New hearing OK’d in attempted murder case
Suspect accused of trying to ram vehicle
Sentencing for a 29-year-old man accused of intentionally ramming another vehicle was continued Thursday after his attorney asked for a mitigation hearing, in which he can present evidence or testimony to show why his client should receive a lesser sentence.
During what was to be Jesse Ramirez’s sentencing, Superior Court Judge Roger Nelson informed attorney Michael Donovan that he intended to impose a 6-1/2 year prison sentence on his client.
Donovan immediately requested the mitigation hearing, saying it would benefit his client, and asked for one to two weeks to prepare. Judge Nelson granted the request and scheduled the hearing for 2 p.m. on May 24.
At the start of the hearing, Donovan also presented Judge Nelson with several letters that had been written on behalf of his client.
Ramirez, who remains in custody on a $50,000 cash-only bond, has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and three counts of criminal damage.
He has also been charged with one count of attempted 1st-degree murder and one count of criminal damage per domestic violence.
According to the Yuma police, at approximately 6:31 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2017, officers responded to a motor vehicle collision with injuries in the 2000 block of South 4th Avenue.
While officers were responding to the incident, it was reported that a sport utility vehicle involved in the collision was fleeing the scene.
Upon arrival, police say they located the victim’s vehicle, which sustained heavy crash damage near the parking lot of the Chevron Gas Station at 2002 S. 4th Avenue.
The initial investigation revealed that a Ford Expedition, allegedly being driven by Ramirez, intentionally rammed the victim’s Toyota Celica in the 2000 block South 4th Avenue.
The victim, according to Yuma police, had just dropped off Ramirez’s ex-girlfriend at her place of employment, and she was the registered owner of the Ford Expedition, but had given it to the victim.
Ramirez allegedly fled the scene before police arrived, and the victim was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center by ambulance where he sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, including three broken ribs and other internal injuries.
The Ford Expedition was later found unattended with heavy front-end damage in the 1000 block of South Arena Drive. Within an hour of the crash, Ramirez called the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and reported that it had been stolen.
Yuma police responded to Ramirez’s residence in the 900 block of South Dora, where he was arrested and booked into the Yuma County jail for attempted homicide, aggravated assault, endangerment and criminal damage.