RON FREITAS
District Attorney
Office of the District Attorney
Protecting our community for 175 Years
Protecting our community for 175 Years
Ronald J. Freitas is the 42nd District Attorney to lead San Joaquin County’s chief law enforcement agency. This administration maintains a zero-tolerance approach to prosecuting criminals, working with local, state, and federal partners to create a safe and secure San Joaquin County for everyone.
"The mission of the District Attorney's Office is to bring justice and closure to victims of crime."
“True public safety requires a collaboration
between law enforcement and the community.” - Betsy Hodges
District Attorney Ron Freitas announced the arraignment of Wesley Brownlee, 43, who is charged with a total of six counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and multiple felony firearm-related enhancements in connection with a series of killings in San Joaquin County.
For the past 6 weeks, the San Joaquin District Attorney's Office has been presenting evidence in front of the Grand Jury. On November 19, 2025, that Grand Jury returned an indictment and on November 20, 2025, that indictment was unsealed.
Brownlee is alleged to have carried out a series of willful, deliberate, and premeditated murders, all in the 1st Degree, between April 2021 and October 2022, resulting in the deaths of:
Juan Vasquez-Serrano
Paul Yaw
Salvador Debudey
Johnathan Hernandez-Rodriguez
Juan Carlos Carranza-Cruz
Lawrence Lopez
In addition to the homicide counts, Brownlee is charged with:
One count of attempted murder of Natasha LaTour
These charges and special circumstances, keep him eligible for the death penalty.
The SJCDA would like to thank Chief Stanley McFadden and the Stockton Police Department, The Oakland Police Department and Housing Authority Police Department, the FBI and ATF, District Attorney Thien Ho and the Sac DA Crime Lab and Sara Morgan with DOJ.
From our office; the Victim Witness Division, Bureau of Investigations, Homicide team, Paralegal Michelle Vargas, DDA Elton Grau and Chief Beth O'Hara.
You can watch the full press conference below:
A Family Justice Center is a collaborative model of service delivery that brings together a range of resources and support services under one roof to better serve victims of Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault, Elder Abuse, Child Abuse, and Stalking.
The goal of a Family Justice Center is to provide comprehensive and coordinated support to individuals and families affected by abuse, helping them to feel safe and supported as they navigate the process of seeking help and rebuilding their lives.
Visit the Family Justice Center