RON FREITAS
District Attorney

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December 22, 2025

High-Ranking Nuestra Familia Member Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to 10 Years in State Prison

Pedro Fuentes, a high-ranking member (“Carnal”) of the Nuestra Familia and a shot caller for local in-custody Norteño gang members, pled guilty on December 11, 2025, to multiple felony charges stemming from gang-related violence and drug smuggling into a county jail.
December 22, 2025

60 Years to Life: District Attorney’s Office Announces Sentencing in Tragic 2022 Murder and Home Invasion

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced that Frederick Wesley has been sentenced to 60 years to life in state prison. The sentencing marks the conclusion of a violent March 2022 case that began with a hotel shooting in Lodi and ended in a fatal Stockton apartment invasion.
December 19, 2025

40-Years-to-Life Sentence for Getaway Driver in Violent 2022 Armed Robbery Spree

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced today that Brian Sewell has been sentenced by Judge Lance Jacot to 40 years to life in state prison. The sentencing follows Sewell’s August 2025 jury conviction on nine felony counts stemming from a violent 2022-armed robbery spree targeting businesses across two counties.
December 12, 2025

Robert Fuentez Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sexual Assault Charges, Faces State Prison Sentence and Lifetime Registration

Robert Fuentez pled guilty to two counts of attempted lewd acts upon a child (Penal Code §288(a)). Under the terms of the negotiated plea agreement, Mr. Fuentez faces a four-year state prison sentence. The conviction constitutes two-strike offenses under California’s Three Strikes Law and requires lifetime sex offender registration pursuant to Penal Code §290.
December 9, 2025

San Joaquin County Secures One of Its Largest Human Trafficking Sentences: Jesus Ramirez Gets 25 Years

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office announces the sentencing of Jesus Ramirez, who will serve 25 years in state prison for human trafficking, kidnapping, and violent assaults against two victims.
December 5, 2025

Stockton Man Sentenced to 10 Years in State Prison for Major Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking Operation

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced today that Guadalupe Felix, of Stockton, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty to multiple felony drug trafficking charges stemming from a large-scale narcotics operation.
November 25, 2025

Jury Finds Joaquin Cruz Guilty of Triple Murder in 2019 Stockton Gang-Related Shooting

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office announces that on November 24, 2025, a jury found Joaquin Cruz guilty of three counts of first-degree murder for the March 22, 2019, killings of siblings David and Tiffany Connary and 18-year-old Remilio Castillo in Stockton.
November 20, 2025

District Attorney Ron Freitas Announces Arraignment of Wesley Brownlee on Six Counts of Murder, One Count of Attempted Murder, and Related Charges

District Attorney Ron Freitas announced the arraignment of Wesley Brownlee, 43, who is charged with a total of six counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and multiple felony firearm-related enhancements in connection with a series of killings in San Joaquin County.
November 19, 2025

San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office Charges Two Individuals For Witness Tampering and Conspiracy Connected To The Nicholas Bloed Prosecution

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office charged two individuals: Mary Greenberg, 62 years of age, and Kramer Greenberg, 34 years of age, in connection with their attempts to tamper and prevent the testimony of a key witness in the prosecution of former Stockton Police Department Sergeant Nicholas Bloed.
November 17, 2025

San Joaquin County District Attorney Arraigns Four in Million-Dollar Jewelry Heist Cases

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announces that the following four defendants have been arraigned on felony charges stemming from the burglaries of Lodi Pawn & Jewelry in October and Alba Jewelry in Sacramento in June of 2025.
November 7, 2025

San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office Secures Rare Maximum 15-year Parole Denial For Convicted Serial Rapist Christopher Chessman

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announces that the California Board of Parole Hearings has denied parole to convicted serial rapist Christopher Chessman for the maximum 15 years, an extraordinarily rare outcome achieved through the SJCDA's strong opposition and a survivor’s courageous testimony.
November 7, 2025

Defendant Roxanne Helus Arraigned on Second-Degree Murder and Multiple Felony Child Abuse Charges; Held Without Bail

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announces Roxanne Denise Helus was arraigned in San Joaquin County Superior Court on one count of second-degree murder, and four felony counts of child abuse/endangerment. Following the arraignment, the Court ordered Helus remanded into custody with no bail, finding by clear and convincing evidence that no condition short of detention would reasonably protect public safety or ensure the defendant’s appearance in court. Helus faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the following charges:
November 6, 2025

Stockton Men Convicted of First-Degree Murder and Attempted Murder in Gang-Related Retaliatory Ambush

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced today that Dominique Naylor and Jeffery Stewart, both associates of the Sutter St. Crip criminal street gang, have been convicted by jury of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and first-degree burglary in connection with a deadly retaliatory ambush at a private residence on September 23, 2023.
November 6, 2025

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas Announces Arraignment of Cecilia Warren on Felony Charges

Cecilia Warren, former Executive Director of Creative Child Care, Inc. (CCCI), was arraigned on five felony counts for allegedly misappropriating $486,828.17 in public funds intended for Head Start and state preschool programs.
November 3, 2025

Scott Sherman Convicted of First-Degree Murder Following Drug- and Alcohol-Fueled Shooting

A San Joaquin County jury has found Scott Sherman, 40, guilty of first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Felix Makinano in Lodi on October 3, 2023.
November 3, 2025

Ripon Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Child Sexual Assault Charges, Facing 50 Years to Life

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announces that Douglas McCourt pled guilty to multiple felony counts of child sexual assault and admitted prior strike convictions, resulting in a total sentence of 50 years to life in state prison.
October 31, 2025

Joseph Marroquin Convicted of Possession of Stolen Vehicle and Identity Theft

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced yesterday that defendant Joseph Marroquin was convicted of multiple felony charges, including possession of a stolen vehicle and identity theft involving more than ten victims.
October 31, 2025

Serial Retail Thief Gets 32 Months-Thanks To San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office and Prop 36

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced today that Aaron German, 37, of Stockton, was sentenced to 32 months in state prison following his guilty plea to four felony counts stemming from a string of retail thefts committed in late September and mid-October 2025.
October 24, 2025

San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office Announces Sentencing in Major Fentanyl Case

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing of Jeam Carlos Bernal-Bojorquez in connection with a major fentanyl trafficking case.
October 24, 2025

San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Plea in Horrific Child Sexual Assault Case

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announces that Jorge Mellado-Ferusca has pleaded guilty to one count of Penal Code Section 288.7(a), sexual intercourse with a child 10 years of age or younger.