Next hearing set for man accused of shooting at cars
A man charged in connection to shooting at passing vehicles had a hearing in Yuma County Superior Court Tuesday.
Attorney Richard Parks, who represents Justin Paice, requested a conditions of release hearing be held for his client.
Parks also informed the court that his client is still undergoing treatment in the Yuma County jail’s restoration to competency program and asked that a status hearing be set within 90 days.
Parks’ final request was for a court order to be issued requiring that a final report from the jail’s restoration to competency program be completed by no later than March 14.
Last month Parks, who is with the Yuma County Public Defender’s Office, informed the court that Paice is making progress and that he would be filing paperwork so his client could complete his mental competency at an out-of-custody treatment facility.
Superior Court Judge Darci Weede granted Parks’ requests after hearing no opposition from the prosecution.
Paice, whose appearance was waived for the hearing, has been charged with a total of 15 felony offenses, including five counts of attempted first-degree murder and seven counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Other charges include two counts of possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor and one count of aggravated assault of a peace officer. Paice remains in custody at the Yuma County jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
His next hearing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on March 21.
In August, deputies from the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 13000 block of East 51st Lane in reference to a shooting disturbance.
When deputies arrived, they were informed that a man was shooting at vehicles in the area. Vehicles and at least one residence were struck by gunfire.
Additional deputies and Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents arrived and secured the area.
Members of the YCSO Special Response Team, which was also dispatched to the scene, eventually shot Paice with a lessthan-lethal weapon system after he refused to comply with orders to put his gun down.
He was taken into custody without further incident and booked into the Yuma County jail.
No injuries were sustained during the incident.