The Chula Vista man whose son brought a loaded revolver to school will undergo a psychological evaluation.
Zachariah Dow, 36, was scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday. Instead, the judge delayed sentencing to give the defense more time. Dow’s attorney said the doctor who can conduct the evaluation is only available next month. Sentencing has been rescheduled for Oct. 28.
On May 21, the suspect’s 14-year-old son brought a loaded, .44 caliber revolver to Hilltop High School, according to police. When officers served a search warrant at Dow’s home, they said they discovered another .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol unsecured under a bed.
The former sheriff’s deputy surrendered to authorities. He pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal storage of a firearm, a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, a felon in possession of ammunition and willful cruelty to a child without injury or death.
The defense hopes the mental evaluation will influence the judge to give Dow a lesser sentence. Defense Attorney David Gutierrez says his client is remorseful.
“He's holding down a job. He's holding down his household. His fiancee is by his side the whole time. His family is beside him. So he has a lot of positive things in him,” Gutierrez said. “I think all that is going to benefit him and in analyzing how he will be sentenced.
Dow faces a maximum of eight years in prison.
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The 14-year-old boy was taken to juvenile hall after the incident and remains in counseling, Gutierrez says.
