Fresno man sentenced to prison for killing his mother
Prosecutors say Javier Sanchez was living with his mother, Sylvia Valencia, after he lost his job as a City of Fresno maintenance worker. The victim started arguing with his son, who had been drinking and using drugs.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno man who at first told police he was insane when he shot and killed his mother, was sentence to 40 years to life in prison for the crime.
Javier Sanchez was brought to tears as a victim's advocate read a letter by his sister, Primavera Dammes. Sanchez was convicted of shooting his mother four times back in August of 2013. Sanchez was overcome with emotion when he heard the statement by his sister, especially when she talked about how their mother always cared for Sanchez.
Primavera Dammes said in a statement, "Even as an adult when his life would get rough, Mom was always there for him. How could he kill the one person that had always loved and cared for him?"
In fact, prosecutors say Sanchez was living with his mother, Sylvia Valencia, after he lost his job as a City of Fresno maintenance worker. The victim started arguing with her son, who had been drinking and using drugs.
Prosecutor Ron Wells explained, "It had been boiling under the surface, 'Hey, you're 30 years old. You need to get on with your life' and they had an argument and that's how he responded."
Valencia was killed with her own gun. Defense attorneys say Sanchez, who withdrew his plea of "Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity" after a jury found him guilty of the murder, has accepted his responsibility for the crime and the punishment that goes with it.
Defense attorney Jane Boulger said, "He really was moved by the letter from his sister and it helped him move along. He feels better. He knows he did a terrible thing and he wishes he could take it back but, of course, he can't."
Dammes said in her statement, "The truth is, I'm without a mom, my children are without their Nana and my brother is to blame."
In her letter, Dammes said she still loves her brother but has not forgiven him. She said the pain of losing her mother shattered her world and the world of her three children.
Dammes wrote, "I will always love my beautiful mom. I will keep her spirit alive for my children. I will live my life in her memory."
