Marysville man arrested in alleged murder conspiracy in Anacortes

By Skagit Valley Herald

MOUNT VERNON — A Marysville man was being held in jail this week for investigation of taking part in the September kidnapping of a man in Anacortes.

Jesse Michael Allen, of Marysville, is the fifth suspect police believe participated in the incident that originated on Padilla Heights Road near Highway 20 east of Anacortes. He was being held in the Snohomish County Jail with bail set at $1 million.

Four others were being held in the Skagit County Community Justice Center. The five face allegations of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree kidnapping, two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and firearm theft.

Joshua Cuevas Quimpo, a 42-year-old Bellevue man, was being held in the Skagit County Community Justice Center with bail also set at $1 million.

Donald Roy Pemberton, of Anacortes, was taken into custody in December and was being held on $750,000 bail. Stephanie Lynn Luzzani, of Seattle, was taken into custody April 5 and was being held on $1 million bail. And Mark Seung Chang, of Marysville, was taken into custody April 17 and was being held on $1 million bail.

Police allege four of the suspects broke into a man’s home Sept. 15 looking for drugs and tied the man up. Court documents state they were looking for a man who had recently moved out.

The four allegedly forced the man at gunpoint to take them to the new home of someone who used to live there. The man reportedly said they bought a small amount of methamphetamine from the former resident, then discussed killing and robbing him before deciding it wasn’t worth it, police said.

The man told police he overheard the suspects saying this drug purchase was a cover to inspect the property and residents, according to court papers.

In Washington, prosecutors can bring a conspiracy charge “when two or more people agree to perform conduct and any of them takes a substantial step in pursuance of such agreement.”

That same day, an Anacortes property owner reported his house was broken into and several weapons were stolen. Surveillance footage pointed toward the same group of suspects, court documents state.