January 10, 2014 FROM PAGE 16 handgun in his waistband. He then pulled out the gun and pointed it at one of the males in the group and said something to the effect of “what are you going to say now,” according to the statement of facts. When male members of the group saw the gun pointed at their friend, one of them punched Mendez-Espada, knocking him into a fence. Mendez-Espada recovered and fired two shots, neither of which struck any of the victims. Two male members of the group then grabbed Mendez-Espada, who was still holding the gun, and put him in a bear hug. Mendez-Espada’s friend, later identified as Carwin Duarte, 19, also of Reading, Pa. then punched one of the male victims with Mendez-Espada in between them. Mendez-Espada then fired at least two more shots. One of the victims was shot through his pants leg and was grazELVIN MENDEZ-ESPADA ed on his calf. Another victim was shot in the thigh near the groin. It was later determined the shot narrowly missed a major artery in the victim’s leg. The victim was transported to PRMC. Following the shootings, Mendez-Espada and Duarte fled the scene, but Duarte was found a short time later. Mendez-Espada ran north to the area of Dolphin Street where he jumped in the bay. OCPD officers surrounded the area blocking all escape routes and waited until daylight to retrieve Mendez-Espada from the canal where he was found hiding near a bulkhead. Following the reading of the statement of facts, Mendez-Espada and his attorney, Gonzalez, were asked if there were any changes or omissions. Gonzalez agreed the incident started with an exchange of words and that Mendez-Espada confronted the group. However, the defense version differed on what occurred next. “Mr. Mendez-Espada was punched, bear-hugged and pushed against a wall,” said Gonzalez. “Only then did he fire the gun as a warning shot.” When asked why he and his client were entering an Alford plea and not pursuing the self-defense claim at trial, Gonzalez said his client was willing to accept the plea agreement rather than facing the alternative. Groton accepted the Alford plea and found Mendez-Espada guilty on the attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and firearm charge. “Once you agree to abide by the statement of facts, I’m obliged to make a ruling based on those facts,” the judge said. Groton ordered a pre-sentence investigation and Mendez-Espada was ordered to be held without bond pending sentencing. . . Sentencing Set After Investigation The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 17 ATLANTIC HEALTH & FITNESS CENTER With Your New Year Resolution. Limited Time Only - $0’s For Processing Fee Until 02/01/2014 EXECUTIVE BOXING Let Us Assist You ... 410-208-6000 STEAM ROOM ZUMBA YOGA Memberships as low as Ocean Pines Plaza 11070 Cathell Road • Berlin, MD 21811 SPINNING Stop By For A Tour $26.95! PERSONAL TRAINING CORE TRAINING