On May 12, 2009, Tulare County Superior Court Judge James W Hollman imposed a prison sentence of 11 years on 39-year-old Juan Franscico Higareda of Tulare for inflicting injury on his girlfriend resulting in a traumatic condition.

On July 15, 2008, the defendant and his girlfriend were arguing and the Defendant grabbed a screwdriver and jumped on top of her. The Defendant pressed the screwdriver into the victim’s chest, lunged at the victim, grabbed her by her hair and punched her numerous times in her head. The victim’s screams caused a neighbor to investigate and the Defendant fled.

The defendant received an 11 year prison term after he pled no contest to violating Penal Code section 273.5(a), inflicting injury on a cohabitant resulting in traumatic condition and Penal Code section 245(a)(1), assault with a deadly weapon. He admitted special allegations under PC 1170.12, for having a prior strike offense on his record, PC 667(a)(1) for pleading to a serious felony with prior serious felony conviction, and PC 667.5(b), for having served a prior prison term.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Erika Ziegenhorn and investigated by Detective Jeremy Houser and Officer Sean O’Rafferty of Visalia Police Department.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney, Don Gallian, (559) 733-6411.