Probationer Accused of Carjacking Man, Causing Wreck

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — One of two convicted felons accused of assaulting and carjacking a Corona man, then leading police on a pursuit that ended with a crash in which two people were injured, pleaded not guilty Friday to carjacking and other charges.

Eric "Mac" Guzman, 20, was arrested last week after the chase in downtown Corona.

His co-defendant, 21-year-old Donovan Andre Adame, was identified as the co-conspirator following an investigation that culminated in his arrest Wednesday.

In addition to carjacking, Guzman is charged with eluding law enforcement, driving under the influence resulting in injuries and gang activity.

He was arraigned Friday morning before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Michael Donner, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Jan. 30 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

The defendant is being held on $1 million bail at the Indio Jail.

Adame is charged with carjacking, assault resulting in great bodily injury and gang activity. He's being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside and was slated to make his initial court appearance Friday afternoon.

According to Corona police Sgt. Chad Fountain, shortly after 4 p.m. on Jan. 9, the defendants allegedly confronted a man as he prepared to get into his 2016 Honda Accord in the 400 block of River Road.

The victim's keys were forcibly taken, and a bystander who attempted to intervene was roughed up, according to investigators.

The defendants fled in the Honda, and the victim called 911, at which point an alert was broadcast to patrol units, prompting a citywide search for the car, Fountain said.

He said that about 6 p.m., the Honda was spotted in the 200 block of East Olive Street, with Guzman alone in the vehicle. Officers signaled him to stop, but the probationer allegedly floored it, triggering a pursuit that ended minutes later when he collided with two cars and ultimately plowed into a tree in the 700 block of Main Street, according to the sergeant.

Two women in the cars allegedly struck by Guzman were hospitalized with minor to moderate injuries. The defendant also suffered minor injuries, for which he was treated, then booked into jail, Fountain said.

According to court records, Guzman has prior convictions for felony vandalism, gang activity and being in possession of a controlled substance.

Adame has priors for robbery and using a minor as an accessory to a felony, records showed.

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock