Jury convicts man for attempted murder of police officer
Charles Nelson Ammons, 50.
Charles Nelson Ammons, 50, attempted to fire gun directly at Pismo Beach Police Officer but bullets were loaded incorrectly
– San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced this week that Charles Nelson Ammons, 50, was convicted this week by a San Luis Obispo County jury of two felony counts including premeditated and deliberate attempted murder of a peace officer and resisting a peace officer by use of force.
The jury found true that Ammons used a firearm during the crimes. In addition, the jury found that several factors in aggravation were true. The factors included: (1) the crimes involved great violence, threat of great bodily harm, or other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness; (2) the defendant used a weapon when he committed the crimes; (3) the victim officer was particularly vulnerable; and (4) the defendant engaged in violent conduct that indicates a serious danger to society.
During the week-long trial, the jury heard evidence that on April 15, 2022, Pismo Beach Police Corporal Chris Siglin was on uniformed motorcycle patrol when he attempted to stop Ammon’s van for making an illegal turn in the busy downtown corridor of Pismo Beach.
Ammons ignored lights and sirens, hand gestures, loudspeakers, and verbal commands to pull over. When Corporal Siglin pulled his motorcycle next to Ammons’ van and opened the driver-side door, Ammons immediately and without warning pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the head of Corporal Siglin and pulled the trigger.
Fortunately, the firearm did not fire a bullet because the bullets had been loaded backward in the magazine of the gun. Corporal Siglin and Pismo Beach Police Officer Tyler Smith were able to wrestle Ammon to the ground. With the help of two off-duty Santa Maria Police Officers, who were enjoying a Pismo Beach afternoon, they took Ammons into custody.
This was the second jury trial for Ammons stemming from his attempt to shoot Corporal Siglin on April 15, 2022. In the first trial, the jury convicted Ammons of (1) assault on a peace officer with a semi-automatic firearm, (1) possession of a non-registered loaded firearm in a vehicle, and (3) driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level exceeding .20% while having two prior convictions for DUI.
In the previous trial, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the attempted murder and felony resisting charges, voting 11 to 1 for guilt. The District Attorney elected to re-try Ammons on those charges resulting in this conviction.
“Today, justice was served when a local jury found Charles Nelson Ammons guilty of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer,” said Dow. “Law enforcement officers like Pismo Beach Police Officer Chris Siglin are courageous public servants who put their lives on the line to protect all of us every day. They deserve our appreciation and respect, and when they have been victimized, the criminal and victim justice system should provide justice for them, like it did today.”
Ammons is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 9 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Crystal T. Seiler presiding. Ammons, who has been in the custody of the San Luis Obispo County Jail since his arrest, faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years and 8 months plus 15 years to life in state prison.
This case was investigated by the Pismo Beach Police Department with the assistance of the Santa Maria Police Department, District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation Senior Investigator Herminio Rodriguez and was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Cameron Simoes assigned to the Crimes Against Peace Officers Prosecution Unit. Victim Advocates Beth Raub and Jennifer Love assisted Corporal Siglin through the justice process.
