Longtime fugitive appears in court for alleged attack on deputies

This story comes from Whittier Daily News reporter Ruby Gonzales, about a longtime fugitive accused of shooting at two sheriff's deputies with an AK-47 appearing in court. Shortly Emigdio Preciado fled to Mexico after attacking the deputies in Whittier, a home video surfaced of him dancing the night away at a party. A billboard displaying the name and photos of Preciado, a Southside Whittier gang member, was defaced in October of 2007 in an apparent attempt by fellow gang members to curtail the FBI's hunt for Preciado.

WHITTIER - Before a courtroom packed with law enforcement officers, a reputed gang member and one of the FBI's Most Wanted fugitives on Friday pleaded not guilty to firing an AK-47 at two deputies during a 2000 traffic stop in Whittier.
One of the deputies, Michael Schaap, was shot in the forehead and had to learn how to walk and talk again. The other, Deputy David Timberlake, wasn't injured.
Both sat in the front row and watched as Emigdio Preciado Jr., wearing an orange jailhouse jumpsuit and with short dark hair, was led in shackles from the lock-up to the courtroom. He was later seen smirking during the brief hearing.
Preciado, 40, spoke English as he answered several questions posed to him by Whittier Superior Court Commissioner Armando Moreno.
One of Preciado's attorneys, John Tyre, entered the not guilty plea for him and denied special allegations.
Preciado, who is being held at Men's Central Jail in lieu of $10 million bail, will return to court March 24 for a hearing.
Sometime after the Sept. 5, 2000 attack Preciado fled to Mexico and was arrested there last year. He's been charged with two counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, two counts of assault on a peace officer with a firearm, two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, aggravated mayhem, carrying a loaded firearm and having a concealed firearm in a vehicle.
The prosecution also alleges Preciado is an active member of the Southside Whittier street gang, that he personally and intentionally used a gun which caused great bodily injury to the two deputies and that he personally inflicted injury to Schaap, who suffered paralysis and became comatose due to brain injury.
Deputy District Attorney Frank Tavelman said the hearing is to make sure the defense has everything it needs.
'Our case was ready 10 years ago," Tavelman said.
Schaap and Timberlake, who declined comment, attended the arraignment along "We're just here to support Mike and his family. It's a very emotional time for his family," said Norwalk Station Capt. Pat Maxwell, who came on his day off.
The shooting occurred on Gunn Avenue in the county area of Whittier after the deputies tried to pull over a 1979 Chevrolet van for a burned-out headlight.
Preciado then allegedly fired at them with an AK-47 assault rifle.
Detectives believe the four men in the van were on their way to commit a drive-by shooting. While the three other suspects were later arrested, Preciado headed to Mexico.
The American citizen was on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list when he was arrested by Mexican authorities on July 17 in Corral Piedras, a rural area near Yagos in the state of Nayarit, Mexico.
He was using the name Regalo Castaneda-Castaneda and working as a fisherman, FBI agents said.
Mexican officials sent Preciado back to the U.S. last month.
The three other suspects in the assault - Carlos Gutierrez, Jose Guardado and Omar Jimenez - were arrested, charged and convicted.