Home » Headlines » Police » Oakhurst Man Guilty Of 16 Felonies

Oakhurst Man Guilty Of 16 Felonies

MADERA COUNTY – A Madera County Superior Court jury has found an Oakhurst man guilty of five counts of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, five counts of resisting a peace officer, and six other counts for weapons and ammunition possession and escape.

According to Michael Keitz, District Attorney for Madera County, evidence was presented at trial that Narciso Morales, 30, was driving his vehicle in the city of Madera in October of 2010 when he was stopped by the Madera Police Department.

During his detention, the officer became suspicious that Morales was armed. The officer removed him from his vehicle and discovered a sheath knife on the defendant.

When the officer attempted to secure the knife, Morales dove back into the in his vehicle. Morales fought with the officer and could not be subdued until numerous other officers arrived to assist.

When Morales was taken from his automobile, officers found a loaded revolver on the seat under Morales.

Later, the Madera County Gang Enforcement Team made contact with him in the Von’s parking lot in Oakhurst. Morales, who is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, was found with shotgun ammunition in his pockets. The officers then went to his residence and found a shotgun and more ammunition.

When his vehicle was searched, the officers located one rifle and two assault rifles, whereupon Morales ran and escaped from officers. However, he was later apprehended.

On Friday, Aug. 23, the court found true the special allegation that Morales was previously convicted of carjacking, a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes Law. The court also set Morales’ sentencing for Oct. 7, in the Madera County Superior Court, where he faces a sentence in excess of 40 years in state prison.

“There are people at large in our society who pose great risk to the public and law enforcement,” said District Attorney Michael Keitz. “Here, one of them surfaced in a routine traffic stop that led to a wild confrontation which could have ended with sad consequences. Fortunately, law enforcement prevailed. Morales’s conviction and anticipated sentence will serve to remove him from the public and remove the risk of further harm to society.”

Leave a Reply

Sierra News Online

Sierra News Online