SJ resident faces three years

Santos Delgado, a North San Juan resident who was arrested in May on suspicion of attempted murder and assaulting his son with a firearm, will appear in court July 28 for sentencing on a plea agreement, according to District Attorney Cliff Newell.

Delgado "pleaded no contest to a count of felon in possession of a firearm," Newell said.

Once sentenced, Delgado would have to serve two additional years in jail because he was arrested within five years of release from prison from a prior sentencing, Newell explained.

Delgado could face a maximum of three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Newell said.

The charges of attempted murder, assault with a firearm, criminal threats and intimidation of a victim were dropped against Delgado "because further investigations by the sheriff's detectives indicate we won't be able to sustain those charges in a trial," Newell said.

Though Delgado, 47, was initially arrested on suspicion of firing several shotgun rounds at his 21-year-old son during an argument, it's been found he hadn't shot at the victim, Newell said.

Delgado appeared in court last week at a felony conference and was represented by Jody Schutz, an attorney at the Public Defender's Office. Prosecuting the case is Deputy District Attorney Kathryn Francis.

At an unrelated felony conference last week, a preliminary hearing date was set for July 17 for Brent Bandy, who was arrested in March after county narcotics officers allegedly found drugs and illegal, high-powered rifles at his Grass Valley residence.

Bandy, 28, was arraigned in early April on five drug sales and illegal weapons charges, made potentially more serious by four prior convictions for felony drug-related crimes.

Bandy is being represented by Tom Leupp, a private attorney.

To contact Soumitro Sen, e-mail ssen@theunion.com or call 477-4229.