Man Who Shot 21-Year-Old Girl In Mission Viejo Sentenced

MISSION VIEJO, CA — A 34-year-old Orange County man was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison for shooting a young woman in Mission Viejo.

Michael Nathan French pleaded guilty Aug. 3 to shooting at a car with a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury on the victim, according to county court records.

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French shot the 21-year-old victim, whose name was withheld, about 8 p.m. June 27, 2021, behind a business at Marguerite Parkway and La Paz Road, Orange County sheriff's deputies said.

Sheriff's deputies were called about a domestic violence incident about 7:30 p.m. in San Clemente, but when they arrived, French had left the scene, deputies said.

About 10 minutes later, sheriff's deputies were called about reckless driving by the driver of a pickup truck that matched the description of the vehicle French was seen driving away in, deputies said.

The victim saw French involved in a hit-and-run collision so she followed him, deputies said. The two had no prior relationship, he said.

French shot the victim, who was rushed to an area hospital, deputies said.

French abandoned the pickup truck and ran away, but was caught nearby after running up a hill, where a sheriff's helicopter pilot spotted him, deputies said.

French has 1,046 days credit behind bars before sentencing.

City News Service contributed to this report.