By Linda Taaffe

The 24-year-old East Palo Alto man who threatened to shoot a guest during a birthday party at the American Legion Hall in Los Altos last month will spend four years in prison, a judge decided July 22.

Israel Aguilar pleaded guilty to threatening to kill another partygoer after an argument broke out between the two. He was charged with terrorist threats, assault with a deadly weapon and giving false information to police. This is Aguilar’s second strike. If convicted of a violent crime again, he could face 25 years to life in prison.

Los Altos police arrested Aguilar June 23 after someone reported a disturbance at the hall where a Redwood City woman was holding a birthday party for about 150 guests. She had rented the building for the event.

Arresting officer Sgt. Dennis Louckes said police discovered that Aguilar had allegedly pointed a gun at a man at the party and threatened to kill him. He also made threats against the man’s sister. Police arrested Aguilar even though the fight had broken up by the time police arrived, Louckes said.

During a computer fingerprinting analysis at the station, police discovered that Aguilar had given them a false name.

He had an extensive violent history and was wanted on a felony warrant for a parole violation, Louckes said.

Louckes said Aguilar appeared to have a reputation that party guests feared. No one wanted to speak out against him when police were trying to gather information during the arrest, Louckes said.

The district attorney filed the terrorist threat charge against Aguilar for telling the man and his sister that he was going to kill them while holding a gun.

The hall on First Street is regularly rented out for community events.

Police said that last month’s event was the first time there have been any problems reported at the hall. Police could ask the Legion to screen potential renters more closely, Louckes said.