A felon who burglarized a Lake Elsinore home and tried to run over a pair of sheriff’s deputies when they attempted to stop him, prompting them to open fire, pleaded guilty Wednesday to assault and other charges and was immediately sentenced to more than 13 years in state prison.
Ryan Christopher Caceres 28, of Riverside entered his plea to two counts each of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, burglary and resisting arrest. In exchange for his admissions, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office dismissed two related charges.
Superior Court Judge Edward Forstenzer certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the 160-month sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Deanna Pecoraro, deputies were sent to the 29000 block of McVicker Canyon Park Road, on the northwest edge of Lake Elsinore, to investigate reports of a break-in at a home last Oct. 17.
When the patrolmen arrived that morning, they encountered Caceres getting into a vehicle. When they approached to question him, he started the car and reversed out of the parking stall — directly at the deputies, according to Pecoraro.
The two lawmen opened fire but did not hit the defendant, she said. Caceres sped away but soon afterward crashed the car, at which point he abandoned the vehicle and hid in nearby vegetation.
Pecoraro said a K9 team was dispatched and initiated a search of the area, locating the defendant a short time later. The defendant had minor injuries from the crash, for which he was treated prior to being booked into jail.
According to court records, Caceres has two prior convictions for assault resulting in great bodily injury.