SANTA ANA — Two men pleaded guilty Wednesday and were immediately sentenced to time already served in jail for the detonation of illegal fireworks in Garden Grove three years ago that injured nine people, including 4- and 8-year-old brothers.
Frank Lazcano Lopez, 49, of Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to use of a destructive device causing bodily injury and dissuading a witness by force, both felonies, as well as a misdemeanor count of malicious damage to personal property. As part of the plea deal, felony counts of use of a destructive device causing mayhem or great bodily injury were dismissed.
Co-defendant Michael Andrew Hunter pleaded guilty to use of a destructive device causing bodily injury and malicious damage to personal property, both felonies. As part of his plea deal, felony counts of use of a destructive device causing mayhem or great bodily injury and use of a destructive device causing bodily injury were dismissed.
Lopez was sentenced to 664 days in jail, or time he has served behind bars awaiting trial. Hunter was sentenced to three days in jail, or time served, and 20 days of Caltrans work by June 26 of next year, according to court records.
Police were called to the 13800 block of Rosita Place in Garden Grove about 9:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July in 2021 regarding an explosion that blew out windows at an apartment complex and shattered the windows on a vehicle, police said.
The 8-year-old boy was taken to OC Global Medical Center in Santa Ana with a serious eye injury and burns, police said. Five other children were also injured by the explosion and treated by paramedics, police said.
The 4-year-old and his 8-year-old brother sustained burned corneas, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
When officers went to OC Global Medical Center, they learned three other people were injured from the blast and went to the hospital on their own, police said.
Five of the nine injured in the blast were hospitalized, police said.
The blast was caught on cell phone video, and Lopez was one of the suspects seen igniting the box of fireworks, police said. Lopez also threatened a witness to delete photos of the damages, prosecutors said.
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