Man who shot officer sentenced to prison
A man who admitted shooting a Yuma police officer with the officer’s own stun gun during a physical altercation was sentenced to prison Thursday morning in Yuma County Superior Court.
During what was a brief sentencing hearing, Gilbert Gallegos listened as Yuma County Superior Court Judge Roger Nelson imposed a 3-1/2-year prison term on him for attempted aggravated assault, which was the presumptive sentence for the offense.
“The court finds that a prison sentence is appropriate,” Nelson said beforehand.
In addition to giving Gallegos credit for 120 days previously served, Nelson also ordered that he pay $9,462 in restitution to the City of Yuma.
Gallegos pleaded guilty to the offense last month in an agreement with prosecutors. In return for his guilty plea, seven other felony assault, drug and burglary related charges were dismissed.
According to Yuma police, the incident happened at about 6 p.m. Sept. 5, when an officer stopped to talk to a man, now known as Gallegos, in the 200 block of South 9th Avenue.
Gallegos allegedly began physically fighting with the officer and reportedly got control of the officer’s stun gun and shot him with it. The officer was able to fight off Gallegos, who then reportedly took off running. Gallegos was eventually captured and brought into custody.