Man convicted of trying to kill deputies
An Adams County jury Tuesday convicted a 43-year-old felon of trying to kill two sheriff’s deputies, one of whom was shot.
The jury deliberated about a day before finding Florentino S. Barajas guilty as charged of two counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Barajas shot Adams County sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Lane in the chest and leg with a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol and shot at Deputy Dale Wagner after a Feb. 27 traffic stop for driving without a valid license. Lane’s bulletproof vest stopped the chest shot.
Wagner and another deputy returned fire when Lane was shot, and Barajas was hit in the right cheek and left wrist. It was then, while fleeing, that the wounded suspect shot at Wagner.
Visiting Lincoln County Superior Court Judge Philip Borst tentatively is to sentence Barajas Jan. 12 on the attempted-murder convictions as well as one count of first-degree illegal possession of a firearm. Adams County Prosecutor Randy Flyckt said Barajas faces a minimum of 29 to 36 years in prison, including 10 years for use of a firearm.
The sentence could be much longer. If Borst rules the attempted-murder counts require consecutive sentences, Barajas’ standard range – including firearm enhancements – would be 48 to 62 years. And Flyckt may seek an above-standard sentence.
The prosecutor declined to say how much prison time he will seek for Barajas, who also has been known as Jorge Alaniz and Florentino Silva.
An above-standard sentence is possible because Barajas agreed shortly before his case went to the jury that the victims were law enforcement officers performing their duties. Otherwise, the jury would have been asked to make that finding.
Barajas also stipulated to the fact that he was armed with a firearm, taking that issue out of the jury’s hands. Use of a gun adds a mandatory consecutive 10 years to his sentence.
His 31/2- to 41/2-year standard sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm likely will be folded into the attempted-murder sentences, Flyckt said.
Barajas wasn’t allowed to have a gun because of a 1993 Yakima County conviction for delivery of a controlled substance and a more recent drug conviction in Minnesota.
Court documents indicate Wagner had recently stopped Barajas – whom he knew as Jorge Alaniz – for driving without a valid license when he spotted Barajas driving again in a rural area near Othello, Wash. Wagner stopped Barajas again, but Barajas took a swing at him and fled.
After a short pursuit, Barajas pulled into a driveway and ran to a house to arm himself. Lane was the first backup officer to arrive. He and Wagner were walking around the house when they found Barajas hiding in a ditch.
Wagner ordered Barajas, in English and Spanish, to get up and put his hands in the air. Barajas got up but opened fire on Lane.
Lane recovered from his wound and returned to duty. “As far as I know, he’s doing very well,” Flyckt said.