BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The man facing charges after a standoff at the Wonderful Company earlier this month has taken a plea deal.
Ricardo Maldonado took a plea deal on two charges including obstructing and resisting an officer and trespassing property without consent.
Court documents obtained by 23ABC also reveal details on what allegedly happened during the 16-hour standoff.
Officials say on April 3 around 3 a.m., the 34-year-old climbed on top of the roof of The Wonderful Company off Highway 33 near the Buttonwillow area. He was reportedly armed with what officials call a "sharp-edged weapon" before a crisis intervention team was called in.
Maldonado reportedly told deputies that he was being followed by subjects from Los Angeles who wanted to kill him.
During negotiations, Maldonado reportedly made threats to harm himself and pull a Sheriff's Deputy off the roof with him. The court documents also revealed that Maldonado somehow gained access to a silo and climbed to the top of another building nearby. A reaction team surrounded the silo before developing a plan to use a boom lift to continue negotiations with Maldonado.
Maldanado allegedly stayed on the roof for nearly 16 hours before agreeing to come down when deputies fired nine non-lethal rounds and deployed pepper spray that reportedly burned his skin.
He was taken safely into custody and treated at Kern Medical.
A records search has also revealed that Maldonado was a reported missing person out of Paso Robles Police Department.
Maldonado is reportedly not associated with the Wonderful Company. He is due in court for sentencing on May 20.
