Visalia Man Sentenced to State Prison for Carjacking

Yesterday in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Kathryn Montejano sentenced Jose Contreras Casarez Jr, age 36, of Visalia, to 17 years in state prison for carjacking and other crimes. On March 23, 2018, Casarez pleaded no contest to one count of carjacking, one count of second-degree robbery, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of possession of marijuana in a jail facility.Casarez also admitted that he had previously been convicted of a “strike” offense(robbery), that he had previously been convicted of a serious felony, and had previously been sent to prison three times.

Around 2 am on July 4, 2015, the victim and her boyfriend were sleeping in their car near Court St. and Center Ave. in Visalia. The victim awoke when Casarez tapped on the window. Casarez produced a gun and demanded their valuables and keys. He told them to empty their pockets and walk away from the car. They complied, and Casarez got in tothe driver’s seat and drove away. Later that night, Casarez was a passenger in a different car that was stopped by Visalia Police Department officers. Property belonging to the victims was found in the car.

In August of 2017, while in custody at the adult pre-trial facility, Casarez and another inmate attacked a third inmate with shackles Casarez had slipped out of. Shortly after this incident, Casarez was discovered by correctional deputies in his cell with a homemade smoking device and marijuana, which Casarez admitted was his.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Steve Afsahi and investigated by the Visalia Police Department.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Underwood (559) 636-5494