A Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge has ordered a Guadalupe man to stand trial on charges stemming from a shooting in Santa Maria late last year that left the victim comatose due to a brain injury.
The preliminary hearing for Justin Michael Orozco, 19, occurred Friday in a Santa Maria courtroom before Judge Patricia Kelly.
Santa Maria police officers were dispatched at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 14 to a report of shots heard on the 200 block of West Williams Street.
Upon arrival, they located a man who had suffered a gunshot wound.
The victim, whose name was not released, was transported to Marian Regional Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition on Dec. 18, police said.
Days after the shooting, detectives and Special Enforcement Team members served arrest and search warrants in Santa Maria, Guadalupe, and the Tanglewood neighborhood related to the investigation.
They took Orozco into custody without incident.
In an amended criminal complaint filed recently, Orozco was charged with attempted murder along with sentencing enhancements for street terrorism benefiting the Guadalupe gang and personal and intention use of a firearm.
Orozco, who pleaded not guilty, also was accused of using a 9-mm semi-automatic handgun to wound the victim, who was identified as John Doe in the complaint.
Another special allegation accused Orozco of causing great bodily injury to the victim, who reportedly remains comatose due to a brain injury.
Deputy District attorneys Jordan Lockey and Greg Nolan led the prosecution team while Orozco was represented by Michael Scott.
A preliminary hearing involves prosecutors presenting the evidence so a judge can determine if enough exists to proceed to a trial, and typically includes limited presentation from the defense attorney.
Orozco has been ordered to return to court April 14 in Santa Maria for arraignment on the charges.
He remained in the custody at the Santa Barbara County Jail on Monday, with bail set at $2 million.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.