Ex-volunteer firefighter pleads no contest to assault

DAVID SHIELDS

A former volunteer firefighter with the Anderson Fire Protection District pleaded no contest today in Shasta County Superior Court to assaulting his ex-wife.

David Raymond Shields Jr., 31, is due back in court on Wednesday because it was originally believed by attorneys that a plea bargain he accepted this morning called for a two-year, four-month prison sentence.

Instead, a prosecutor said late this morning, he is to be sentenced to a two-year, eight-month sentence.

Shields, who was set to begin standing trial Sept. 28 on assault and related charges, was fired as a volunteer firefighter with the AFPD after being arrested in May on suspicion of assaulting his ex-wife and being in possession of a loaded pistol. He had been a volunteer firefighter for about six months.

Shields, who remains in custody in Shasta County Jail, is due to be sentenced on Oct. 6.

During his brief court appearance today, Shields pleaded no contest to two felony assault-related counts - one a “strike” charge - and saw a series of remaining criminal counts against him, including battery and false imprisonment, dismissed as a result of the plea bargain.

Shields was arrested on May 15 shortly after officers were dispatched to a home in the 3500 block of Inkwood Drive after a woman reported that her ex-husband assaulted her.

Shields, who had left the residence before officers arrived, was later stopped in his pickup at North Street and Stingy Lane, police have said, adding that he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.

During a search of his pickup, police said, a loaded .40-caliber Glock handgun was found behind a seat and Shields was arrested and transported to Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding for a blood draw,

Police said they also found anabolic steroids in his pickup.

While being transported to the hospital, police have said, Shields became enraged and started yelling and kicking and slamming his head against the cage in the patrol car.

Assistance was sought from Redding police officers and Shasta County sheriff’s deputies to help control and subdue him, police have said, adding that Shields also allegedly made suicidal threats and also threatened an unidentified officer.

Police said that Shields also had an outstanding warrant from Florida for cocaine possession at the time of his arrest, but it’s not known if he will face prosecution on that drug charge.