Man sentenced for attacking Quincy chief

EPHRATA - A Quincy man is serving six years in prison for attacking Quincy's policechief during an arrest.

Jose A. Quintanilla, 48, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault in the third degree in Grant County Superior Court.

Quintanilla was originally charged with assault in the first degree. The charge was changed as part of the plea agreement, according to court records.

"The initial charge was made based on the probable cause statement and, after a final review of all information forwarded to this office, it became clear that the most appropriate charges were two separate counts of felony assault third," Prosecutor Angus Lee stated. "The defendant will serve a six-year prison sentence. This will give him plenty of time to reconsider his behavior."

Quintanilla has prior convictions for burglary, theft, assault, intimidating a public servant and delivery of a controlled substance. When combined with the current charges, it lead to a sentencing range of two years and nine months to three years and seven months.

The prosecutor and defense attorneys agreed to an exceptional sentence, allowing both counts of assault in the third degree to count toward the sentence, according to court records.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz followed the prosecutor's recommendation, sentencing Quintanilla to six years in prison.

Quincy Police Chief Richard Ackerman was transporting two people from an unrelated case in 2009, when one of them pointed out Quintanilla, saying he started a fight, according to a Quincy police report. The chief stopped, calling Quintanilla over to the police car and ordered him to place his hands behind him.

When the chief reached for the man's wrists, Quintanilla kicked back and started tostruggle. Ackerman pulled the man to the ground, but he twisted away. Quintanilla landed on his back, and started punching and kicking the chief, hitting him in the forearm and head, according to the police report.

Quintanilla started running and Ackerman followed the man in his car, driving up behind him, according to the police report. When the chief started getting out, Quintanilla threw a pipe at Ackerman. The chief ducked and the pipe bounced off the car. Quintanilla started running again.

The chief chased him, pushing and knocking Quintanilla to the ground. Ackerman drew his baton, telling the man to stay down. When Quintanilla started to get up, Ackerman hit him two or three times and repeating the order. The man refused, starting to get up and the chief hit him five or six more times on the legs and knees, according to the police report. The chief hit Quintanilla three or four more times befor he stayed down.