Judge releases man suspected of shooting himself

LOGAN — A judge has released 31-year-old Jose L. Almaguer, while prosecutors amend charges that he shot himself, prompting a neighborhood manhunt by law enforcement last month.

Almaguer appeared in 1st District Court Tuesday morning, waiving his right to a preliminary hearing. He is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony and possession or use of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony.

State attorney Spencer Walsh said Almaguer’s criminal record showed he was previously convicted of a felony assault in Texas. When investigators contacted the court there, they learned the assault was actually a class A misdemeanor.

Walsh said, due to the defendant’s criminal history, prosecutors would be reducing the gun charge to a third-degree felony.

On October 20, police found Almaguer hiding behind a home near 1394 N. 290 W. He had what appeared to be a small caliber gunshot wound to his right wrist. He was hospitalized and later arrested.

The search for Almaguer started after a woman called police reporting he had showed up at her home saying he shot himself. Police set up a perimeter around the neighborhood and placed several nearby schools on lock-down until he was found.

Almaguer has told the court previously, he did not shoot himself.

Judge Kevin Allen said he would allow Almaguer to be released from jail and ordered him to appear again in court December 21.

<hr /><p style=”text-align: center;”>[email protected]

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!