Port Orchard man arrested in murder, conspiracy plot

By Port Orchard Independent
Published 03:11 p.m., Monday, June 20, 2011

Taken from a press release from the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office:

Montes Meesio Antonio, a 20-year-old undocumented immigrant, allegedly recruited a 41-year-old Port Orchard man to help him murder a client who owed him $5,000.

The Port Orchard man caught the attention of sheriff's deputies during a traffic stop at the 2900 block of Northlake Way NW in Central Kitsap in the early morning hours of May 30.

During the traffic stop, deputies found reason to arrest the vehicle's three occupants.

The Port Orchard man, in the right passenger's seat, was wanted by the Washington State Department of Corrections for escape from community custody, had been previously convicted of five felony crimes and had a loaded shotgun behind his seat.

A 20-year-old Bremerton man, in the middle seat, had illegally concealed a loaded handgun.

And the driver, a 37-year-old Shelton man, was wanted on several warrants, was driving with a suspended license and had previously been convicted of six felonies.

Deputies arrested the three men and searched their vehicle, a 1990 Chevrolet Pickup Truck.

During the search, they discovered a red bag that, they believed, contained explosives.

Technicians from the Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad confirmed that it was, in fact, an improvised explosive device, and took it to a safe location.

They also found a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun inside the red bag.

Inside the truck's cab, they found facial bandanas and portable hand-held radios.

Kitsap County Sheriff's Deputies worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate the incident further.

They discovered that the three men were on their way to the Seabeck home of a client who had allegedly taken $5,000-worth of methamphetamine from Antonio, without paying.

Antonio had hired the three men to get the $5,000 and then blow up the house, preferably with the client inside.

He had given them the guns and gear and said that that he'd pay them with narcotics for the crime.

After further investigation, law enforcement officers learned that Antonio was staying with a 23-year-old transient female in a West Bremerton motel.

The hotel was placed under surveillance, and a Kitsap County Sheriff's SWAT Team arrested the two as they came back late at night.

The man's room and vehicle were searched, under warrant, and deputies found a 9mm semi-automatic handgun under the pillow, a holster, ammunition and a large amount of money.

The woman was arrested for a misdemeanor driving offense, and the man was arrested for first-degree attempt/solicitation of murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

His bail was initially set at $550,000.

www.seattlepi.com