By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A Thatcher man faces a minimum of 69.5 years and an aggravated maximum of 140 years in prison if convicted on all the charges against him.
That’s what Graham County Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Travis W. Ragland informed the defendant, Jesus Manuel Ramos, 32, of Thatcher, during a court status hearing on Tuesday. Ramos has been charged with multiple felonies regarding a shooting incident the evening of March 15. Ramos’ charges include discharging a firearm at a structure, three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, three counts of criminal damage, and three counts of disorderly conduct with a weapon.
Judge Ragland did the math during court to point out that the lowest amount of time Ramos faces if convicted on all counts would be slightly more than a current plea deal offered by the state. Ramos’ defense attorney, Dennis McCarthy, agreed with Judge Ragland and said that the County Attorney would easily find aggravators to make a possible conviction more lengthy since Ramos has had previous convictions within 10 years.
According to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies initially responded to 10742 W. Highway 70 at about 8:13 p.m. on March 15 regarding suspicious activity that quickly escalated into a felony investigation involving the shooting of a horse, a residence, and a vehicle.
According to authorities, two individuals were outside the residence when they observed Ramos using vehicle lights or a flashlight to illuminate a horse corral before firing multiple shots, killing a horse valued at approximately $4,000. The witnesses fled into the residence, where a third person was already inside. Ramos then allegedly fired several rounds at the house and a white Chevy pickup parked in front, striking both. Multiple 9mm shell casings were found near the truck and the horse corral, along with bullet holes in the vehicle’s gas tank, rear driver-side door, and the west side of the mobile home. A bullet fragment was recovered from the truck’s door frame.
Ramos fled the scene in a silver Jeep, heading toward Thatcher. Deputies located the vehicle and the suspect at a residence on 1141 N. Stadium Avenue in Thatcher, where he was apprehended after attempting to flee on foot. Two 9mm firearms were recovered outside the Thatcher residence. Detectives collected 27 spent 9mm shell casings — 10 near the truck and 17 by the horse corral — along with other evidence, which was secured in the Graham County Sheriff’s Office Evidence Room.
Witnesses reported prior incidents involving Ramos, including an unreported event the previous day where he allegedly pointed a gun at an individual at the same residence. Earlier on March 15, the suspect reportedly displayed a handgun and made threats against another person after a confrontation. Authorities were also informed that the suspect may be involved in drug-related activities and had been acting increasingly aggressively.
On Tuesday, Judge Ragland did the math and advised that if he was convicted on all the charges, the minimum Ramos could serve would be 69.5 years, which is a few years longer than what he has allegedly been offered in a plea agreement.
Judge Ragland then set a settlement conference for Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. If a deal is not made, the case is set for trial Dec. 9-12, with a motions hearing set for Oct. 27 from 8:30 to noon, and a last pre-trial conference set for Nov. 4 at 8:30 a.m.
