Plea bargain reached in Santa Rosa bar shooting

A man charged with shooting a Santa Rosa nightclub bouncer after being ejected for causing a disturbance reached a plea bargain Friday that will lead to a 19-year prison sentence.

David Montano, 27, pleaded no contest to attempted murder and use of a gun in exchange for the dismissal of other charges that together carried life in prison.

Montano’s plea came as both sides were about to start picking a jury for his trial. Prosecutors alleged he shot Epic Social Lounge bouncer Silivaai Aiono, then 24, during an altercation outside the Mendocino Avenue club in July 2013. Aiono survived, but was hospitalized for eight days with a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Montano was arrested after police said he fled to Sacramento. He was identified in part by unusual tattoos on his face.

On Thursday, the judge agreed to warn jurors not to make assumptions about Montano’s character based on one of the tattoos - an upside-down cross. The tattoo was to be considered only for identification purposes.

Now, Montano, an ex-convict, will be sentenced to prison March 2. Under state law, he will be eligible for release after serving 85 percent of his time.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.