Suspect admits attacking attorney

A Chula Vista man who sliced the face of his attorney during his Dec. 13 trial pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated mayhem and faces 20 years to life in prison—which would be added towards two other sentences.

Eduardo Alberto Macias, 33, shocked a jury and courtroom when he used a razor to cut the face of attorney William Burgener on Dec. 13, 2012. Burgener was defending Macias on an attempted murder charge involving a 2010 assault in prison.

The incident occurred when about a dozen students from Grossmont High School were in the audience that day in San Diego Superior Court. Deputies removed him, and Burgener was taken off the case. Macias later acted as his own attorney, and the same jury who saw the slashing convicted him of the unrelated attempted murder and assault.
Sentencing for the attorney mayhem and the 2010 incident is set for May 21 before Judge Peter Deddeh, but Deputy District Attorney Dana Greisen said the sentencing will be delayed.

Macias is already serving a 26-year sentence for killing a man in National City in 2007. Macias pleaded guilty in March, 2010, to voluntary manslaughter in the May 20, 2007, shooting death of Angel Torres, 30.

Torres was shot multiple times. Macias also pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine for sale and driving recklessly while evading National City Police. He was sentenced to 26 years and four months in prison.

Macias was transferred to R.J. Donovan State Prison where the attack occurred on another prisoner some months after he was transferred there.

He remains in jail without bail.