Life Without Parole Sentence in Drug Robbery Killing
Today in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court in Visalia, the court sentenced Noah Fox, age 23, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2017 murder of a 19-year-old man during a drug robbery in Visalia.
On May 28, 2017, Fox and Kalvin Solis, age 24, conspired to rob the victim of marijuana. Fox communicated to the victim to meet at Woodland Park in northwest Visalia. Solis solicited a ride for the pair from a juvenile. Also in the car was Jose Cortez, age 24. Before going to the park, the group drove to a residence to pick up a handgun from a different juvenile. At the park, the defendants pulled behind the victim’s vehicle. The victim, believing the meetup was a drug sale, allowed Fox to enter the back seat of the vehicle.
Fox then produced the handgun and pointed it at the victim, demanding a bag of marijuana. Startled by the turn of events, the victim began to drive away. The victim’s girlfriend, who was also in the vehicle, fell into the back seat and attempted to kick Fox out of the car. Fox shot the victim through the back before the car crashed into a parked car. Fox ran out of the car and was picked up by the other defendants. Witnesses observed Fox and Solis grab another bag of marijuana before departing.
A short time later, Visalia Police Department detectives observed Fox and Solis exit the suspect vehicle at a north Visalia location. Police contacted the suspects and found two bags of marijuana and a firearm in Solis’ backpack. Forensic analysis of the firearm later matched it to the gun used in the crime. Additionally, Fox’s DNA was located on the firearm.
Prior to the killing on May 28, Solis was involved in multiple armed robberies of pizza delivery drivers on March 11 and 12. No one was hurt in the robberies. On March 14, a pizza shop employee grew suspicious of an incoming order, and contacted Visalia Police Department officers. Police arrested Solis at the arranged delivery and booked him into custody. On May 10, 2017, over the objection of prosecutors, Solis was released by the court on his own recognizance.
On March 18, 2021, a jury found Solis guilty first-degree murder with the special circumstance that the murder was committed in the commission of a robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, two additional counts of robbery while armed with a knife, and a misdemeanor count of providing false information to police. The court also found true the special allegation that Solis committed the murder and conspiracy to commit robbery while out on bail in the armed robbery case. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on April 16, 2021.
On April 7, 2022, a jury found Fox guilty of first-degree murder with the special circumstance that the murder was committed in the commission of a robbery, as well as robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. The jury also found true the special allegation that the defendant personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing the victim’s death.
In September 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1437. The bill changes the law to treat accomplices to murder differently than the actual killers. Under the new law, only major participants who act with reckless indifference for human life can be prosecuted for murder under the theory of felony murder. In light of the new standards, on October 26, 2018, Jose Cortez pleaded no contest to robbery for his role in the crime. On December 5, 2018, he was sentenced to 5 years suspended state prison pending his successful completion of felony probation. Cortez’s jail term with in custody credits was 1,113 days.
The minors involved in the case were adjudicated in juvenile court.
The case was prosecuted by Supervising Deputy District Attorney Candice Moore. The murder case was investigated by Sergeant James Cummings of the Visalia Police Department. Solis’s pizza robbery case was investigated by Sergeant Mona Whaley of the Visalia Police Department.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Public Information Officer Stuart Anderson (559) 636-5494