Third Striker Sentenced to Life in Prison
On December 20, 2022, in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Bennie Valdez, age 27, to life in prison for a 2018 crime that resulted in a third “strike” under California’s Three Strikes Law.
Near midnight on November 15, 2018, Tulare Police Department officers were dispatched to an apartment complex for an incident of a male with a firearm. When officers arrived, they observed a male matching the description of the subject. The subject, Bennie Valdez, was detained. Witness and victim accounts obtained by police stated Valdez and another male walked up to three people standing outside an apartment. Valdez produced a firearm and pulled back the slide causing a round to eject and fall to the ground. The group ran into the apartment. When one of the victims tried to shut the door, Valdez attempted to gain entry by pushing the door and hitting the victim in the head twice with the gun. Valdez was positively identified by the victims as the assailant. During a search, more ammunition was found on Valdez. At the time of the incident, Valdez was on bail for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
On June 16, 2022, Valdez pleaded no contest to being a felon in possession of ammunition during a separate 2018 contact with law enforcement. On June 28, 2022, a jury found Valdez guilty of attempted first-degree burglary, assault with a firearm, brandishing a firearm, and delaying a peace officer. The jury also found true the special allegations that he personally used a firearm and that he was armed with a firearm. Valdez possesses two prior strikes for assault with a deadly weapon (2012) and burglary (2014).
According to current California sentencing laws, Valdez must serve 43 years, 8 months in prison before being considered for parole.
The case was prosecuted by deputy district attorney Avi Feinstein and was investigated by Detective Jose Esparza of the Tulare Police Department.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494