Mendocino Jury Finds San Jose Man Guilty of Attempting to Murder CHP Officer

MAXSTADT, RYAN JOSEPH

Mugshot from the Mendocino County Jail taken in December of 2016.

Press release from the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office:

Having adjourned to commence deliberations just before noon, a Mendocino County Superior Court jury returned to the courtroom just after 5 o’clock this afternoon to announce its verdict of guilty.

Defendant Ryan Joseph Maxstadt, age 28, of San Jose, was found guilty of the attempted murder of a California Highway Patrol officer, a felony committed in Willits on the night of December 20, 2016. The jury also found true special findings that the attempted murder was willful, deliberate and premeditated; that when the defendant made his attempt to kill he knew or should have known that the CHP officer was a peace officer performing his duties; and that during his attempt to kill the defendant personally and intentionally discharged his revolver at the officer.

What jury was not told during the course of this week’s trial was that defendant Maxstadt had already been convicted last August of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, a felony; personally using a firearm during the assault, a sentencing enhancement; recklessly evading a peace officer, a felony; being a felon in possession of a firearm, a felony; vehicle theft, a felony; and true findings that defendant Maxstadt has previously served two prior prison terms. Tc — setting the stage for this week’s retrial on that single count and associated special findings.

Once this week’s jury was thanked and excused, the defendant and all of his convictions were referred to the Adult Probation Department for a background study and sentencing recommendation. Defendant Maxstadt is not eligible for probation and any sentence imposed will be served in state prison. He remains in the Low Gap jail facility with a no bail hold.

The Court scheduled a future sentencing hearing for February 20, 2018 at 9 o’clock in the morning in Department G of the Ukiah courthouse. Any person interested in the facts of this case, this defendant, and/or the sentencing outcome is welcome to attend that February sentencing hearing.

The prosecutor who handled the August trial, this week’s single count retrial, and who will appear to argue the People’s sentencing position in February is District Attorney David Eyster.

The law enforcement agencies who assisted in the investigation of the underlying crimes were the Ukiah Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Willits Police Department, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, the California Department of Justice crime laboratory, and the District Attorney’s own investigators. Additional technical forensic assistance and expert testimony was ably provided by Stutchman Forensic Laboratory in Napa.

The judge who presided over the August jury trial, this week’s five-day retrial, and who will be the sentencing judge on February 20th is Mendocino County Superior Court Presiding Judge Ann Moorman.


Earlier Chapter: Suspect in High Speed Chase in Mendocino County Arrested for Attempted Murder and More

Also, you can see video of a portion of the chase at the Mendocino Voice. Scroll to the bottom.

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

7 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Freedom Club
Guest
Freedom Club
6 years ago

I remember the night this fool was driving over 100mph through Ukiah. Throw the book at him Ann, clearly he doesn’t show any signs of shaping up and not being a danger to innocent citizens.

Miguel
Guest
Miguel
6 years ago

If only…

LabeledaNazi
Guest
LabeledaNazi
6 years ago

So kym people can talk about hanging but I can’t post a pic of a noose. Must be a race thing? It’s your site and I respect, just had to comment like the jackass I am

Zippy
Guest
Zippy
6 years ago

I guess he bumped his head a little bit getting into the police car. Maybe there should be a lottery about how many years he will be sentenced. My guess is 24 years. We have until February 20.

PinkAsso
Guest
PinkAsso
6 years ago

45 years

BJ
Guest
BJ
6 years ago

[edit] WERE YOU AWARE THAT THERE WAS NO GUN FOUND, NO GUN DURING TRIAL FOR EVIDENCE, NO GUNSHOT RESIDUE FOUND ON HIM, IN THE CAR OR OUTSIDE THE CAR, THAT 4 OUT OF 5 COPS WERE FOUND TO HAVE LIED IN THEIR REPORTS ABOUT SEEING A GUN, HIM FIRING A GUN OR ASSAULING THE CHP AT ALL, THEY TESTIFIED THEY ONLY WROTE WHAT THE CHP TOLD THEM TOO!!! IT”S CALLED “BLUE CODE OF SILENCE”! [edit]