Man Shot by Deputies in Stolen Sheriff Cruiser Takes Plea Deal

A Cayucos man shot by Santa Barbara Sheriff’s deputies in a bizarre and violent confrontation last October has struck a plea deal with prosecutors and will be sentenced to five years in prison. Jeremy Leon Bordegaray, 30, pleaded no contest to charges of possessing methamphetamine, carrying a gun, and stealing a car. He also admitted to a prior prison term.

Bordegaray is scheduled to be sentenced Monday, but defense attorneys claim he’s experiencing lingering medical issues related to his multiple gunshot wounds and will be unable to attend the court hearing. They declined to comment on the details of the case.

According to the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, on October 6, 2013, the owner of a home in the gated neighborhood along Beach Club Drive near Carpinteria received a call from a neighbor about a possible trespasser at the house. The homeowner called Sheriff’s dispatchers to report the suspicious activity, and three deputies responded to the location. They found Bordegaray lurking inside and carrying a backpack that held a loaded handgun.

The deputies arrested Bordegaray, who has an extensive criminal record, and put him in handcuffs in the back of one of their patrol cars, but he was able to somehow break through the cruiser’s Plexiglass partition, crawl into the front seat, and start driving away. Deputies gave chase on foot and, according to a Sheriff’s Office statement at the time, “during the resulting confrontation, a Sheriff’s deputy fired several shots, some of which struck the suspect.” No other details were released. The District Attorney’s Office reviewed the shooting and ruled it justified.

Bordegaray was transported to the hospital in critical condition that night, and was booked in abstentia on a number of felony charges, including assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of controlled substance while armed with a firearm, possession with the intent to sell methamphetamine, a parole violation, trespassing, resisting arrest, and providing false information to a peace officer. Most of those counts, however, were ultimately dismissed.

Social media posts show Bordegaray has been in and out of the hospital since the incident. He is represented by attorneys Bill Makler and Mark Powers. Senior Deputy District Attorney Arnis Tolks is prosecuting the case.