A convicted murderer will now spend 19 years to life behind bars for the 2023 crash that killed Jesse Espino in Central Fresno.
36-year-old Shane Shahan sat with his head down in a Fresno County courtroom on Tuesday as he heard from the family of his victim, who did not want their faces shown.
“We are not the same people we were before that day. My parents have suffered the ultimate tragedy and I have lost my only sibling, the person I was supposed to grow old with,” Espino’s sister, Crystal said.
About a month ago, a jury found Shahan guilty of Espino’s murder.
That jury saw surveillance video of the crash, which shows Shahan run a red light at nearly 80 miles an hour on First and McKinley, ramming into Espino’s car.
Video also shows Shahan looking back at the wreck and running away.
“There was no phone call to 911, even though he had a cell phone,” Fresno County Judge Diaz said.
Espino was taken to the hospital, where he died.
“Seeing Jesse laying motionless on the hospital table… it’s an image I live with every day,” Espino’s father, Edward said through tears. “I kissed his forehead and said my last goodbye, knowing nothing will ever bring him back.”
Shahan has a history of alcohol-related driving crimes, and was behind the wheel with a suspended license.
Prosecutors claimed he had alcohol and marijuana in his system at the time.
“This is not just one bad decision. It was multiple bad decisions and selfish decisions,” Judge Diaz stated.
Shahan’s family pleading for a lesser sentence, saying he is remorseful and working to change.
“Shane was actively trying to address past mistakes and move forward in a positive direction. He wanted to grow, to mature,” Shahan’s wife Ryan said.
After hearing from both families, the judge handed down the maximum sentence.
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