In a tense moment on Thursday, a convicted killer came face-to-face with his victim’s loved ones.
“Days that should be completely happy have an undertone of sadness,” Jasmine Roman said.
Roman became a widow after Christian Lavin gunned down her husband, Roberto, in Northeast Fresno.
“Everything he did in his life was to make sure I and our future children were comfortable and happy,” Roman said. “Christian robbed us of that.”
Lavin and Roberto, former Marines, were friends when detectives say the two began wrestling after a night of drinking.
Their friendly brawl last April quickly turned deadly.
“After he lost the second wrestling match, he was going to ensure he didn’t lose a third,” Prosecutor Kaitlin Drake said.
A jury convicted Lavin of first-degree murder in May, teeing up Thursday’s sentencing, where he faced 50 years to life.
“This young man, my son, doesn’t deserve to spend the next 50 years in prison,” Lavin’s father, Patrick, said. “He just doesn’t.”
Lavin’s father pleaded with the judge, saying he understood the gravity of the crime, but hoped his son could one day walk free.
“I respectfully ask that the court take Christian’s service, his character, and demonstrated commitment to responsibility into consideration,” Patrick said.
Prosecutors fired back and said Lavin’s military service plays to their side, arguing Lavin knew the dangers of firearms better than anybody.
He is a former Marine once assigned to protect the president.
“He, too, testified about knowing the danger of alcohol and firearms, and it’s the people’s position, made the conscious decision to arm himself,” Drake said.
The judge ultimately sentenced Lavin to 35 years to life in prison.
After a failed last-ditch effort to request a new trial, Lavin appeared to accept his fate.
“I do have great integrity, and that’s why I’m here to answer for what I did,” Lavin said. “There’s obviously been a ruling on that.”
He now has 60 days to appeal his sentence.
For news updates, follow Gabe Ferris on Facebook, X and Instagram.