Man charged with attacking a mail carrier during botched robbery to be sentenced

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- In a federal court room James Gonzalez-Gay will go before a judge for his sentencing. He faces up to 10 years in prison, but could face up to life in prison for another crime investigators believe he was involved in.

Gonzalez-Gay has pleaded guilty to assaulting a mail carrier with the intent to commit robbery. Officials said last September he jumped on the back of a mail truck in Southeast Fresno. He then pulled the carrier out of the truck and drove away. The mail carrier was able to catch up to the truck.

Authorities said Gonzalez-Gay then elbowed the carrier in the face. The carrier was able to grab the keys from the ignition and escape to safety.

Gonzalez-Gay was later stopped by officers and on him they found parts of a handgun. However officers said he is actually not allowed to have a firearm because he's a convicted felon.

For the crime against the mail carrier he faces up to 10 years in prison. But Gonzalez-Gay is also charged in another case-- this one in criminal court.

Just last month he pleaded "not guilty" in the death of 22-year old Breanna Bradford. Investigators said Gonzales-Gay was Bradford's former boyfriend. He was the last person to be seen with her before her body was found in her car just a couple days after the attempted mail carrier theft.

If convicted in Bradford's death, Gonzalez-Gay could spend 100 years to life in prison for that case.

Fresno Police Department said that Gonzalez- gay is a known gang member and was paroled from prison back in 2016 and has a long criminal history.