A third-strike convicted felon pleaded guilty Monday and was immediately sentenced to four years in prison for attacking an Irvine police officer while out on bail for another case, drawing criticism from Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
Russell Paul Parsons, 30, attacked the officer April 19 during an arrest for another burglary at a commercial business, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The officer responded to a silent alarm and encountered Parsons emerging from the business, prosecutors said.
The officer had to subdue Parsons with a stun gun, prosecutors said.
Parsons pleaded guilty to burglary, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and vandalism, all felonies, with sentencing enhancements for committing an offense while out on bail for another case. He also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of being in a place where a controlled substance was being used.
Parsons, 30, of Los Angeles, was released on his own recognizance April 14 by Orange County Commissioner Joseph Dane as judges were under orders to try to make room in jails during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spitzer criticized Dane because the county’s top prosecutor believed there was enough room in the jails without releasing defendants charged with multiple felonies on no bail.
Parsons pleaded guilty to theft with a prior felony conviction of driving or taking of a vehicle, burglary, and vandalism, all misdemeanors. Those crimes occurred on April 2.
Parsons was sentenced to 180 days in jail for the April 2 case, time he has already served. He was given credit for 230 days in jail on the April 19 case.
Both cases were the result of negotiated pleas with Spitzer’s office.