Man Who Rammed Hummer Into Hotel Wall Pleads No Contest in Criminal Case

POMONA, CA - A man who rammed his Hummer through the wall of a San Dimas hotel during a family disturbance pleaded no contest today to three criminal charges.

Richard Melendez, 28, of Bell, was immediately sentenced to two years in state prison following his plea to one count each of assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism over $400 and resisting an executive officer, according to Sarah Ardalani of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Melendez rammed the Hummer through a structure wall shortly before 1:15 a.m. last Oct. 9 at the Extended Stay America hotel in the 600 block of West Bonita Avenue in an effort to enter the room where his mother and sister were staying, sheriff's Lt. Elisabeth Sachs said.

The women left the room as the assault began.

"By some miracle, no one was injured," Sachs said.

Melendez's wife and four children -- ages 1, 3, 5 and 6 -- were asleep in a room across the hall, according to the sheriff's department.

- - City News Service, photo via Shutterstock