[Photo:Fresno County DA’s Office]
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A Fresno jury finds a 26-year-old man guilty of second degree murder for shooting his girlfriend’s ex-husband.
On July 8, 2017, James Dean shot Augustine Velasco at a residence near Fresno City College.
Fresno Police say it happened when 43-year-old Velasco was attempting to assist with a child custody exchange of his granddaughter.
Dean admitted pulling the trigger but claimed it was in self-defense.
Dean was arrested on July 10th and was booked into the Fresno Jail.
Since being held in custody, Mr. Dean has been charged in two additional Criminal Complaints with Being in Possession of a Weapon while in a Custodial Facility. Those criminal charges remain pending.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office says Dean had a prior ‘strike’ for a residential burglary in 2013.
He faces up to 60 years to life in prison, during his sentencing in November.
Dean could be released after serving 25 years or upon reaching age 60 under the Elderly Parole Program.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
