Two convicted felons from Texas accused of firing a firearm at a California State Park ranger are due in court in Newport Beach Friday.
Rene Joseph Bolduc and Theresa Nannette Kirkland were sleeping in a Ford Explorer SUV about 9 p.m. on Dec. 8 at a campground near Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, according to Roxi Fyad of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. About 9:25 p.m. that evening a park ranger was performing a routine check of the area to ensure that all the vehicles at the campsite were legally parked, Fyad said.
Bolduc responded to the inquiry by driving recklessly away from the ranger, Fyad said. Bolduc then hit a concrete fire ring, which caused the SUV to flip on its side. The defendants then fired a weapon at the ranger as they ran from the scene, Fyad said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol set up a perimeter and located Bolduc in the water near a jetty in Dana Point Harbor. Kirkland was arrested near a lifeguard tower at the beach, Fyad said.
Bolduc, 41, of Brehnan, Texas and Kirkland, 46, of Huffman, Texas were each charged with one felony count of discharging a firearm with gross negligence, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and resisting and deterring an executive office. Bolduc faces an additional misdemeanor count of reckless driving.
If convicted on all counts, Bolduc faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison. Kirkland faces a maximum sentence of five years and four months in state prison. Bolduc and Kirkland are both jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Bolduc was convicted in 2014 in Texas of evading arrest or detention. Kirkland was convicted in 2011 in Texas of driving under the influence, Fyad said.
—City News Service