Benjamin Valle sat motionless in a Fresno County courtroom this morning as an interpreter translated the judge's words. He received the maximum sentence and was also ordered to pay restitution to the taxi driver for his medical bills.
Prosecutors say he refused to pay his cab fare and shot 56-year-old Javier Gonzalez in the head in February 2009.
Gonzalez was in the courtroom for the sentencing. He says he has to use a cane to walk now and explained to the judge how his quality of life has declined since he was shot.
Valle had previously been arrested for crimes in three states and has twice been deported.
