Xavier Guadarrama

MAYVILLE – A Jamestown man is going to state prison for trying to kill a librarian.

On Monday, Chautauqua County Court Judge David Foley sentenced Xavier Guadarrama to 20 years.

In May a jury found Guadarrama, 23, guilty of second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree attempted assault.

On Aug. 23, 2022 Guadarrama took a bus to Mayville, entered the village library and stayed there until closing time.

When a staff member told him and other people that they were closing the library, he stabbed her and fled the scene.

Guadarrama was quickly located, taken into custody and identified shortly after the attack. During interviews, he said he tried to kill the librarian, which is why the charge went from assault to attempted murder.

Before the trial, Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey DiPalma, who prosecuted the case, said the attack was unprovoked. “He doesn’t know her, he’s just mad, he’s angry and he took it out on her,” he said.

During Guadarrama’s interview with police, he apparently made some comments about how he didn’t like the way she was looking at him.

While in the county jail before the trial, Guadarrama stabbed a chaplain with a pencil. He also attacked a guard.

Before the trial, DiPalma said the defense pleaded guilty “by reason of mental defect, which is considered the insanity defense.”

A hearing took place last year where it was determined Guadarrama was competent to stand trial.

Before sentencing on Monday, the defense argued that Guadarrama was “low functioning,” arguing for a lower sentence.

But Foley noted that argument was brought up at the trial and rejected by the jury. “That doesn’t absolve him,” he said from the bench.

Guadarrama chose not to speak before being sentenced.

The victim was in the courtroom. She chose not to speak but instead had submitted a statement for the court to review before sentencing.

She also declined to comment following the sentencing.

Before the attack on the librarian, Guadarrama had been arrested for arson and was out on probation.

Before handing down the sentence of 20 years, Foley said he is troubled by Guadarrama’s actions. “Given the fact that at his young age, he’s already a felon would indicate to me that there is little hope for Mr. Guadarrama would be in a position once he gets out to do anything except repeat this kind of behavior,” he said.

Still, the judge could have sentenced Guadarrama to the maximum 25 years.

Along with the 20 years in state prison, Guadarrama was sentenced to five years probation after he is released.

There were other charges that Guadarrama was sentenced as well, but those were made concurrent, meaning they will run the same as the 20-year sentence.

Guadarrama was sentenced 2-4 years for the two counts of second-degree attempted assault, which stemmed from the attack on the chaplain and the guard.

For second-degree assault he was sentenced to 4 years in prison. This charge came from the attack on the librarian.

For violation of probation he was sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years.

An order or protection was also issued, ordering Guadarrama stay away and not communicate with the victim until 2053. That order is designed to run 8 years after his release from prison.