CASE OF INTEREST

Date: September 10, 2004

Case: People v. Larry Roach

Contact: Hilary Bagley, Gang Unit, (916) 874-8685

District Attorney Jan Scully announced the sentencing of defendant Larry Roach for the June 17, 2003, murder of Christine Cheatham. The Honorable Russell Hom sentenced the defendant to 50 years to life in prison.

Roach a Valley High Piru gang member fired a handgun at close range into a vehicle occupied by a rival Valley High Crip gang member. The shots missed the intended target but struck the driver of the vehicle, Christine Cheatham, in the back. Defendant Larry Roach was convicted of Murder in the first degree along with firearm use and gang sentencing enhancements.

Deputy District Attorney Hilary Bagley who prosecuted the case stated, “This murder was part of an on going turf war between Valley High Pirus and Crips. Larry Roach demonstrated the most violent form of criminal conduct; he shot another human being simply because of a perceived rival gang affiliation. He ultimately killed an unintended target. Whether or not this sentence gets back to his fellow gang members, the community needs to know that this defendant will never see the streets of our community again.”