A 28-year-old Merced man was convicted of two counts of assault with a firearm, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one counts of possession of ammunition by a felon, by a Merced County jury on Wednesday afternoon, in connection to a 2016 shooting that left two women with serious injuries, the Merced County District Attorney's office announced.
On October 18, 2016, Sergio Uriostegui was invited over to the confidential victim #2's house, where she and confidential victim #1 were drinking alcohol. At some point during the night, Uriostegui left the residence. When he returned a short time later, he was agitated. He then pulled out a gun and pointed it at Confidential Victim #2, while making threatening comments about one of her child's father's gang ties. Uriostegui is affiliated with the Norteno Criminal Street gang.
Confidential Victim #1 then intervened. Uriostegui shot Confidential Victim #1 a total of three times before he chased Confidential Victim #2 down the street, shooting her once, through the arm. Confidential Victim #1 sustained injuries to her neck and chest.
An officer was on patrol in the area and immediately apprehended the defendant with a 9mm semiautomatic firearm.
"The defendant is a repeat violent offender who has not shown any inclination to rehabilitate himself from past behavior," said Supervising Deputy District Attorney Nicole Silveira. "Shooting two defenseless woman is reprehensible and he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law for his crimes."
The defendant has two prior strike convictions for assault with a firearm and a possession of a firearm for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Uriostegui will be sentenced on September 19, and faces 25 years to life in prison.
