Sonora, California –– Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke announced today that on January 14, 2025, James Owsley were sentenced to 5 years 4 months State Prison. Mr. Owsley was sentenced after pleading guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felon in Possession of Ammunition and Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale.
On December 1, 2024, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s deputies responded to investigate Mr. Owsley for a violation of an emergency protective order. Mr. Owsley was contacted in a shed that he had been residing within. A search of the shed and his vehicle revealed over 100 grams of methamphetamine as well as cocaine and fentanyl. Drug packaging, drug paraphernalia, scales and various types of ammunition were also located. On December 4, 2024, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Narcotics Team (TNT) served a warrant on Mr. Owsley’s unit at Purely Storage and located a loaded 9mm Glock firearm. Mr. Owsley pled guilty on December 17, 2024.
As a part of their plea, Mr. Owsley were read and acknowledged the following Fentanyl Advisement: “You are hereby advised, illegally selling or furnishing controlled substances carries with it the specific risk that you are providing drugs laced with a potentially lethal substance and are hereby advised that if you personally provide or aid someone else with providing these drugs to a person, and a person dies as a result of ingesting a fentanyl-laced product, you can be charged with manslaughter or murder.” With the November 2024 passage of Proposition 36, these advisements are now required by law; however, Tuolumne County District Attorney’s Office began giving them in the past year prior to the law passage.
If you have any information regarding drug sales in our community, please contact the TNT tip line at (209) 533-5884.
For More Information Contact:
Stephanie Novelli—Assistant District Attorney
Phone: (209) 588-5450
