EPHRATA - A Royal City gang member is serving more than 41 years in prison for shooting at a Soap Lake police officer.

A Grant County jury convicted Jose L. Nieves, 20, of assault in the first degree, intimidating a public servant, drive-by shooting, unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree and three counts of intimidating a witness, according to the prosecutor's office.

The jury deliberated for about 2.5 hours.

Nieves had a prior conviction for assault in the second degree.

Prosecutor Angus Lee stated at the time Nieves was convicted, he planned to ask for a 50-year sentence.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz sentenced Nieves to 41.6 years in prison.

"This is a very important conviction and sentence that should send a message loud and clear to the criminal element that we will not tolerate this brazen disregard for the law," Lee stated.

Nieves was a gang member, according to the prosecutor's office.

A Soap Lake police officer spotted a Honda with a broken tail light when it was turning onto state Route 28. Nieves, who was a passenger, told the driver not to stop, pulling a gun from his waistband, according to a Grant County sheriff's report.

The officer followed the car until it turned onto Division Street, where it took a U-turn, almost striking the officer's vehicle, according to the police report. When the officer signaled the driver to pull over, the driver directed the Honda back on SR 28.

When the officer looked down to check the speed, he heard eight to 10 gunshots. The driver reportedly said Nieves fired the shots into the air. No bullet holes were found in the police vehicle, according to the police report. The officer slowed down and lost the vehicle after the shots were fired.

A witness said Nieves ordered them to stop the car and abandoned it. Police found an unfired cartridge near the car, which matched shell casings found near the scene, according to the police report. Officers found a 9 mm pistol and a box of ammunition matching the other bullets at Nieves' residence.