What Sentences Are Imposed for Assault With a Deadly Weapon in Los Angeles?
Six completed Los Angeles assault-with-a-deadly-weapon cases reviewed for this guide produced outcomes from one year in county jail plus probation to eight years in state prison. The cases involve different Penal Code §245 variants, prior records, injury findings, and related conduct, so the outcomes are separated by type rather than treated as one uniform sentencing range.
Quick Answer
- Cases reviewed: 6 completed Los Angeles cases
- County-jail outcome: 1 year plus 3 years’ formal probation
- State-prison outcomes observed: 4, 6, 6, 7, and 8 years
- Weapons or instruments: vehicle, knife, bottle, and assault on a peace officer
- Important distinction: the applicable §245 subsection and enhancements can change the statutory sentence
See the Los Angeles crime sentence hub, compare the separate federal armed robbery page, and review our methodology and editorial standards.
What Is Assault With a Deadly Weapon in California?
California Penal Code §245 covers several assault forms. Section 245(a)(1) includes assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, while other subdivisions address firearms, specified weapons, and assaults on peace officers or firefighters. A vehicle can qualify as a deadly weapon based on how it is used. The charging subsection, weapon, victim status, and admitted or proven enhancements must be identified before discussing a statutory range.
Statutory Sentence
For a general felony violation of §245(a)(1), the statute provides a two-, three-, or four-year term under Penal Code §1170(h), or up to one year in county jail, subject to the statute and the court’s sentencing authority. Firearm and peace-officer variants have different terms. Prior strikes and enhancements such as great bodily injury can add time. Those statutory rules are distinct from the observed final outcomes below.
Observed Los Angeles Case Outcomes
| Case | Los Angeles conduct | Disposition | Final outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Castille | Assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer | No-contest plea to one count | 1 year county jail and 3 years’ formal probation |
| Elliot Nowden | Knife attack on a USC student aboard the Expo Line | No-contest plea to one felony ADW count | 4 years state prison |
| Ulysses Sanchez | Drove a minivan at protesters in downtown Los Angeles | No-contest plea to one ADW count; prior ADW admitted | 6 years state prison |
| Brandon Corona | Participation in a South Los Angeles party attack | No-contest plea to one ADW count | 6 years state prison |
| Richard Camacho | Knife stabbing at a Valley Village grocery parking lot | ADW plea plus great-bodily-injury admission | 7 years state prison |
| Angel Quezada | Participation in the South Los Angeles party attack | No-contest plea to one ADW count | 8 years state prison |
Case 1: James Castille
An official Los Angeles County District Attorney review states that Castille pleaded no contest to assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer in Los Angeles Superior Court and received one year in county jail plus three years’ formal probation. Because this is a peace-officer variant and a jail/probation disposition, it is not compared as though it were an ordinary §245(a)(1) state-prison term. Official source.
Case 2: Elliot Nowden
The Los Angeles County District Attorney reported that Nowden had previously pleaded no contest to one felony ADW count for stabbing a USC student aboard the Expo Line and received four years in state prison. The later release concerned a separate murder case but clearly states the completed prior ADW conviction and sentence. Official source.
Case 3: Ulysses Sanchez
Sanchez pleaded no contest to one count after driving a minivan at anti-ICE protesters in downtown Los Angeles. He admitted a prior unrelated ADW conviction and received six years in state prison through a negotiated plea. The prior-conviction context is material and is retained. Official source.
Cases 4 and 6: Brandon Corona and Angel Quezada
Corona and Quezada each pleaded no contest to one ADW count arising from an attack after a South Los Angeles house party. The official release states that Corona received six years and Quezada eight years in state prison. They are two defendants in the same prosecution and therefore are not treated as independent proof of a citywide pattern. Official source.
Case 5: Richard Camacho
Camacho pleaded no contest to assault with a deadly weapon, a knife, after stabbing a good Samaritan in Valley Village. He also admitted personally inflicting great bodily injury and received seven years in state prison. The enhancement means this outcome should not be read as a base-term example. Official source.
Why the Outcomes Differ
The §245 subsection, weapon, victim status, injury, prior strike or conviction, enhancements, plea agreement, and related conduct can materially change the outcome. The cases above therefore preserve county jail versus state prison and flag prior-record and great-bodily-injury facts instead of presenting a misleading single average.
Methodology
We searched official Los Angeles County District Attorney, Los Angeles City Attorney, California Attorney General, and federal Central District sources using multiple formulations. Only completed cases with conduct in the City of Los Angeles or a specifically identified Los Angeles neighborhood, an explicit ADW conviction, and a final sentence were retained. Inglewood, Palmdale, Cerritos, and other county locations were excluded. Pending charges and expected sentences were excluded.
Sources
Disclaimer
General information only, not legal advice. California assault sentencing depends on the exact subsection, enhancements, prior record, and case facts.