A Fresno man has been sentenced to 19 years to life in prison after causing a deadly car crash while driving drunk and fleeing the scene. Shane Shahan ran a red light at nearly 80 mph, killing passenger Jesse Espino, and looked back at the wreckage before running away. He was convicted of second-degree murder and other charges after a quick jury deliberation.
In January, jurors in Fresno convicted Shane Shahan of second-degree murder, hit-and-run resulting in death, and driving with a suspended license after deliberating for less than an hour. The crash occurred in 2023 at the intersection of First Street and McKinley Avenue, where Shahan, driving a Chevrolet Colorado, sped through a red light at around 80 mph and collided with a Hyundai Elantra carrying two people.
The impact killed 35-year-old passenger Jesse Espino, who suffered severe injuries and died at the hospital. Shahan's vehicle flipped, but he emerged unharmed and fled on foot. Video evidence from his trial showed him looking back at the damaged car and the dying passenger before running, as testified by a Fresno police officer: "They looked back … and proceeded to run."
Officers found Shahan nearby in a residential area. He appeared sweating profusely, spoke erratically, and emitted an odor of alcohol. Tests later confirmed marijuana in his system. Shahan had prior convictions for alcohol-related driving offenses in 2016 and 2017 and was on probation for the latter when the crash happened. When apprehended, he repeatedly said, "Sorry. Sorry. Sorry, I got scared. I didn't know what to do."
At sentencing on Tuesday, Fresno County Judge Brian A. Sapp imposed the maximum term of 19 years to life, noting Shahan's failure to call 911 despite having a cellphone: "This is not just one bad decision. It was multiple bad decisions and selfish decisions."
Jesse Espino's family expressed profound grief in court. His sister, Crystal Espino, stated, "We are not the same people we were before that day. My parents have suffered the ultimate tragedy and I have lost my only sibling, the person I was supposed to grow old with." Their father, Edward Espino, added, "Seeing Jesse laying motionless on the hospital table, it's an image I live with every day. I kissed his forehead and said my last goodbye, knowing nothing will ever bring him back."
Prosecutors highlighted Shahan's history of impaired driving as key to the murder charge.
