Hammer-Wielding Felon Sentenced For Attack In Orange County

GARDEN GROVE, CA — A 36-year-old felon was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in prison for attacking another man with a hammer in a Garden Grove bar, leaving the victim battling for his life.

Jesse Bizarro attacked the 40-year-old resident of Garden Grove about 8:45 p.m. Sept. 20 at the bar in the 13000 block of Garden Grove Boulevard, near the Garden Grove (22) Freeway, police said. The victim was taken to an area hospital in critical condition after the attack, police said.

Bizarro pleaded guilty Dec. 12 to attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon and admitted sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury on the victim and the personal use of a deadly weapon, according to court records.

Bizarro was given credit for 107 days in custody.

At the time of the altercation, Bizarro was free on $5,000 bail in an Anaheim vandalism case. He was charged with felony vandalism Aug. 21, but accepted a plea deal to admit misdemeanor vandalism, according to court records.

Bizarro has two prior strike convictions. He pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and gang activity in January 2007 and to assault with a deadly weapon in 2004, according to court records.