BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Found guilty of stabbing a homeless man to death with no provocation during a crime spree in 2021, Corey Spells was sentenced Monday to 32 years to life in prison.
Spells, 38, was found guilty last month of killing John Anthony Sosa Jr., 48.
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In a statement he read to the court, Spells maintained his innocence.
“I have been absolutely pure my entire life,” he said. He continued to go on about his good character, saying he’s moral, motivated and inspired.
Before imposing sentence, Judge Kenneth C. Twisselman II said he found Spells was suffering from a mental condition when the crimes occurred, and said he would give him less than the maximum term. He noted Sosa’s “senseless” killing, finding no explanation for it.
Sosa was found unconscious and bleeding early Oct. 3, 2021, on American Avenue, north of Ming Avenue and east of Valhalla Drive. He was declared dead at the scene.
Sosa used a washing stall at a nearby car wash as a makeshift encampment, and surveillance footage shows he briefly fought with a man there at about 2:35 a.m.