Misty Raya, who’s accused in a stolen firearms trafficking scheme that led to the fatal shooting of Clark County sheriff’s Detective Jeremy Brown, was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder.
She is the fourth person facing murder charges in connection with the detective’s slaying on July 23. Raya joins her husband, Abran Raya Leon, 28, the alleged getaway driver; his brother, Guillermo Raya Leon, 26, the alleged shooter; and Lani Renee Kraabell, 48, who investigators say helped Misty Raya find buyers for dozens of stolen guns.
Investigators now say Misty Raya, 35, handed her brother-in-law the stolen revolver he allegedly used to shoot Brown, who was conducting surveillance in an unmarked SUV, according to a new probable cause affidavit filed in the case.
She pleaded not guilty to the amended charging information Wednesday.
About 30 people from local law enforcement agencies filled the courtroom gallery for her hearing.
She is also charged with three counts of second-degree burglary, one count of first-degree theft, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and 25 counts of firearm theft. She had previously been charged with 32 counts of firearm theft and two counts of identity theft. Her trial is set for March 7.
Misty Raya is accused of breaking into a Hazel Dell storage unit in early June and stealing dozens of guns — including an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle — along with 20,000 to 30,000 rounds of ammunition and the owner’s credit cards, according to court records.
She was arrested the night of July 23 after fleeing the shooting at The Pointe Apartments in east Vancouver with her husband and brother-in-law.
Police from several agencies were watching the trio in connection with the stolen guns, court records say.
The revolver that Guillermo Raya Leon allegedly used to shoot Brown in the chest was found in the 8700 block of Northeast 76th Avenue. That’s where Misty Raya and her husband were located and taken into custody, court records state.
Another stolen firearm was recovered from their getaway vehicle and a third was recovered from a Toyota Prius that Guillermo Raya Leon drove. He was later arrested in Salem, Ore., court records say.
Investigators said eight more stolen firearms were recovered before the shooting in a unit Misty Raya had rented under a false name, according to search warrant documents.
Guillermo Raya Leon has pleaded not guilty to first-degree aggravated murder and possession of a stolen firearm. His trial is set for April 18.
Abran Raya Leon has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, possession of a stolen firearm and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. His trial is also scheduled for April 18.
The brothers are not being tried jointly, however.
Kraabell has entered not-guilty pleas to one count of second-degree murder, four counts of possession of a stolen firearm and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Her trial is scheduled for March 21.
Two others, Stephen Harley Iverson, 53, and Charles Alfred Cooper Jr., 45, are facing trafficking charges for allegedly helping Kraabell and Misty Raya sell some of the stolen firearms. They both entered not-guilty pleas and are scheduled for trial Jan. 24.
