MOSES LAKE – Two participants in Grant County’s Community Court Program graduated Wednesday afternoon after completing addiction treatment and other steps to walk away from drugs and the poor decisions they can lead to. In the case of Sherm Rowland, the graduation is a walk away from a trying past and a celebration of just more than 18 months of being off drugs.  

“I’m super happy because I’ve got all my family behind me, and before this, I didn't have my family behind me whatsoever,” said Rowland as he celebrated being the program’s eleventh graduate since its inception in 2023.  

Rowland was one of two graduating Wednesday, with Gerry Castaneda graduating before him that same day. Both were accompanied by family members who applauded their dedication to getting clean and straightening out their lives. Castaneda’s mother, speaking through an interpreter, said she was grateful for the program and proud of her son’s accomplishments in getting and staying clean. The support of his family was vital in his recovery, he said with his sister and niece also in attendance for his graduation. Wrapping himself in support and a healthy environment is part of how he plans to maintain his clean living.  

“The treatment center that I was a client in, I am now an employee, so I use them as my backbone,” Castaneda said.  

He added that, in five years, he’s hoping to be a manager at Rebuilt Treatment & Recovery in Spokane, where he had gone for treatment himself. Being able to help others is part of what Castaneda said would help him stay clean now that he’s gotten his feet under him.  

Both graduates had the charges against them dismissed after completing the Community Court Program. Castaneda’s case had included a charge of burglary in the first degree. 

In Castaneda’s case, District Court Judge Brian Gwinn said it had been a privilege to watch Gerry grow and evolve through the recovery process.  

“It’s been a tremendous journey,” Gwinn said. “I hope you continue on with that journey.”  

Community Court Specialist Manny Garcia said it had been rewarding to work with Castaneda.  

“He’s a really humble, gentle man who is turning into not only a good individual and father and coworker, but now he gets the opportunity to be a father,” Garcia said. “And to me, it gives me great joy to graduate him at this time, because I think that he’s going to show another level of manhood – taking his soul right into the next level – and passing that back for his kids, and being an example to his child. So, I want to congratulate him on that.”  

As the judge transitioned from Casteneda’s case he addressed the seriousness of Rowland’s situation. 

The initial charge stemmed from an incident in 2024 wherein Rowland allegedly had stolen a gun safe with 18 firearms inside. With his felony record, a conviction for the incident could have sent him to prison for 30 years – essentially a life sentence for the 65-year-old.  

Gwinn credited Jeremiah Jensen with the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office with fighting to help Rowland get into the program. 

According to Jensen, he had heard of Rowland’s interest in the program and had advocated for Rowland’s admission into Community Court after seeing his sincere desire to get into a better situation. Rowland had told him that he didn’t think there was a chance he’d be able to get into the program, given his criminal history.  

“Sherman’s case was, I think, the hardest decision I ever made, because looking at his history, he has 15 prior felonies,” Jensen said. “We talked about it. This is the sort of person that usually prosecutors say, ‘No. There’s no way to reform Sherman. Stick him in prison.’ But I don’t know what it was about Sherman that I was like, ‘You know what? This is the exact person that we need for this.’ So, I took a big chance.”  

Jensen said the chance had been worth it and he was “extremely glad” to see Rowland graduating from the program.  

Rowland said he was simply grateful for the support the program offered. Since joining Community Court, he’s come a long way, he said. The way he used to live is behind him – a life filled with the challenges of addiction and more than half a dozen overdoses that could have taken his life. Now, he can enjoy being a father and grandfather to his daughters and their children and living the life he’s wanted for a long time. 

“I have a 40-hour per week job. I pay all my own bills. I dropped my Social Security. I don’t have food stamps anymore. I’m doing this all on my own, and I’ve never done that, and I just feel so happy every day,” Rowland said. “I pray every morning and every night, and God has just answered my prayers.” 

    Community Court graduate Gerry Castaneda, left, stops for a photo with District Court Judge Brian Gwinn, center, and a manager at Rebuilt Treatment & Recovery out of Spokane. Castaneda is moving on to work at Rebuilt and hopes to help others fight addiction and get their lives back in order.
  

    Gerry Castaneda, right, smiles as he examines the graduation gifts purchased for him by Community Court Program staff to celebrate his graduation, while Grant County District Court Judge Brian Gwinn looks on.
  

    Community Court Program graduates Sherman Rowland, in black, and Gerry Castaneda, in striped polo stop for a photo with Rebuilt Treatment and Recovery staff member Ryan Chaffins, in aqua, and another Rebuilt staff member, in gray , District Court Judge Brian Gwinn and Community Court Specialist Manny Garcia, far right, after the Community Court Program graduation ceremony Wednesday. Castaneda is the tenth to graduate from the program and Rowland the eleventh.