(Woodland, CA) – March 28, 2014 – District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that on March 28, 2014, the Honorable Stephen Mock sentenced 55-year-old David Earl Bristow of Bakersfield, CA to 40 years to life for his January 3, 2014 conviction of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, assault with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, and enhancements for personal use of a firearm, inflicting great bodily injury, and serving prior prison terms. Previously, on February 14, 2014, the Honorable Stephen Mock sentenced 65-year-old Danny Joe Stearman of Shafter, CA to 29 years to life on for his January 6, 2014 conviction related to his role in these crimes.
Bristow and Stearman were tried in front of dual juries for the October 1, 2012 ambush of the victim while he was on his way to work in Arbuckle, CA. Stearman, the victim’s ex-wife’s uncle, and Bristow, a hired hit man, used their vehicle to force the victim’s car to a stop on County Line Road in Dunnigan, CA. After exiting his car, the victim was shot in the back of the head, stabbed, sliced in the face, and run down with his own vehicle. The defendants then left the victim on the side of the road to die. Miraculously, the victim survived and was able to immediately identify Stearman. Yolo County Sheriff’s Detectives who investigated the case used cell phone records to identify Bristow as the second attacker.
Deputy District Attorneys Robert Gorman and Jennifer Davis prosecuted the case. “They would like to once again express their gratitude to both juries for all their hard work in reaching verdicts in this very violent case and to the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough and dedicated efforts.”
District Attorney Jeff Reisig again praised the victim: “Because of the victim’s amazing perseverance and strength, the victim not only survived the brutal attack but had the courage to face his attackers in court, and these violent men will now be serving life sentences in prison.”
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