EPHRATA - Timothy P. Mandelas reportedly bought two pounds of marijuana the day he shot and killed a man who was attempting to steal it.

Mandelas, 44, pleaded not guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver marijuana and felon armed with a firearm.

The Moses Lake man shot and killed one of the alleged robbers, Joshua Montano, 30, Moses Lake, in the course of the robbery.

Mandelas' attorney Robert Schiffner said Mandelas regrets Montano's death, but feels he acted in self defense when he shot the man.

"I can assure you that it has affected him," Schiffner said.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Knodell reduced Mandelas' bail from $50,000 to $10,000.

The charges against Mandelas came after three men attempted to rob him, according to a Grant County sheriff's report. He told police he was in his living room, when Montano and two unidentified men knocked on his door.

After Mandelas opened the door, two of the men reportedly forced their way into the residence, according to the police report. Montano was allegedly armed with a knife, the other man had a gun.

Montano reportedly demanded Mandelas give them marijuana, according to the police report. Mandelas allegedly purchased two pounds of marijuana in Spokane earlier in the day. He tried to give Montano a smaller bag, but Montano reportedly wanted a larger amount.

Mandelas allegedly told the men he was going back to the safe to get the marijuana, and Montano followed him, according to the police report. After Mandelas told Montano to get the combination numbers, written on the hallway wall, he reportedly grabbed the gun he hid by the safe and tried to hit Montano with it.

Montano reportedly responded by swinging a knife at Mandelas, who fell backward, according to the police report. Montano allegedly jumped on top of him, and during the struggle Montano was shot in the chest.

The other men fled the scene after hearing the gun shot.

Mandelas has a medical marijuana card, and allegedly admitted to police he sold the drug to other medical marijuana patients, according to court records. State law doesn't allow patients to sell the drug or to have more than 1.5 pounds.