A man who pleaded guilty to assaulting two Sac City police officers has been sentenced to up to four years in state prison.
Christian Onei Vaca was convicted Tuesday in Sac County District Court on two counts of assault on a peace officer, both aggravated misdemeanors.
District Associate Judge Joseph McCarville sentenced Vaca to an indeterminate prison term of up to two years on each count. The terms must be served consecutively, meaning one after the other, for a combined maximum of four years. The sentences were not suspended, and probation was denied.
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently with a separate sentence in a Sac County case involving the revocation of Vaca’s probation. Vaca also received credit for time served.
According to the Sac County Attorney’s Office, the incident happened during the early morning hours of July 22, when a Sac City police officer responded to a report of a man running into the street, chasing vehicles and screaming.
The officer found Vaca in the roadway on Main Street. Authorities say Vaca was intoxicated and confronted the officer while holding a whiskey bottle in a threatening manner. He reportedly refused repeated requests to calm down.
When the officer attempted to arrest him, Vaca resisted in the middle of the street, spat at the officer and tried to bite him, according to the county attorney’s office. Passing motorists used their vehicles to shield the officer and Vaca from traffic during the struggle. Authorities also say Vaca spat on a second officer several times while being transported to the Sac County Jail.
Court records show the first count was initially charged as a felony alleging assault on a peace officer causing bodily injury. Under an amended plea agreement, that count was reduced to aggravated misdemeanor assault on a peace officer. Vaca pleaded guilty to that charge and a second count of the same aggravated misdemeanor.
The Sac City Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the Sac County Attorney’s Office.
