Today, the Honorable Judge Kathy Montejano sentenced 20-year-old Jesus Camilo Sanchez, of Tulare, to 25 years in state prison for two counts of attempted murder with firearm discharge, having a concealed firearm, and being an active participant in a criminal street gang. The defendant pled no contest to the charges on February 19, 2010.

On February 4, 2009, the defendant drove fellow gang members to a rival gang member’s house around 1:20 a.m. Once there, the gang members proceeded to fire multiple rounds into the residence hitting the 15-year-old victim. The gang member suspects then ran back to the defendant’s vehicle and drove out of the city in an unreported direction. The victim received a gunshot wound to the leg, but recovered from his injuries.

One month later on March 24, 2009 at around 2:00 p.m., Tulare Police Department officers were, again, called out to a drive-by shooting at a different location within the city of Tulare. At the time, 15-year-old Victim #2 was walking down the street when he was shot in the arm. The victim recovered fully from his injuries, as well.

On April 8, 2009, Detective Guzman contacted the defendant on a traffic stop. The defendant had in his possession a concealed firearm in his vehicle. After further investigation, Tulare Police Department tied the defendant to both shootings. In each, the defendant was the driver. The shooters have never been identified.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Paul Greco and investigated by Detective Guzman of the Tulare Police Department.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney, Shani D. Jenkins, (559) 733-6411.