A Santa Barbara man faces a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of attempted murder in connection with a 2019 shooting in downtown Santa Barbara.
Terrence Edward Roberson, 37, was found guilty in Superior Court in Santa Barbara of premeditated attempted murder, a special allegation for personally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury, and carrying a concealed firearm, according to Kevin Weichbrod, senior deputy district attorney.
The verdicts were handed down Wednesday by Judge Thomas Adams after a non-jury court trial.
Roberson was arrested in connection with a shooting that occurred at about 5 a.m. on May 15, 2019, on the 500 block of Chapala Street.
Roberson and the victim — who were not previously known to each other — had some sort of altercation before Roberson pulled out a .22-caliber revolver and shot the victim twice in the back, Weichbrod said.
Roberson, who was still armed, was arrested a short time on the first block of East Cota Street.
He is due back in court on May 31 for sentencing, and faces a possible term of 32 years to life in state prison.
He remains in custody at the Santa Barbara County Jail, with bail set at $1 million.
The trial was delayed after Adams in July 2019 found that Roberson was not mentally competent to stand trial.
He was evaluated by three clinical psychologists before Adams made that determination, and Roberson was sent to Patton State Hospital for treatment of his mental health issues.
The victim, whose name was not released, spent several weeks in the hospital before being released.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.