San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced today that Brian Sewell has been sentenced by Judge Lance Jacot to 40 years to life in state prison. The sentencing follows Sewell’s August 2025 jury conviction on nine felony counts stemming from a violent 2022-armed robbery spree targeting businesses across two counties.

Between August and October 2022, Sewell served as the getaway driver for several robberies and personally committed an armed robbery at the Sports Stop in Waterford. The crime spree turned nearly fatal on October 10, 2022, when co-defendant Andre Brooks shot an 18 year old Family Dollar clerk multiple times with a 9mm Glock modified into a fully automatic machine gun. While the victim survived life-threatening injuries, Sewell was convicted of nine felonies, including possession of the machine gun used in the shooting.

“In San Joaquin County, my administration is making crime illegal again,” said District Attorney Ron Freitas. “This 40-year sentence is a rock-solid guarantee that if you terrorize this community, you will pay the price. My office has zero tolerance for violence, and we will always put the safety of our families first.”

Key Case Information:

The Sentence: 40 years to life

The Convictions: Nine felony counts, including robbery, conspiracy, and possession of a machine gun. Three convictions qualify as new "strikes."

Conduct: While awaiting trial, Sewell committed 44 jail rules violations, including assaults and possession of contraband.

This conviction was the result of a robust multi-agency effort involving the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, Stockton Police Department, Escalon Police Department, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oakdale Police Department. District Attorney Freitas specifically recognizes lead investigator Detective Steve Jacobson (SJSO) for his pivotal role in the investigation. Expert testimony from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) was also crucial to the case, provided by firearms expert Ronald Welsh and cellular data expert Reva Headley.

The prosecution of this complex case required the coordination of over 50 witnesses. District Attorney Freitas extends his deepest gratitude to Deputy District Attorney Morgan Hendley for her outstanding work; to Victim Advocate Jordan Whittle for her exceptional support of the victims; and to the coordination team of Cortney Pignon, Liza Lopez, Jordan Whittle, and District Attorney Investigators (DAI) for their tireless efforts in managing the extensive witness list.

Co-defendant Andre Brooks is scheduled for trial in March 2026.