Court Briefs

Gerard O'Dowd, 33, was initially charged with a hate crime in the March 20 attack. On June 4, during the completion of his preliminary hearing, prosecutors reduced the charge to a misdemeanor count plus one count of obstructing a police officer. O'Dowd then pleaded no contest.

O'Dowd receives credit for 157 days served since his arrest so he has little more than two weeks longer behind bars.

O'Dowd allegedly began taunting the man, calling him a derogatory name and telling him to go back to San Francisco. O'Dowd then pushed the man out of the bar and into a car. He suffered minor injuries.

O'Dowd was also ordered to stay away from the victim.

Attempted murder suspect readies for trial

The San Mateo man who allegedly shot a bullet through the neck of another man, leaving him paralyzed, will stand trial in three weeks on attempted murder charges.

William James Hagan, Jr., 28, was held to answer on charges of attempted first-degree murder and mayhem. Mayhem refers to the disability inflicted on the victim.

His alleged victim was left a quadriplegic by the shooting. The 34-year-old South San Francisco man was shot Feb. 9 outside Hagan's home in the 400 block of Claremont Street. The 9-mm bullet shattered a vertebra before exiting the front of the neck.

The victim had traveled to San Mateo with two friends to retrieve some property. The meeting escalated into a shoving match and eventually the shooting, according to police reports.

Hagan left the victim on the sidewalk while he went back into his home to hide the weapon, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Hagan, with his defense attorney, turned himself in at the police station the following day.

Hagan is being held at San Mateo County Jail on no-bail status. He returns to court July 26 to begin pre-trial motions and jury selection.