Crime & Safety

Temecula Ex-Con Sentenced Following Attack On Family

Aaron Paul Graves, 29, was sentenced to two years in state prison for attacking his mother and little brother with a hammer and wrench.

An ex-con who attacked his mother and younger brother with a pair of tools that he also tried to use to fend off sheriff's deputies was sentenced today to a two-year prison term under a plea deal reached with prosecutors.

Aaron Paul Graves, 29, of Temecula pleaded guilty on June 12 to assault with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily injury and sentence-enhancing allegations of being a habitual offender and using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

In exchange for his acknowledgement of guilt on the principal count, prosecutors agreed to drop charges of resisting arrest, child endangerment and inflicting a traumatic injury during an act of domestic violence.

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Riverside County Superior Court Judge Judith Clark also set aside the defendant's prior strikes in certifying the plea agreement.

Graves has felony convictions for attempting to evade a peace officer, domestic abuse and illegal possession of controlled substances.

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On the night of Feb. 11, Graves' 10-year-old sibling called 911 saying his older brother had assaulted him and his mother with a hammer and wrench and they needed deputies to come immediately to their house in the 31100 block of Tecumseh Court.

Deputies arrived moments later and attempted to make contact with Graves, who barricaded himself inside the home and threatened to hit anybody who got near him, sheriff's Sgt. Curt Harris said.

Deputies were able to access the house via a rear patio door, but Graves refused their commands to surrender his weapons, according to Harris.

He said the ex-con, apparently under influence of drugs, was shocked with a Taser, which had no effect. Deputies then fired a non-lethal pepper ball at him, momentarily disorienting the defendant but not disabling him, Harris said.

A police K9 was set loose on the combative man, but "Graves resisted and attempted to strike the K9 with a hammer," the sergeant said. "When he engaged the K9, (deputies) quickly subdued Graves and placed him in handcuffs -- but only after two deputies suffered minor injuries during the incident."

Paramedics treated the defendant's mother and brother for minor wounds. Graves and the deputies were also treated for cuts and abrasions at a hospital.--City News Service



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