FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The convicted killer behind a deadly Northeast Fresno shooting learned his fate in court Thursday.<\/p>\n
Clarence Houghton sat silent during his sentencing, as the family of 17-year-old Darion Wheeler shared the impact of the young life lost.<\/p>\n
“He made me live one of my biggest fears, speaking at someone’s funeral I’m most closest to,” said Wheeler’s niece Sha’nyah Reed, still shaken by the tragedy.<\/p>\n
She was just one of dozens of family members in the courtroom, eagerly waiting as the justice they had waited five years for finally came.<\/p>\n
After all this time, Wheeler’s sister Kadesia Travis is still longing for answers.<\/p>\n
“I want to say I forgive him, because I’m a forgiving person, but sometimes I still ask ‘why’ without understanding,” Travis said to the judge.<\/p>\n
Investigators say in December 2021, Houghton met Wheeler near the intersection of Angus and Barstow to buy marijuana.<\/p>\n
The transaction quickly turned deadly when Houghton shot the teen and drove off.<\/p>\n
It would take investigators almost a year to track Houghton down, finally arresting him in Nevada in 2022.<\/p>\n
And now Houghton has been sentenced for second-degree murder.<\/p>\n
The judge ordered a total aggregate prison sentence of 18 years to life.<\/p>\n
Outside, Wheeler’s family was able to leave the trial behind and focus on fond memories.<\/p>\n
“He was definitely a person you could go to for laughter; his jokes were so unmatched,” Reed said. “Funniest person I knew.”<\/p>\n
Given the nature of the charges, the judge decided to make Houghton ineligible for probation.<\/p>\n
He’ll spend at least 18 years in state prison before becoming eligible for parole.<\/p>\n
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