Both sides rested Tuesday in the trial of an ex-con accused of shooting a man in the head over a missing cellphone in Indio.
John Kevin Medina, 40, of Indio faces up to 34 years to life in state prison if convicted of one count of attempted murder and sentence-enhancing allegations, including causing great bodily injury and using a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
Medina allegedly shot the victim, identified in court papers as Filberto C., about 12:40 a.m. last March 14 in the 44700 block of King Street. He was arrested three days later.
Medina’s girlfriend was among the first witnesses called to the stand by the prosecution when trial testimony began March 8. Deputy District Attorney Karen Salas questioned her about a conversation the pair allegedly had hours after the shooting, when, after much prodding by the prosecutor, the woman testified that Medina admitted to shooting a man on King Street that morning over a cellphone.
Indio Police Department Detective Jesse Marin alleged the same motive during the defendant’s preliminary hearing last September. He alleged that Medina opened fire as the victim drove away because he believed his missing cellphone was inside the man’s van.
Witnesses reported seeing the defendant arguing with the man inside the van regarding the defendant’s missing phone before the van was driven away, Marin testified.
According to Salas, the defendant fired between five and six shots at the vehicle while standing about 6 feet away. Police found the wounded victim inside the van, which had crashed into parked vehicles on King Street. He was admitted to a hospital in critical condition, but survived.
Medina has several documented felony convictions in Riverside County, including attempted assault with a firearm and criminal threats, which are both strike offenses, as well as evading arrest, embezzlement and possession of a controlled substance for sale.
He’s being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.