MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR DRIVE-BY SHOOTING ON 91 FREEWAY

Case # 14NF3221

Date: July 21, 2017

MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR DRIVE-BY SHOOTING ON 91 FREEWAY

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to five years in state prison for shooting at a man in another car on the 91 Freeway.

Defendant

Charges

Sentence

Jerry Valentin, 35, Scottsdale, Arizona

Pleaded guilty on April 12, 2017, to:

  • One felony count assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm
  • Sentencing enhancement for personal use of a firearm

Five years in state prison

Circumstances of the Case

  • At approximately 4:20 p.m. on Aug. 4, 2014, Valentin drove eastbound on the 91 Freeway near the Interstate 5 interchange in Fullerton.
  • The defendant swerved his vehicle toward a sports utility vehicle (SUV) being driven by John Doe.
  • Valentin drove alongside the SUV and using a handgun, loaded with shotgun rounds, to fire at least one round at the driver’s side of the victim’s SUV.
  • Valentin hit the victim in the arm and torso as a result of the pellets fired from the shotgun round.
  • The defendant discarded the gun on the freeway and drove away from the scene.
  • The victim called 911 and continued to follow the defendant’s vehicle.
  • At approximately 4:45 p.m. the California Highway Patrol (CHP) stopped a vehicle matching the description of the defendant’s vehicle on the eastbound 91 Freeway near the 241 toll road interchange.
  • The Fullerton Police Department arrested the defendant and investigated this case.

Prosecutor: Deputy District Attorney Susan Laird, Special Prosecutions Unit