Man Gets 11 Years for Fatal Shooting But Victim's Family Wanted More

Family members of a man who was fatally shot in East Oakland two years ago reacted angrily Friday when a suspect in the case who had been the man’s friend was sentenced for manslaughter instead of for murder. Jonathan Rhone, 32, initially was charged with murder for the shooting death of 24-year-old Oakland resident Jacob Velasquez at about 10:35 p.m. on March 5 in the 2500 block of 11th Avenue, near Bella Vista Elementary School.

Velasquez was shot multiple times inside a sports utility vehicle, Oakland police said. But the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office recently reached an agreement with Rhone in which he pled no contest to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in return for an 11-year state prison term instead of the term of 25 years to life he could have faced if he’d stood trial and been convicted of first-degree murder.

Superior Court Judge Jon Rolefson formally imposed the 11-year term today after Velasquez’s family members spoke emotionally about how much they miss him. Oakland police Officer Phong Tran wrote in a probable cause statement that after Rhone surrendered to police less than 24 hours after Velasquez was killed he denied that he had shot and killed Velasquez and alleged that another suspect had carried out the shooting.

However, Tran said Rhone admitted that after the shooting he removed Velasquez from the SUV and drove the other alleged suspect away from the scene. Rhone also admitted that he later tried to destroy evidence inside the SUV by cleaning up Velasquez’s blood and disposing of expended shell casings, according to Tran.

Prosecutor Glenn Kim Friday refused to discuss the details of the case, such as whether authorities believe Rhone was the shooter in the incident and if the other suspect ever was apprehended, questioned or charged. After Rhone was sentenced today, Celina Velasquez, one of the victim’s sister’s, stormed out of the courtroom and loudly kicked the door to an adjacent courtroom, drawing the attention of bailiffs who ordered her to calm down.

Lisa Young, Velasquez’s mother, shouted, “The justice system is screwed!” At the hearing, Desirae Velasquez, another sister, told Rhone, “You may never tell us what happened and only one person knows, and that’s God.”

Velasquez asked Rhone, “How could you do this to someone you called a friend? How could you get so angry to do this?” Christopher Velasquez, Velasquez’s brother, told Rhone, “I don’t know how you can take somebody’s life and not have any remorse.” He said, “To me, there’s no justice” and said he thinks Rhone should get a state prison term of at least 25 years to life.”

Judge Rolefson told Velasquez’s family that he knows, “There’s been a lot of grief and turmoil about how this case was settled.” Rolefson said, “This has been a very difficult case for everyone” and the prosecution and defense decided to compromise and reach a settlement because both sides had “problems with their case.” Rolefson said, “Sometimes you might have to settle for what you think isn’t full justice.”

Rhone has prior convictions for domestic violence and possession of marijuana. Rhone looked straight ahead and didn’t speak at his sentencing.

By Bay City News

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