2 Men Plead Guilty to Misdemeanor Charges After Coachella Gunfire

INDIO, CA — Two men arrested following reports of gunfire in Coachella pleaded guilty to separate misdemeanor charges Friday, while one had a felony charge dismissed.

Mecca resident Frank Molina, 38, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of discharging a firearm in a negligent manner, while Coachella resident Bernardo Moreno, 46, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of willfully harming or endangering a child, according to case records. Molina and Moreno entered their pleas Friday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

A felony charge of willful child cruelty against Molina was dismissed.

Both defendants were sentenced to 48 months of probation, including 26 days in a work release program, and were required to enroll in parenting and gun safety courses, temporarily banned from owning firearms and assigned community service, according to case records.

Molina and Moreno were each arrested at 11:55 p.m. on June 30 and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center.

Riverside County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the 50000 block of Camino Coras in Coachella at 3:55 p.m. on June 30 following reports of gunfire, according to a statement from the Thermal Station, which further stated that deputies searched a home in the area and located four handguns, one rifle and ammunition.

The deputies also found "evidence of multiple firearms being discharged" in a negligent manner, according to the statement.

There were no reports of any injuries. Details about the alleged child endangerment were not immediately available.

Both men were being held in lieu of $35,000 bail.

—City News Service