Ex-Felon Gets 2 Years for Killing Oakland Man with Metal Pipe

An ex-felon was sentenced today to two years in local prison for fatally beating a 50-year-old man with a metal pipe near the victim’s home in East Oakland in December.

Warren Rodgers, 46, had been charged with murder for the death of Ronald Coelho Jr., who died after his son and neighbor found him unconscious on the ground at 79th Avenue and Alder Street at about 5 p.m. on Dec. 13. But last month he pleaded no contest to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in an agreement with prosecutors that called for the two-year term that was formally imposed by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Jon Rolefson today.

Oakland police Officer Jason Andersen wrote in a probable cause statement that after Coelho’s son and neighbor found Coelho they took him back to his house, which was nearby. Andersen said police found Coelho dead inside his home at about 10 a.m. on Dec. 14, about 17 hours after he had been found unconscious on the ground.

An autopsy determined that Coelho died from blunt trauma to his head, according to Andersen. A witness identified Rodgers as the person he saw standing over Coelho as he was lying in the middle of the street, Andersen wrote. When the witness ran to help Coelho, Rodgers ran to his truck and drove north on 79th Avenue toward the witness, Andersen said. The witness told police that Rodgers swerved his truck at him and shouted, “Now what!” as he went past him, according to Andersen.

Rodgers was arrested on Dec. 31 after a judge signed a no-bail warrant for him, Andersen said. Prosecutors said Rodgers had four prior felony convictions: two for possession of a firearm by a felon and one each for the sale and transportation of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance.

By Bay City News

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