5 days ago
2
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A section household has been waiting much than a decennary for justness for their loved who was murdered, and connected Wednesday, they faced different delay.
16 years ago, Jason Cannon was killed astatine Pleasant Valley State Prison. His cellmate and killer, Marcus Faulk, has yet to beryllium sentenced aft pleading "no contest".
Mr. Faulk's sentencing was primitively scheduled for today, but was delayed arsenic his petition for a caller lawyer was granted.
The victim's household tells Action News they're devastated, this lone prolongs their grief, incapable to enactment this section down them.
"Jason's passing has near an unfillable void successful our lives for 16 years. I've grappled with the nonaccomplishment of my lone brother, and the symptom remains unbearable," says Jodee Ritter, Cannon's sister.
In tribunal connected Wednesday, Faulk sat, mostly looking astatine the ground. He's accused of sidesplitting his cellmate Jason Cannon with a situation made limb astatine Pleasant Valley State Prison backmost successful 2009.
Cannon's household was besides successful the courtroom, anxiously awaiting a last condemnation they volition not yet receive.
"We'd beryllium asking to way this substance for 1 week," says the defendant's caller attorney.
"Your honor, this is conscionable different crippled being played by the suspect to prolong his sentencing. For household members, here, they've been waiting astir 16 years for justice," says Cannon household attorney.
Though the petition was granted, the justice allowed the Cannon household to work their interaction statements arsenic primitively scheduled.
"I'm gladsome for this to beryllium over. Finally, I could hide you and commencement remembering my uncle's beauteous grin and each the silly awesome memories we person together," says Sarah Cannon, Cannon's niece.
The lawsuit has been delayed since the beginning. Charges weren't filed until 2019, that's 10 years aft Cannon's death.
Then, it took 5 years to get to trial. Part of the hold was owed to the decease of Deputy Sheriff Joel Wahlenmaier, who was successful complaint of the investigation. He was killed successful the enactment of work successful an ambush successful Minkler.
The archetypal proceedings ended astir a twelvemonth agone with a hung jury.
Action News spoke exclusively with Cannon's sister, who says the changeless delays person been agonizing for their family.
"It's ridiculous. There's nary crushed for it. He admitted to sidesplitting my member past summertime successful trial, its a chopped and adust case, wherefore can't they conscionable condemnation him?" says Ritter.
"It's a beauteous devastating loss. It was unnecessary. I anticipation helium gets maxed out," says Ritter.
Faulk is acceptable to beryllium backmost successful tribunal adjacent week connected October 29.
Copyright © 2025 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.
