Farmersville Gang Member Sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole for Drive by Murder
On May 3, 2024, in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Jermon Jackson, age 26, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for violent crimes spanning from 2017 and 2019, including murder.
On April 19, 2017, Jackson and other gang members conducted a drive-by shooting of rival gang members in the parking lot of an Ivanhoe apartment complex. One individual was hit and taken to the hospital where he was treated. Three days later, on April 22 around 4 pm, Jackson and two other gang members were in a car when they came upon a suspected rival gang member walking on the street in Ivanhoe. The car circled around the block before Jackson and another gang member opened fire on the victim, killing him. On December 28, 2019, Jackson was involved in a drive-by shooting at a residence in Farmersville. No one was hurt, but the shooting caused property damage.
Through investigation using cell phones, witness accounts, ballistic evidence, and prior contacts with Jackson, law enforcement officers were able to arrest Jackson for the crimes.
On September 13, 2023, a Tulare County jury convicted Jackson of murder, two counts of attempted murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and three counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Additionally, the jury found true the special circumstance of drive-by murder and the special allegations including that the crimes were violent, employed planning and sophistication, that a firearm was used, and the crimes caused great bodily injury. In accordance with AB 333 in a separate verdict on September 15, 2023, the jury convicted Jackson of two counts of criminal gang conspiracy, the special circumstance of street gang murder, and found true that numerous crimes were committed to benefit a criminal street gang.
While in custody in November 2021, Jackson committed an assault on another inmate with an improvised knife. In February of this year, Jackson pleaded to assault with a deadly weapon and the special allegations that he inflicted great bodily injury, and that the crime was for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
The case was prosecuted by Supervising Deputy District Attorney Kalina Laleva and was investigated by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department and the Farmersville Police Department.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494