A Durango man who fired at least two gunshots near a densely populated neighborhood earlier this fall north of Durango has been sentenced to three years probation.

Samuel Navarro, 52, pleaded guilty to disorderly discharge of a firearm, a misdemeanor, in a plea agreement with the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed charges of robbery, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and prohibited use of a weapon while intoxicated.

The case was “overcharged” from the beginning and “cooler minds prevailed” in the end, said Navarro’s Durango defense lawyer, Richard Jaye.

The neighborhood disturbance began shortly after 10 a.m. Sept. 25 when neighbors called 911 to report gunshots being fired in the 34300 block of U.S. Highway 550 – an area north of Hermosa that includes Hermosa Hill Condominiums, Animas Village Apartments, and other townhomes and single-unit housing.

Neighbors said the man was shouting, cursing and claiming he shot someone.

The situation kicked off a two-hour response by law enforcement, which worked to calm Navarro and effectuate an arrest.

“He was totally out of it, and the police were very patient and calming,” said Linda M. Jones, a resident of the Animas Village Apartments, in an interview with The Durango Herald. “ … They were professional, they were kind and patient, but he was belligerent and wouldn’t stop.”

In a brief interview with the Herald shortly after the incident, Navarro, a Gulf War veteran, said he was struggling with a domestic situation and experienced a psychotic break the night of the shooting.

Less than a week after the shooting, his wife, Patricia Loaiza, 58, was arrested on suspicion of stabbing Navarro in the back with a knife.

She has been charged with attempted murder, assault, burglary, stalking, intimidation of a witness and four counts of violating a protection order, according to court records.

Loaiza remains at the La Plata County Jail on a $100,000 cash bail. Her next court appearance is set for Dec. 15.

Jaye, his attorney, said Navarro was in distress the night of the shooting and fired the gunshots as a cry for help. He peacefully surrendered after calming himself down, he said.

The robbery charge stemmed from Navarro asking to use someone’s cellphone while holding a gun, but he never pointed the gun at anyone or intended to rob anyone, Jaye said.

He said Navarro came “within inches” of being killed by his wife and is now a witness for prosecutors.

“You have to look at the total picture,” he said. “ … He’s a good guy. … He’s going to do well, he’s getting help, he’s getting treatment – everybody wins.”

During a brief interview Thursday, Navarro said he is grateful the felony robbery charge was dropped.

“I’m doing better. I’m all healed,” he said. “I’m almost back to 100%. Work is great.”

In addition to serving three years of probation, Navarro had to forfeit his firearms, including a .45 caliber handgun and .22 caliber rifle.

shane@durangoherald.com