SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - The man who fired on San Diego police officers from a Bankers Hill condominium in 2015 was sentenced Friday to a 20-year prison term.
Titus Colbert, 36, pleaded guilty in April to four counts of assault with a firearm on a peace officer.
Other charges of premeditated attempted murder of a peace officer and assault with a semiautomatic weapon were dismissed.
Colbert's plea came as the prosecutor was wrapping up his case.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon said in his opening statement that Colbert took two rifles and a revolver belonging to his roommate in Las Vegas and showed up at his former girlfriend's condo in Bankers Hill a few days before his Nov. 4, 2015, arrest.
Colbert and Ashley Davis exchanged text messages where she exclaimed he was trespassing.
As officers arrived at Davies' sixth-floor condo near the roof of the complex, a shot rang out from behind her door and an officer returned fire, according to Runyon.
Colbert fired several more shots at police and members of a SWAT team.
Even though traces of cocaine and methamphetamine were found in Colbert's system, and even though he had a history of mental health issues, Colbert knew what he was doing that day, Runyon said.
Defense attorney Melissa Tralla told the jury that Colbert had a psychotic break and was paranoid and delusional. She said that days before, Colbert had called Davies at least 50 times and was not acting right.
Colbert was rambling, saying he had special powers and was part of the New World Order, Tralla noted.
The attorney said Colbert was showing signs of mental illness by age 6 and was diagnosed with schizophrenia by age 15. Tralla told the jury that Colbert did not intend or plan to kill officers that day.
