Ex-Border Patrol agent guilty of attempted murder

By Dana Littlefield
February 2, 2011 at 4:14 p.m.

Vista — A former Border Patrol agent accused of attacking two people with hatchets in an Escondido home, mistakenly believing that he had targeted his estranged wife and her boyfriend, was convicted Wednesday on two counts of premeditated attempted murder.

Gamalier Reyes Rivera, 34, was tried in Vista Superior Court in connection with the July, 9, 2009, attack, which left Chris Anguiano and his then-girlfriend, Samantha Shaffer, with multiple injuries. Anguiano, now 31, suffered more than eight deep cuts to his face, neck and back. He is now blind and has lasting brain damage.

Shaffer, now 23, was hit several times in the legs and feet. The tip of one of her toes was severed.

The jury deliberated about almost a day and a half before reaching a verdict.

In addition to the attempted murder charges, Rivera was found guilty of two counts of aggravated mayhem, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and burglary. He was acquitted of two counts of torture against Anguiano and Shaffer.

Prosecutor George Loyd argued during the trial that Rivera’s intended targets the morning of the attack were his wife, Erika Von Der Heyde, and her boyfriend, Jesus Vinas, who were living together in the house on Upas Street.

Loyd said Rivera had been plotting to hurt his wife since 2005, when she found a distressing “to-do listâ€