A convicted murderer will now spend 19 years to life behind bars for the 2023 crash that killed Jesse Espino in Central Fresno.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
About a month ago, a jury found Shahan guilty of Espino’s murder.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Video also shows Shahan looking back at the wreck and running away.<\/p>\n
“There was no phone call to 911, even though he had a cell phone,” Fresno County Judge Diaz said.<\/p>\n
Espino was taken to the hospital, where he died.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Shahan has a history of alcohol-related driving crimes, and was behind the wheel with a suspended license.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors claimed he had alcohol and marijuana in his system at the time.<\/p>\n
“This is not just one bad decision. It was multiple bad decisions and selfish decisions,” Judge Diaz stated.<\/p>\n
Shahan’s family pleading for a lesser sentence, saying he is remorseful and working to change.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
After hearing from both families, the judge handed down the maximum sentence.<\/p>\n
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