Lynn man pleads to firearms charges, gets 8 years

SALEM – A Lynn man who admitted shooting another man in the stomach during a gang-related drive-by incident last year will spend eight years behind bars and be on probation for 15 years.Kevin Terrero, 21, of 382 Chestnut St., made his plea Thursday afternoon in Salem Superior Court, pleading guilty to armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, carrying a firearm without a license, subsequent offense, being a felon in possession of a firearm having one prior violent conviction, and other charges, before Judge Timothy Q. Feeley.The judge adopted the joint recommendation offered by Assistant District Attorney Kristen R. Buxton and defense lawyer Gary Zerola.The probationary term imposed begins immediately. In essence Terrero will be on probation until Dec. 8, 2026 at which time he is not to have any gang affiliations, stay away from his accuser, be evaluated for substance abuse and treatment with counseling and random screenings.?What I did that night was a horrible mistake,” Terrero said, apologizing, adding that he was sorry to his own family, who were present, and the victim and their family, who were not.The incident occurred at 45 Oneida St., on May 31, 2010 at about 1:15 p.m. when Terrero, driving a blue Honda Accord, fired shots into another car, striking 20-year-old Sophy Chhum in the stomach. The weapon was never recovered and Chhum received significant injuries.Police recovered a Honda Accord later on Ocean Street registered to Terrero?s mother, according to reports.Buxton told Feeley the incident was gang-related and that Terrero was a member of the Deuce Boyz Soldiers gang and Chhum of the Asian Street Walkers, an affiliation of the Crips gang.Terrero was indicted by an Essex County grand jury last December and has been held in custody in lieu of bail since. He will receive credit of time served while awaiting trial.