Man Found Guilty In Fatal E. Palo Alto Shooting Over Parking Spot
EAST PALO ALTO (CBS SF) -- A 24-year-old man found guilty of voluntary manslaughter last year for a 2009 fatal shooting over a parking dispute in East Palo Alto was sentenced to more than 10 years in state prison on Wednesday, according to San Mateo County prosecutors.
Dante Strauter, of East Palo Alto, was denied probation and sentenced to 10 years in prison with 1,865 days credit for time served by a San Mateo County Superior Court judge in Redwood City.
A jury found Strauter guilty last November for the shooting death of 27-year-old Joel Long. The jury deliberated for two days after a 21-day trial before convicting him of the lesser murder charge of voluntary manslaughter, prosecutors said.
The shooting occurred in the 2200 block of Ralmar Avenue in East Palo Alto on Aug. 18, 2009.
Long was shot after Strauter's female cousin refused to move her car to let another woman pull out of Long's driveway, according to the district attorney's office.
His cousin eventually moved her car but returned with Strauter, who had a .40-caliber gun.
There was a confrontation in Long's garage and he was shot three times in the back and leg, according to prosecutors.
Strauter's defense attorney had argued that he shot Long in self-defense.
As part of his sentencing, Strauter was ordered to pay more than $1,200 in restitution and will serve an additional 16 months in jail for two felony probation violations, prosecutors said.
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