A Fresno man convicted in a fatal robbery that left a 34-year-old victim dead was sentenced Tuesday to more than 23 years in state prison, bringing a years-long criminal case to a close.<\/p>\n
Michael Fitch was sentenced in Fresno County Superior Court to a total term of 23 years and four months for the killing of Cory Smith during an attempted carjacking in southeast Fresno.<\/p>\n
The case stems from March 2021, when police responded to reports of an attempted carjacking near Pierce and Montecito avenues.<\/p>\n
Officers found Smith suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.<\/p>\n
Investigators worked the case for more than a year before undercover detectives arrested Fitch in May 2022.<\/p>\n
During Tuesday’s hearing, Smith’s mother, Shannon Pulce, attended virtually as the court prepared to impose its sentence.<\/p>\n
Before the ruling, Senior Deputy District Attorney Samantha Dukes read a victim impact statement written by Pulce.<\/p>\n
“I believe in an eye for an eye. I’m filled with a heavy sense of hate and a desire for vengeance against Michael Finch,” Dukes read from the letter.<\/p>\n
Pulce described her son as a compassionate and loyal person whose loss continues to affect those who knew him.<\/p>\n
“Just days ago, he would have celebrated his 40th birthday. Instead of celebrating that milestone with him, I am standing in a courtroom demanding justice for his murder,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
As the statement was read, Fitch stood before the court and appeared emotionless.<\/p>\n
Pulce told the court that the impact of the crime extended beyond the loss of her son, writing that the family’s grief contributed to another tragedy.<\/p>\n
“When my son’s life was taken, it didn’t just kill Corey; it destroyed my life and shattered our entire family. The grief was so consuming that it led Corey’s father to take his own life,” Dukes read.<\/p>\n
With Tuesday’s sentencing, the criminal proceedings against Fitch concluded more than five years after the shooting that claimed Smith’s life.<\/p>\n
For news updates, follow Vincent Camarillo on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n