RON FREITAS
District Attorney
Office of the District Attorney
Protecting our community for 175 Years
Protecting our community for 175 Years
Breaking News
June 11, 2026
Repeat Felon Sentenced to Nearly Eight Years in State Prison for Firearms and Narcotics Offenses
Defendant Brett Blaisure resolved three active cases in San Joaquin County by pleading no contest to multiple felony charges involving illegal firearms and narcotics.
June 9, 2026
Daycare Operator Pleads Guilty in Child Endangerment and Involuntary Manslaughter Case
Roxanne Helus, owner and operator of a licensed residential daycare facility in Manteca, pleaded guilty on June 8, 2026, to felony child abuse/endangerment, involuntary manslaughter, and misdemeanor driving under the influence. The convictions stem from the death of a five-month-old child and the endangerment of multiple children entrusted to her care while operating the daycare facility.
June 9, 2026
Alejandro Duran Mercado Sentenced to 40 Years to Life for 2021 Lodi Murder
District Attorney Ron Freitas announced that Alejandro Duran Mercado has been sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison for the second-degree murder of 29-year-old Cenobio Nicholas "Nick" Gallegos. The sentencing, held before the Honorable Judge Mallett, finalized a case involving a senseless 2021 daylight shooting in Lodi.
June 1, 2026
Manteca Man Sentenced to 24 Years in State Prison for Forcible Sexual Abuse of Child
Defendant Jesus Antonio Tovar, 28, was sentenced on May 29, 2026, by the Honorable Roy Hashimoto to 24 years in state prison after pleading guilty to three counts of Forcible Lewd Acts with a Child (Penal Code section 288(b)), felonies and strike offenses under California’s Three Strikes Law.
June 1, 2026
Defendant Held to Answer for Attempted Murder of Peace Officer and Arson Attacks
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announces that defendant Adam Lopez has been held to answer on charges following a preliminary hearing regarding a violent attack involving gasoline and fire on July 10, 2025.
May 21, 2026
Manvir Singh Arraigned for Fatal Hit-and-Run; District Attorney Files Felony Charges
District Attorney Ron Freitas announced the arraignment of Manvir Singh this afternoon in the San Joaquin Superior Court. Singh faces multiple felony counts following a fatal multi-vehicle collision that occurred on May 19, 2026, on Northbound Highway 99 near Harney Lane in Lodi.
May 21, 2026
CASE UPDATE: State Charges Dismissed Against Steven Rodriguez in Lieu of Federal Prosecution
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced today that state charges against Steven Rodriguez, 57, have been dismissed in lieu of the defendant being referred for federal prosecution.
May 20, 2026
Rene Vega Sentenced to Life Plus 14 Years for Brutal Tracy AMPM Attack
A violent and unprovoked attack at a Tracy AMPM in the early morning hours of May 21, 2022, has resulted in a life sentence for defendant Rene Vega.
May 15, 2026
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 6 Years Following Major Narcotics and Firearms Seizure
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced that Joseph Estrada, a convicted felon, has been sentenced to six years in state prison following a substantial narcotics investigation.
May 12, 2026
Compassionate Release Recipient Arraigned After Arrest for Alleged Possession of Sawed-Off Shotgun Months After Prison Release
A convicted violent offender who was granted compassionate release from state prison after claiming he was terminally ill has now been arrested again after allegedly being found driving with a sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, and stolen license plates.
May 6, 2026
District Attorney Ron Freitas Announces Conviction in Violent Family Shooting; Jury Rejects Self-Defense Claim
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced that a jury has found Kenneth Ernesto “Ernie” Mejia, 23, guilty on multiple felony counts, including second-degree murder and attempted murder, stemming from a November 2024 wave of violence against his own family members.
May 1, 2026
Joshua Ramirez Pleads Guilty to Multiple Felony Charges Involving Minor Victims and Narcotics
On April 21, 2026, defendant Joshua Ramirez entered a plea to multiple felony charges.
April 28, 2026
Jury Reconvicts Alejandro Duran Mercado of Second-Degree Murder in Lodi Shooting Case
The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office announced that Alejandro Duran Mercado has been convicted of second-degree murder following a retrial.
April 27, 2026
San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office Secures Justice in 2022 Stockton Home Invasion and Murder
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced today that Draygo Peraza has been sentenced to 21 years in state prison, following the recent conviction of Rosantito Castaneda for the January 2022 robbery and murder of Remo Serbo.
April 27, 2026
Three Defendants Arraigned Following Major Narcotics Seizure During Traffic Stop
On April 18, 2026, officers with the Tracy Police Department conducted a traffic enforcement stop on an SUV traveling southbound on Interstate 5. During the stop, K9 Officer Niko alerted to the presence of narcotics.
April 27, 2026
People v. Donald Lee Clark
Arraignment in People v. Donald Lee Clark for the 1994 murders of Lawrence "Larry" Loehr and Eugene Cates
April 21, 2026
San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office Secures 50-Year to Life Sentence in Multi-Victim Child Abuse Case
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced that Gerardo Antonio Garcia Aguilar has been sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison, following his conviction on five counts of lewd acts upon a minor. The sentencing, handed down by the Honorable Judge Villapudua, marks the conclusion of a case involving a nearly 20-year cycle of abuse against three separate victims.
April 16, 2026
Sergio Sanchez Horta Arraigned on Multiple Violent Felony Charges
Sergio Sanchez Horta was arraigned on Monday, April 13, 2026, on numerous serious felony charges stemming from two separate violent incidents involving an adult and a juvenile victim, following a multi-agency investigation involving the Stockton Police Department and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office.
April 10, 2026
Stockton Man Sentenced to 32 Years for Sex Trafficking Minors from Local Foster Youth Facility
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced today that 29-year-old Stockton man, David Hall, has been sentenced to 32 years in state prison for the sex trafficking of multiple minors from a local foster youth residential facility. In addition to his prison term, the defendant will be required to register as a sex offender under Penal Code 290 for the rest of his life.
March 31, 2026
Stockton Man Found Guilty of Sex Trafficking Minors from Local Foster Youth Residential Facility
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced today that David Hall has been found guilty of the sex trafficking and abuse of multiple minors, ranging in age from 12 to 17, who were residing at a local Stockton foster youth residential facility.