Goleta Shooter Faces Two More Charges

A prosecutor added two additional charges against Charles Quinn at a court hearing Thursday morning, while the 42-year-old Quinn waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Quinn — accused of firing a high-powered pellet gun on January 15 at civilians and then later at sheriff’s deputies during a failed robbery attempt in Goleta’s Camino Real Marketplace — was injured when the three deputies returned fire. Quinn, who spent more than two weeks in the hospital, was shot four times by the officers, including twice in the chest and once in the upper stomach area, according to his attorney, Senior Deputy Public Defender Jeff Chambliss. All of those shots were “through and through” wounds which entered and exited the body. He also was shot in the shoulder.

Thursday morning Senior Deputy DA Mary Barron added a charge of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a fifth civilian victim, as well as a misdemeanor charge of battery on a peace officer for an alleged incident on January 17 when Quinn was at Cottage Hospital.

In all, Quinn — who has had run-ins with authorities in several states dating back many years — faces 17 total charges, including three charges of attempted second degree robbery, five charges of assault with a deadly weapon, and three charges of assault upon a peace officer.

Barron said all charges and special allegations could add up to roughly 22 years in state prison for Quinn if he’s convicted.

The preliminary hearing would’ve allowed a judge to hear testimony to determine whether there was enough evidence for Quinn, said to be a transient who has no criminal past in Santa Barbara County, to stand trial. Instead, Quinn will be back in court for arraignment on March 3.