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After several postponements, the previously often re-scheduled change-of-plea hearing for one of the two suspects charged in connection to last year’s shooting of a 22-year-old Somerton man was finally held Thursday morning.
Appearing in person with his attorney Michael Donovan by his side, Martin Guzman pleaded guilty during the hearing in Yuma County Superior Court to one amended felony count of attempted burglary.
“Guilty,” replied Guzman — who is out of custody — when asked by Superior Court Judge Roger Nelson how he pleaded to the offense.
In return for that guilty plea, charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and burglary against him were dismissed.
Judge Nelson talked Guzman through the change of plea, making sure he understood what was happening. He also informed him that the offense he had pleaded to carried a prison sentence ranging from two years to eight years and nine months in prison, with the presumptive sentence being 3 1/2 years.
The plea agreement, he continued, did contain a stipulation that he would be sentenced to a 48-month term of supervised probation, and that he pay up to $50,000 in restitution to the victim.
He also explained that the stipulation was not binding on the court — meaning that he did not have to accept it. If the court were to reject the stipulation, he would have the right to withdraw from the plea agreement.
Before the acceptance of the plea, Judge Nelson read the written factual basis it contained that was the basis of Guzman’s guilty plea. He read that on July 26, the defendant, with an accomplice who had a gun, entered the home of the victim and committed a theft and an assault.
Afterward, Judge Nelson accepted the plea and scheduled Guzman’s sentencing for 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 20.
According to Somerton police, officers found out about the shooting while investigating a traffic accident on Highway 95 at milepost 13. Upon their arrival on scene, officers learned that a passenger in one of the vehicles involved in the traffic crash had been shot moments earlier in Somerton.
The victim, a 22-year-old male who had been shot once, was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center by Cocopah/ Somerton Fire Department paramedics. He was later airlifted to a medical facility in Phoenix. The driver of that vehicle was attempting to take the victim to the hospital when the crash occurred.
Investigating officers also learned the shooting had occurred at an address in the 600 block of East Orchid Street in Somerton prior to the traffic crash. When officers went to that location it was found to be unoccupied, so the scene was secured for crime scene processing.
Witness information was obtained from several individuals and a description of the suspects and vehicle was broadcast to area law enforcement agencies.
During the course of the investigation, Anthony Serrano and Guzman were identified as suspects. They were both taken into custody without incident on July 27, 2017, at a residence in the 3100 block of West 17¾ Street in Somerton.
Serrano, who pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault in one of two plea offers and one count of misconduct of weapons — for being in possession of a handgun — has been sentenced to prison.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@ yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.