FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A 42 year-old man convicted in a series of random shootings in West Fresno County is sentenced to centuries behind bars.
Jorge Javier Gracia is sentenced to 354 years to life in prison for 19 felony charges.
The weight of his sentence due to his two prior strikes and enhancements, after he went on a crime spree in late 2017.
Gracia randomly fired at 10 cars throughout Fresno and Madera Counties, bullets narrowly missing a child in a car seat.
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said Gracia was taken in on January 8, 2018 when an off-duty California Department of Corrections officer was reported being threatened with a firearm. Police established the truck the suspect was driving was similar to the one Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputies were looking for. Forensic evidence helped them to connect the dots. “We were able to match up the ballistics with the gun,” said Sheriff Mims.
In announcing his arrest back in January, Sheriff Mims said the public played a crucial role.
“Because Crime Stopper’s telephone started ringing off the hook as soon as we put this out,” said Sheriff Mims. “It’s exactly what we need to run down the information to ensure that we hold people responsible.”
Gracia was also convicted of rape in 1997, and assault with intent to commit rape in 1999.
He now faces additional counts in Madera county, that could add more years to his time in prison.
The Fresno County DA’s Office said Gracia upon reaching age sixty (60) and after serving twenty-five (25) years, Gracia will be eligible for early release under the Elderly Parole Program.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’S Liz Kern:
