A Sacramento man who burst into a home and opened fire on a woman hiding in her bedroom has been convicted of attempted murder, closing the book on a 2021 shooting that left the victim with devastating arm injuries and a long road of surgeries.
Last Thursday, a Sacramento County jury found Anthony Eugene Deollas guilty of attempted murder and a slate of related charges after a multi‑day trial in Sacramento County Superior Court. Prosecutors said Deollas forced his way into the home, then tracked the woman to a locked bedroom where she had called 911 for help.
According to prosecutors, emergency dispatchers heard a loud noise during that first 911 call before the line suddenly went dead. About five minutes later, the woman called back. Investigators say that in the interim, Deollas broke into the bedroom and shot her in the arm, causing injuries so severe that doctors had to perform several surgeries in an effort to save the limb.
Jurors convicted Deollas of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and they returned true findings that he personally used a firearm during the attack. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s office says he now faces up to 44 years to life in state prison, with prosecutors also pursuing an allegation that he previously sustained a robbery conviction that counts as a “strike” under California law. That prior‑strike allegation will be taken up at his May 1 sentencing hearing, as reported by The Sacramento Bee.
Legal implications
In California, a proved prior‑strike allegation can dramatically increase the amount of time a defendant spends behind bars under the state’s three‑strikes framework. For qualifying felonies, a prior strike can double the usual sentencing range or set up an indeterminate term of 25 years to life.
The rules for strike priors and serious‑felony enhancements are spelled out in state law, including Penal Code §667 and §1170.12. While those enhancements boost the potential punishment on paper, judges still have limited discretion to consider motions and arguments about whether a prior should be dismissed in the interests of justice.
What’s next
Deollas is scheduled to return to Sacramento County Superior Court on May 1 for sentencing, where Judge Steve White will consider the prosecution’s prior‑strike allegation alongside the new convictions. If that strike is proved at the hearing, the combined findings could expose Deollas to decades in prison under California’s sentencing rules.
The defense can contest the prior and argue for a lower term, and the judge will weigh any additional evidence and legal arguments before deciding how much time Deollas will serve, as reported by The Sacramento Bee.
The case is one of several high‑stakes violent‑crime prosecutions tied to incidents from 2021 that are now reaching resolution in Sacramento courtrooms. We will continue tracking new filings and the May 1 hearing and will update coverage once a sentence is imposed.
