By Jesse Davis
The first hearing for a man arrested in connection with a shooting at Meijer was held during Elkhart County Circuit Court proceedings Thursday morning.
Hassan Mohamad Aljarah, 40, 2615 Turnberry, Elkhart, faces a maximum penalty of 50 years and a fine of up to $10,000 on a charge of attempted murder, a class A felony, in the shooting of Abdulhussain Alfartusi on Nov. 3. According to Aljarah, his family and friends intend to help him hire a lawyer, and as he owns a vehicle with several thousand dollars of equity, Judge Terry Shewmaker agreed that he should contribute toward hiring his own attorney.
Aljarah is currently being held in lieu of a $150,000 bond at the Elkhart County Jail.
Man sentenced
after multi-year flight
Jorge Martinez, 54, Goshen, was sentenced on two drug convictions stemming from an incident in 1999. Martinez, who was initially released in May of 1999, two days after being booked, now faces incarceration and possible deportation in response to charges of delivery of cocaine and possession of more than 3 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver.
Martinez’s counsel first filed a withdrawal of plea, arguing that the resident alien was unaware he could be deported as a result of the charges as he is not a U.S. citizen. Judge Shewmaker refused the withdrawal, pointing out where Martinez had been told of the possibility through a translator and said he understood.
Shewmaker considered Martinez’s age, his mental state and complete lack of a criminal history as mitigating factors, but considered his multi-year absence as an aggravating factor, and sentenced him to 10 years of incarceration on the first charge and 20 years on the second, to be served concurrently in a state correctional facility. He was given 795 days credit for time served.
Man files plea agreement
Ezekiel Cooper, 28, 336 W. Garfield Ave., Elkhart, filed a plea agreement admitting guilt on a charge of dealing cocaine, a class A felony.
Cooper, who has two prior felony convictions including a cocaine charge and 18 prior misdemeanor convictions, was sentenced to 20 years of incarceration, 10 years of probation, a $200 drug interdiction fee and 100 hours of community service. He was given 707 days credit for time served.
Parole violation
Brandon Steven Pryor, 21, 7841 Kingston, Chicago, Ill., was brought back before the court after violating his probation by being convicted on charges of armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a violent offender in Hamilton County. He was on probation for another charge of armed robbery.
Pryor admitted using heroine during the three months before his Hamilton County conviction while stating his case for leniency. He was sentenced to 10 years incarceration in a state facility with six years served.
Guilty plea entered
Cesar Contreras-Munoz, 30, 253 W. Garfield Ave., Elkhart, entered a plea agreement admitting guilt on a charge of class A felony dealing cocaine. Munoz was arrested on Nov. 19, 2007, on a charge of possession of more than 3 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver.
Although Munoz is not a citizen, his counsel pointed out that he was indeed in the country legally. Despite his legal status, Munoz could face deportation as a civil penalty of his conviction. He faces up to 50 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000.
Ligonier man sentenced
Horacio Lopez, 31, 877 E. U.S. 6 Lot 82, Ligonier, was sentenced after entering a plea agreement admitting guilt on two charges of dealing cocaine. During his sentencing, Lopez requested rehabilitation for cocaine and alcohol use.
Lopez was sentenced to 35 years of incarceration on both charges, to be served concurrently. He was given credit for 120 days served.
Probation violation
John Wise, 33, 1156 E. Calvert St., South Bend, was sentenced to 96 days with the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department’s alternative program, to be served over the course of six months, as a result of a probation violation. He was also ordered to undergo regular drug screenings.
