Sonora, California –– Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke announced that on May 27, 2022, Jesse Serpa was sentenced to 10 years 4 months in State Prison.
On May 18, 2021, Mr. Serpa was driven to the residence of Benjamin Tarango where he proceeded to accuse Mr. Tarango of wrongdoing. Mr. Tarango denied the claim and told Mr. Serpa to leave his property. Mr. Tarango’s girlfriend also yelled at Mr. Serpa to leave. Mr. Serpa brandished a firearm and shot it into a nearby berm on the property. Mr. Serpa is a felon and is prohibited from owning a firearm. Deputies from the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office promptly responded and were able to locate Mr. Serpa who had fled the scene as well as the firearm that he had attempted to hide.
Mr. Serpa thereafter plead guilty to a violation of Penal Code section 246.3, Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, a strike, as well as a violation of Penal Code section 29800, Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The case was prosecuted by Stephanie Novelli.
