-Editorial
An Imperial County jury has found Gabriel Mark Tellez, 26, guilty of assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury, a felony under California Penal Code Section 245(a)(4). The jury also found true an enhancement under Penal Code Section 12022.7(a) for personally inflicting great bodily injury during the attack.
The charge applies when someone uses physical force that could result in serious harm, even if no weapon is involved. The conviction follows an investigation and trial that reviewed evidence related to the altercation, including the nature of the force used and the injuries sustained by the victim.
Assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury is considered a “wobbler” under California law, meaning it can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony. In this case, prosecutors pursued felony charges based on the seriousness of the assault. A felony conviction under this statute carries a potential prison sentence of two to four years, along with possible fines or probation. The defendant is scheduled to return to court for sentencing at a later date.
The incident occurred in Winterhaven during the early morning hours when Tellez encountered a female family member walking along the roadside. According to court testimony, Tellez exited his vehicle and physically assaulted the victim, allegedly under the mistaken belief that she had reported him to law enforcement. He struck her multiple times with his fists and kicked her while she was on the ground, causing a fractured rib and other serious injuries before leaving her unconscious.
The victim later regained consciousness and flagged down an Imperial County Sheriff’s Deputy, reporting the assault. Tellez was not immediately apprehended. In a separate incident, he was also accused of making criminal threats, prompting a warrant for his arrest.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service, coordinated to locate Tellez. He was eventually arrested and later entered a plea in the threats case, accepting a conviction for attempted criminal threats—a felony classified as a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes Law. Sentencing in that case is scheduled for next week.
The recent assault conviction marks Tellez’s second strike. He also admitted to a prior felony conviction for acting as an accessory after the fact in a separate case involving Anthony Raven Shepard, who was later convicted of negligent discharge of a firearm.
The trial was presided over by Judge Christopher Plourd, who ordered Tellez held without bail pending sentencing, which is set for August 12, 2025.
The victim received support from the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Assistance Program. The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney John Harter, with assistance from investigators from both ICSO and the DA’s Bureau of Investigation.
The District Attorney’s Office expressed its ongoing commitment to addressing family violence and acknowledged the efforts of its law enforcement partners in bringing the case to trial.
