Antonio Earnest Alonzo of Ivanhoe was sentenced yesterday to fifteen years in state prison for crimes he committed on December 20, 2004. The incident started when Deputies went to Alonzo’s home investigating an un-related burglary. A Deputy went to the back of the house and one stayed in the front. Alonzo ran from the back toward the front where Deputy Baker was. As Alonzo ran towards Deputy Baker he pulled a loaded firearm and pointed it at Deputy Baker. Deputy Baker was able to draw his weapon and fire at Alonzo hitting him several times. Alonzo fell to the ground and tossed his gun. A loaded, stolen firearm was recovered from the crime scene. The defendant also had marijuana and methamphetamine on him and was under the influence at the time of the crime.

Alonzo, 26, a validated South Side Kings gang member, pled no contest to six felonies : one count of Penal Code section 245(d) (assault on a peace officer with a firearm), one felony count of Penal Code section 496(a) (possession of the stolen firearm), one count of Penal Code section 12021(a)(1) (possession of a firearm by a felon), one count of Health and Safety Code section 11370.1(a) (possession of methamphetamine with a loaded firearm), and one count of Health and Safety Code section 11359 (possession of marijuana for sale), and one count of Health and Safety Code section 11550(e) (being under the influence of methamphetamine and possessing a loaded firearm).

Judge Gerald Sevier sentenced Alonzo to serve fifteen years in state prison for his crimes. Alonzo was also ordered to pay a restitution fine in the amount of $2000. In addition, pursuant to Penal Code section 296, he must provide identifying biological samples for the statewide DNA database. Because the defendant was convicted of a serious and violent “strike” offense and he has a prior strike offense, any future felonies he commits can be prosecuted with a potential punishment of life in prison under California’s Three Strikes law. Alonzo will also have to serve eighty five percent of his sentence before being paroled.


The case was prosecuted by Supervising Attorney Ralph Kaelble of the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office and investigated by Detective Gary Hunt of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Violent Crime Unit and Investigator Herman Martinez of the Tulare County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney Don Gallian, 733-6411.