Fresno man facing life in prison for double murder makes a deal. Here’s time he’ll serve
A Fresno man accused of shooting three people in 2018, two fatally, has agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors that will send him to prison for 18 years.
Christopher Lenore Sanders, 21, pleaded no contest Friday to two counts of voluntary manslaughter with a firearm, plus assault with a firearm with great bodily injury.
Sanders, who was 18 at the time of the shooting, is accused of killing Jesse Villanueva, 28, and Peniamina “Ben” Romero, 17 after an apparent dispute outside of the West Shaw Estates condominiums near Shaw and Marks avenues on July 30, 2018.
Police said Romero’s 13-year-old nephew witnessed the confrontation while sitting in a car with Villanueva. The 13-year-old told police they were waiting for his uncle when he saw two men approach Romero. He could hear an argument going on, so he and Villanueva got out of the car.
The 13-year-old said he later saw Sanders shake hands with his uncle and with Villanueva.
A second witness told a slightly different version of the encounter. He said Sanders told him that Romero and Villanueva were going to beat Sanders up. That witness then walked with Sanders to talk with Romero and Villanueva.
As the witness was turning to leave, he heard gunfire and looked to see Sanders shooting at three people, Romero, Villanueva and Romero’s nephew, police said during the preliminary hearing.
Romero and Villanueva died from their injuries, the nephew survived.
Sanders was scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 26, where he potentially faced life in prison without the possibility of parole, if he was found guilty of the original charges, including two counts of murder.
Prosecutor Tim Galstan said it took several weeks to come to an agreement that will send Sanders to prison for 18 years. He will be eligible for parole after he serves his complete sentence.
Sanders’ defense attorney is Miles Harris. Sanders is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 15 in Dept. 33.
