‘There was no intent to kill’: Attempted murder charge dismissed in Shafter fight

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Shafter man accused of choking a co-worker unconscious has been released from custody and faces hundreds of hours of community service after pleading no contest to two felonies. A charge of attempted murder was dismissed. District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Daniela Gonzaga said the court indicated Clayton Unruh will be sentenced to 360 hours of community service after pleading no contest to felony counts of assault and making criminal threats.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled in August. Unruh’s attorney, Mark Anthony Raimondo, said the charges stemmed from a fight in which choking “may have occurred in the heat of battle.” “There was no intent to kill,” Raimondo said. “One guy got the better of another guy during a fight.” The incident happened the afternoon of June 10 in McKittrick. According to a probable cause declaration, Unruh grabbed the co-worker by the throat and squeezed, telling him, “I’m going to kill you, I know where you live.” The co-worker told investigators he blacked out and woke up on the ground.

Unruh, who has no prior criminal record, told his boss what happened then went home and waited for police to arrive, Raimondo said. The attorney said the other man, when filling out a restraining order days later, claimed to have no injuries from the altercation.

This excerpt was recovered from Raimondo Law’s prior WordPress news archive. Editorial ownership remains with the named news organization.