DA expresses gratitude to California Department of Justice (DOJ) firearms expert Ronald Welsh and cellular data expert Reva Headley
“Thank you to the San Joaquin County district attorney for recognizing two of our CSLEA members who assisted his office with this complex case. We are very proud of the work our CSLEA members do to assist with criminal justice and helping to make our communities safer. Great job! And, thank you!”
-CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
STOCKTON – On December 19, 2025, San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced that Brian Sewell has been sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison. The sentencing follows Sewell’s August 2025 jury conviction on nine felony counts stemming from a violent 2022-armed robbery spree targeting businesses across two counties.
Between August and October 2022, Sewell served as the getaway driver for several robberies and personally committed an armed robbery at the Sports Stop in Waterford. The crime spree turned nearly fatal on October 10, 2022, when co-defendant Andre Brooks allegedly shot an 18-year-old Family Dollar clerk multiple times with a 9mm Glock modified into a fully automatic machine gun. While the victim survived life-threatening injuries, Sewell was convicted of nine felonies, including possession of the machine gun used in the shooting.
“This 40-year sentence is a rock-solid guarantee that if you terrorize this community, you will pay the price. My office has zero tolerance for violence, and we will always put the safety of our families first,” said District Attorney Ron Freitas.
This conviction was the result of a robust multi-agency effort involving the
- San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office,
- Stockton Police Department,
- Escalon Police Department,
- Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office,
- and the Oakdale Police Department.
District Attorney Freitas specifically recognized lead investigator Detective Steve Jacobson (SJSO) for his pivotal role in the investigation. Expert testimony from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) was also crucial to the case, provided by firearms expert Ronald Welsh and cellular data expert Reva Headley.
The prosecution of this complex case required the coordination of over 50 witnesses. District Attorney Freitas extends his deepest gratitude to Deputy District Attorney Morgan Hendley for her outstanding work; to Victim Advocate Jordan Whittle for her exceptional support of the victims; and to the coordination team of Cortney Pignon, Liza Lopez, Jordan Whittle, and District Attorney Investigators (DAI) for their tireless efforts in managing the extensive witness list.
Co-defendant Andre Brooks is scheduled for trial in March 2026.
