Ryan David Gordon
Sentenced To Prison
For Newberry Springs Assault
Posted: January 26, 2012
Clark County booking photo of Ryan David Gordon.
Ryan David Gordon, a previous resident of Newberry Springs, has been
sentenced to a two year prison term. Minus an 85% term reduction, and time served that
totals 90 days, the remaining time to be served is 18 months.
While attending a scheduled court pre-preliminary hearing on January 18, 2012,
the judge and counsel met off-the-record in chambers whereafter Gordon changed his plea to guilty
in acceptance of a plea bargain with prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Joel A. Buckingham.
Gordon pleaded guilty to Penal Code § 245(a)(1) in place of
§ 245(a)(4). The difference being that § 245(a)(1) does not involve an assault
"by any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury."
In meeting with the Community Alliance for a half-hour the
following day, Buckingham stated that he had to weigh numerous factors of taking the matter to
trial. Although the Community Alliance definitely desired to have seen this matter
go to trial whereby Gordon could have been confronted by the victim; or at least a harsher plea
deal imposed, the logic behind the final settlement engineered by Buckingham represented a
reasonable balance of issues.
Gordon requested immediate sentencing and waived formal arraignment for
pronouncement of judgment. The court ordered minimum sentencing but refused a request for
Fire Camp due to the D.A.'s objection over the severe nature of the matter. Gordon was
further ordered to have buccal collection of DNA samples taken and he was remanded to the custody
of the California Department of Corrections at Chino.
The accelerated rush to sentencing by Gordon may have had to do with the
mounting cost associated with Gordon's private attorney.
Gordon had faced a charge of assault by means of "Great Bodily Injury" that
under law calls for a confinement of two, four or six years, with a maximum prison exposure of 7
years. Despite receiving the minimum two year term, it is a state prison sentence that does
require a probationary period after release. According to Buckingham, a probationary period
will normally run 3 to 4 years.
The judge stayed a charge of "Great Bodily Injury" under Penal Code §
12022.7; but if there is a violation of probation, the stayed sentence could be enacted.
Significantly, a part of the plea bargain includes the charge of a
"strike." Should Gordon commit a future felony offense in the state of California, the
strike causes the base term of the new sentence to double with an automatic confinement in
state prison.
At the time of the attack, Gordon is believed to have had the companionship
of three others, two of whom reportedly conspired with Gordon to catch the fleeing victim.
Although the Sheriff's Department reportedly has the names of the other
suspects, they will likely not be criminally charged; but they could face civil restitution.
The 26 year old, 6-foot 4-inch tall Gordon, weighing 255 pounds according
to sheriff records, chased down and beat a 5-food 4-inch, 120-pound, 44-year old man to where
the victim had to be transported to Loma Linda by ambulance for reconstructive facial surgery.
No motive has been revealed for the impulsive beating. The parties
did not know each other. The victim's vehicle had run out-of-gas and he was merely walking to
a nearby gas station when the attackers were exiting a nearby Newberry Springs tavern.
The court ordered restitution. The medical amount is well in
excess of $80,000.00 in actual damages.
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