Bay City News
A 63-year-old Stockton man was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years to life in prison in connection with a series of violent crimes in 2020 that included brutally attacking his ex-wife and stabbing a police dog, according to the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office.
John Sandoval was sentenced by San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Lauren Thomasson on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, attempted criminal threats, attempting to dissuade a witness, harming or interfering with a police animal, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and brandishing a weapon to resist arrest.
The Stockton Police Department was called at 3:50 p.m. on June 17, 2020 to the Mormon Slough area near Hazelton Avenue and California Street on a report of a woman screaming and a man stating he was going to stab her.
Prosecutors said Sandoval and his estranged wife had been involved in a heated argument while parked at the slough.
During the confrontation, Sandoval swung a hatchet at the victim, threatened her life and attempted to dissuade her from reporting the incident to law enforcement.