CHP shooting trial moved back to May 2

The trial of a Vallecito man accused of assault with a deadly weapon against three California Highway Patrol officers more than a year ago has been delayed again.

Jon Ryan Young, 31, who also is charged with felony reckless evasion, has pleaded not guilty to all charges stemming from the Jan. 2, 2011, incident.

A May 2 trial date is set after Young’s attorney, Cyril Ash, of Murphys, asked for more time to investigate the case, which prosecutors and a Calaveras County Superior Court judge agreed to grant on Jan. 6. A trial had been set for Jan. 25 after being postponed earlier from Nov. 9.    

Ash took over the case in May after the Calaveras County Public Defender’s Office previously handled the matter.    

A deal calling on Young to plead guilty to a felony reckless evasion charge and enter a no-contest plea to one of three assault counts fell through in August. The defense rejected a preliminary probation report on Young requested before agreeing to the offer.   

CHP officers shot Young six times after he allegedly attempted to back the U-Haul truck he was driving into them on Parrotts Ferry Road in Vallecito. The incident followed a pursuit that began in Stockton and continued through Sonora.
 According to Deputy District Attorney Brad Jones, if found guilty of any of the assault charges, Young would get a strike under California’s “Three Strikes” sentencing law.    

The trial has been estimated to last three days in Calaveras County Superior Court.   

Young remains in custody at the Calaveras County Jail in lieu of $101,250 bond.