Attempted murder suspect facing third strike

The Norteño gangmember accused of shooting a fellow partygoer at a Fourth of July gathering in 2007 is facing a third strike and possible life sentence if convicted.

Alvin Flores, 44, spent 18 months at large since charges were filed days after the shooting and was finally apprehended last week in Merced County on an outstanding $250,000 arrest warrant.

As of yesterday, Flores had yet to be returned from Merced and booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility. Once he is, the District Attorney’s Office has five days to arraign him in court on seven felony charges and allegations, including attempted murder with premeditation, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, discharging of a weapon in a car or house, possession of a firearm by an ex-convict, causing great bodily injury and committing a crime for the furtherance of a street gang.

Taken together and with Flores’ criminal background, he is looking at a potential third strike if convicted and mandatory prison sentence of 25 years to life, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Flores is no stranger to prison, last being sent by San Mateo County in 1992 when he pleaded no contest to two counts of robbery, admitted the use of a firearm and a five-year prior. He received an eight-year term and served four, Wagstaffe said.

The latest brush with local law enforcement — and for which he was just apprehended — allegedly occurred July 4, 2007 at a July Fourth gathering in Redwood City. Flores reportedly began questioning partygoers about their gang affiliation at the Norteño function and for unclear reasons shot a man in the leg. Flores and his brother, Oscar, left the party. Oscar Flores was later arrested and charged but just before his preliminary hearing Dec. 4, 2007, prosecutors dismissed the case for insufficient evidence.

Flores remained wanted until last Monday when the Merced County Sheriff’s Department, acting on a tip, located him at a home in the town of Delhi.