in jail, and converted 15 days to 120 hours of community service, according to court records.

"The defendant originally wanted her day in court, but after seeing the start of the state's case, and how strong the facts were against her she simply decided to take her lumps and pleaded guilty to all charges," Prosecutor Angus Lee stated.

A trooper spotted Perez driving 96 mph in a 60 mph zone on state Route 17 south of Moses Lake, and stopped the car, according to a state patrol report. When the trooper began speaking to Perez, he smelled alcohol and noticed her eyes were watery, bloodshot and droopy.

Perez told the officer she didn't have anything to drink, and agreed to a field sobriety test. When she got out of the car, she had difficulty standing, according to court records. The trooper noted he wouldn't be able to perform the test because she was too intoxicated. A breath test showed she had a blood alcohol level of 0.204. Washington state's blood alcohol content limit is .08 percent.

The trooper placed her under arrest. While they waited for a tow truck to take the vehicle, Perez stated the trooper assaulted her, according to the police report. The trooper contacted a sergeant, who responded to the scene.

When the sergeant attempted to speak to Perez, the woman only spoke in Spanish. The sergeant had Perez step out of the police car to check her handcuffs and search her, according to the police report. When the sergeant was putting Perez back into the police car, Perez leaned forward and bit the woman on the back of the head. It took three officers to restrain Perez and place the seat belt on her.

When she was in the vehicle, Perez began kicking the back passenger's side window, knocking it out of the frame, according to the police report.

Antosz ordered Perez pay $751 to the state patrol in restitution.