Sentence Reduced for Juvenile in 2023 Dinuba Murder
A Tulare County Superior Court judge has reduced the sentence of a 16-year-old minor who admitted to the 2023 murder of Orosi teacher Sergio Martin.
On July 16, 2025, in Department 21 of the South County Justice Center, the court reduced the minor’s sentence by two months, citing positive behavior toward rehabilitation outlined in Welfare and Institutions code 875(b)(1). Another review of the minor’s progress is scheduled for December, when the court may issue a further reduction.
Prosecutors objected to the reduction.
“Once again, the lack of truth in sentencing in California is on full display, even in cases concerning violent juvenile offenders,” said Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward. “In this case, California law did not permit prosecutors the ability to try the minor as an adult (SB 1391). Now, thanks to other lenient laws, a family, whose son was murdered during a home robbery, are denied answers to the most basic questions – how long will their child’s murderer be in custody? How many more court hearings will the minor receive for further sentence reductions? They deserve better.”
In August 2024, the minor admitted to the murder with special allegations that that crime was committed during a burglary and that a firearm was used. He further admitted to receiving stolen property. A few months later in December 2024, the minor was sentenced to custody for 7 years or up to the age of 25, the maximum allowed under California law.
Just after midnight on November 6, 2023, the juvenile, age 15 at the time, entered Martin’s Dinuba home to commit a burglary. When confronted by Martin, the juvenile shot him multiple times and fled the residence. A few hours later, the minor returned to the crime scene with two male adults with the intent to retrieve the firearm and other property. A neighbor observed the individuals leaving the residence and called police, who found Martin deceased. The juvenile was identified through video surveillance and located at his residence. Evidence did not reveal that Martin was known to his assailant.
“There is a growing voice of concern in California regarding overly lenient punishment for violent juvenile offenders. Unfortunately, this case, even in its unspeakable degree of violence, is an example of this leniency in our juvenile courts. To have the court reduce this murderer’s sentence despite the fact he had incident violations while in custody clearly sends the wrong message not only to the minor but the victim’s family and the community as well who expect actual consequences for violent crime committed in their neighborhoods,” Ward continued.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Communications Director Stuart Anderson (559) 636-5494