PORT ANGELES — A Clallam County Superior Court judge has set $2 million bail for the man accused of shooting Antonio “Tony” Rodriguez-Maldonado to death last week in Forks.
Judge George L. Wood also imposed $2 million bail for a women jailed in the slaying.
Forks police said Etienne L. “Lucky” Choquette has confessed to shooting Rodriguez-Maldonado in the back of the head near the intersection Campbell Street and Ash Avenue at about 11 p.m. Thursday.
It was the second murder in the West End town this year.
Choquette, 45, of Forks is being held in the Clallam County jail for investigation of first-degree murder.
Kellie L. White, 32, also of Forks, is being held for investigation of conspiracy to commit murder.
Police identified White as the former girlfriend of the 33-year-old victim.
Police said White told Choquette on at least five occasions that she wanted Rodriguez-Maldonado dead.
Prosecutors said formal charges will be filed Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Many guns
Police said Choquette owns 20 firearms, both semi-automatics and revolvers.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ann Lundwall recommended no bail for Choquette.
She told the judge the his family had “serious concerns about what will happen” if he were to be released because he is a suicide risk.
“He is most likely to be charged with first-degree murder with premeditation,” Lundwall said.
Defense attorney Harry Gasnick argued that Choquette had not yet been charged with a capital offense.
Gasnick or another lawyer in the Clallam County Public Defender’s Office will defend Choquette (pronounced choke-ette).
‘High bail’
“Based on what I’ve read in the police report submitted, this should be a high bail,” Wood ruled.
“I’ll certainly re-address the bail issue if either side wants to bring it up (on Wednesday).”
Lundwall recommended a bail of “at least $2 million” for White.
“Unlike the co-defendant, she does have a criminal history,” Lundwall said, referring to two protection order violations and a misdemeanor charge.
Port Angeles attorney Karen Unger was appointed to White’s defense.
The public defender’s office can’t defend both defendants because of a conflict of interest.
Unger told the judge that White has six children that live with her.
She said her client was not at the murder scene.
“I know it’s a really serious offense she’s charged with, but I really don’t know if she had much to do with this,” Unger told the judge.
Black SUV
During the investigation, White told police on Friday that Choquette, whom she described as a friend, owned a black SUV matching the description of a vehicle spotted at the murder scene.
Forks police said that after White told Choquette that she wanted Rodriguez-Maldonado dead, Choquette said something to the effect of “OK; you don’t have to be hurt again.”
White understood what she said to Choquette, and that it “might end up with Rodriguez getting killed,” according to the probable cause statement containing White’s interview with Forks police.
Choquette was arrested at 3:17 p.m. Friday.
Saturday account
Police said Choquette gave the following account during an interrogation Saturday night:
• White disclosed that she had been assaulted by Rodriguez-Maldonado on Thursday evening.
• Choquette said he was tired of standing by while White was being assaulted and decided on his own to kill Rodriguez-Maldonado.
• Choquette happened to see Rodriguez-Maldonado while he was driving down Campbell Street.
• Choquette first intended to beat up Rodriguez-Maldonado.
• When Rodriguez-Maldonado refused to get into Choquette’s car with him, Choquette got “pissed off” and shot him.
• The first round struck Rodriguez-Maldonado in his upper body. He fell.
• As Choquette stood over him, Rodriguez-Maldonado tried to deflect the gun away.
• Choquette fired a second shot, which ricocheted on the ground.
• A third shot hit Rodriguez-Maldonado in the back of his head.
• Choquette threw the gun into the Quillayute River while on a bridge near LaPush.
‘I popped him’
During the interrogation, according to police, Choquette confessed:
“I popped him in the back of his head.”
When asked if he knew if Rodriguez-Maldonado was dead, police said Choquette replied:
“Yeah, I knew he was dead, that’s what happens when you shoot somebody in the head.”
On Sunday, Olympic National Park divers recovered a .38-caliber Colt revolver from the river where police said Choquette threw it.
Forks Police Chief Mike Powell and Forks Mayor Nedra Reed have said White and Rodriguez-Maldonado had been dating on and off for a couple years, and broke up at least a month ago.
The first homicide in Forks this year occurred in May when Victor A. Godinez was stabbed to death.
A man accused in the case — Marcelino G. Perez — was deported to Guatemala after charges were dropped.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com
