Life Sentence Handed Down in Dairyman’s Murder

Today in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court in Visalia, the court sentenced Visalia man Jorge Rivera, age 29, to 50 years-to-life in prison for the 2019 shooting death of local dairyman Anthony “Tony” Dragt.

On September 3, 2019, Rivera, an ex-employee of the victim, shot the victim multiple times with a 9mm handgun at a dairy located in the 10100 block of Avenue 352. Witness accounts provided to detectives stated that Rivera was looking for the victim, and that a car similar to Rivera’s was seen on surveillance leaving the area after the crime. Rivera was located and arrested several hours later near Richgrove driving the same vehicle.  When searched by law enforcement, several firearms were located within the vehicle including an AR-15 and the murder weapon. 

On February 15, 2023, prosecutors secured a guilty verdict of first-degree murder with the special allegations of personal use of a firearm and personal discharge of a firearm, felony possession of an assault weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The case was prosecuted by Supervising Deputy District Attorney Jessica Weatherly and was investigated by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Supervising Deputy District Attorney Jessica Weatherly (559) 636-5494