BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A Kern County judge handed down a two-year suspended sentence Tuesday to a California City man who fatally shot a trespasser in 2022, calling the case a “difficult matter” with no easy resolution.
Duvardrick Reeder, who pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter earlier this year, was sentenced by Judge John R. Brownlee in connection with the April 6, 2022 shooting of Adolfo Jimenez Vega on Bancroft Court in California City.
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- 1 A Tragic Confrontation
- 2 Sentencing and Reactions
- 3 Family Statements and Courtroom Tensions
- 4 Context and Legal Implications
A Tragic Confrontation
According to court records, Reeder confronted Jimenez Vega after spotting him trespassing in a neighbor’s backyard. Armed with a gun, Reeder reportedly told Jimenez Vega to leave the property and followed him to the front of the house, where the situation turned deadly.
Reeder said Jimenez Vega stopped abruptly and turned sharply, prompting him to fire a single shot. Jimenez Vega, who was found to be heavily intoxicated on methamphetamine according to toxicology reports, was killed instantly.
At the time of the incident, Jimenez Vega had his left arm in a sling and was holding a “hand-sized” piece of wood, which Reeder perceived as a threat. Reeder, who did not have a prior criminal record, said he feared for his family’s safety.
Sentencing and Reactions
Reeder could have faced up to four years in prison — a sentence urged by prosecutor Cole Sherman and Jimenez Vega’s family. However, Judge Brownlee opted for a two-year suspended sentence, requiring Reeder to serve 90 days in jail, with the potential for a work-release program depending on eligibility.
“No sentence I impose today will feel like justice to either side,” Brownlee said, adding that he had spent several nights wrestling with the decision.
Reeder was remanded into custody immediately after sentencing.
Family Statements and Courtroom Tensions
During the emotional hearing, Nancy Jimenez Vega, the victim’s sister, read statements on behalf of the family. She accused Reeder of intentionally killing her brother, who she claimed posed no real threat.
“You know what you did was intentional,” she said tearfully.
Reeder’s wife, Melissa Reeder, defended her husband in court, calling the incident a tragedy and reiterating his character as a protective father and husband. “All he wanted was for Adolfo Jimenez Vega to leave,” she said. “I will always stand by him.”
Context and Legal Implications
The case highlights the complex legal and moral questions surrounding self-defense, especially when confronting suspected trespassers. While Reeder was not convicted of murder, the court acknowledged the irreversible consequences of his actions.
California law allows for the use of deadly force under specific circumstances, but this case underscores how subjective and situational those justifications can be — particularly when substance use, criminal history, and perceived threats are involved.
Reeder will serve 30 days in actual custody, with the remaining time potentially spent in alternative sentencing if approved by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
