In Bakersfield, California, a 31-year-old man has been found guilty by a jury for the 2023 killing of his grandmother following a dispute over cigarettes.
Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announced the conviction of Juan Valdez on Feb. 6 for the second-degree murder of his 70-year-old grandmother, Maria Valdez, with an enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon.
Scheduled for sentencing on March 7, Juan Valdez faces a potential prison term of up to 15 years to life, with an additional year for the enhancement.
According to prosecutors, on July 13, 2023, shortly before midnight, Juan Valdez contacted law enforcement to report that he had stabbed his grandmother. He had been residing with his grandmother since the age of 3.
Officers from the Bakersfield Police Department responded to the residence in the 500 block of Flower Street, where Juan Valdez was found outside. Following his arrest, he confessed to stabbing the victim once more and disclosed her location in the living room.