Tulare man gets 50 years to life in drug theft murder
A Tulare man who admitted to killing a man has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.
James Timothy Silas, Jr., 20, pleaded guilty to one count of murder with the special allegation of using a gun.
He received 25 years to life for the murder, and 25 years to life for the special allegation, the District Attorney’s Office said.
On the night of Jan. 8, 2014, Silas met Eric Osborne, 32, of Clovis, and a friend in the parking lot of Whitendale Park in Visalia to buy marijuana.
After viewing the marijuana in a car trunk, Silas said, “This is a robbery!” and shot the victim in the head, the District Attorney’s Office said.
Silas and others with him stole the marijuana, Visalia police said. The victim’s friend fled but returned to aid police in the investigation.
Silas was arrested five months later in Lubbock, Texas, after a traffic stop.
Lewis Griswold: 559-441-6104, @fb_LewGriswold
This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Tulare man gets 50 years to life in drug theft murder."