Sentencing on pause for already convicted killer in Fresno's first fentanyl murder case

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif (KFSN) -- For six months, Cassidy Gonzalez has been a convicted murderer successful a first-of-its-kind case. But, she is nary person to being sentenced.

"I've been done the transcripts. I'm present connected the contented of (ineffective assistance of counsel). I've done extended probe connected the issue," defence lawyer Yan Shrayberman, who has been appointed to the case, said successful tribunal connected Friday.

Shrayberman is present reviewing Gonzalez's case, arsenic she claims her proceedings lawyer was ineffective.

"What's going to hap connected the question for ineffective assistance is to amusement determination that the defence lawyer violated rights that she had," Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi said.

A assemblage convicted Gonzalez of sidesplitting Jade Dreith by selling her a deadly dose of fentanyl hours earlier she died. It is the archetypal of its benignant condemnation successful Fresno County and the 3rd successful the state.

"Is determination thing astatine proceedings that should person been objected to that wasn't?" Capozzi said astir the reappraisal of the case. "Was determination thing astatine proceedings that the defence should person enactment successful grounds that they didn't?"

At trial, prosecutors presented their grounds for days, but the defense's lawsuit lasted conscionable 4 minutes and 41 seconds.

"The specified information that the defence doesn't contiguous immoderate grounds is not capable to amusement ineffective assistance," Capozzi said. "And, again, the suspect ne'er testified and agreed not to testify."

With the reappraisal of Gonzalez's lawyer present underway, her sentencing is connected pause. The justice pushed it backmost to astatine slightest January.

"I did person a accidental to talk with the victim's family," Fresno County authoritative Kendall Reynolds said. "They are seeking solution and closure."

The lawsuit is apt to resistance connected for months arsenic Gonzalez pursues respective avenues, including asking for a caller proceedings and warring the lawsuit connected appeal.

"Anyone who is going to beryllium going to jailhouse for a agelong play of clip should person arsenic galore bites arsenic imaginable due to the fact that during that play of time, she's going to beryllium successful jailhouse serving her sentence," Capozzi said.

If this lawsuit heads to sentencing, Gonzalez could look 15 years to beingness successful authorities prison. She is scheduled to beryllium backmost successful tribunal successful January.

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