A Kern County Jury returned a guilty verdict in a homicide case involving a failed marijuana transaction.
A Kern County Jury returned a guilty verdict in a homicide case involving a failed marijuana transaction.
On October 28, 2026, the jury found defendant Sonny Veleta guilty of the second-degree murder of nineteen-year-old Cesar Joseph Malta. The jury also found Veleta guilty of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, discharging a firearm and causing death, and assault with a firearm on the surviving victim.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy DA Cole Sherman.
On the night of August 12, 2021, Malta drove his vehicle to an area in east side of Bakersfield to meet with Veleta. Prior to the meeting, Malta and Veleta had communicated over Snapchat and arranged for Malta to sell $200 worth of marijuana to Veleta. When Malta and his eighteen-year-old passenger arrived to the location, Veleta approached the vehicle on foot. With a gun concealed in his waistband and a hood covering his face, Veleta went directly to the open driver door window and contacted Malta. Without saying a word, Veleta pulled the gun out of his waistband and pointed it at Malta before the transaction began. The passenger witnessed Veleta fire a gunshot while Malta’s car simultaneously moved forward. The bullet struck Malta on the left side of his back.
Malta’s friend reached across the vehicle and was able to drive them to safety before calling 9-1-1. Despite the attempt of life saving measures, Malta succumbed to his injury shortly after arriving to the hospital.
At the time of the crime, Veleta was sixteen years old, necessitating that he initially be charged as a juvenile. In February of 2024, Veleta’s case was transferred from juvenile to adult court after Veleta was found to be “legally fit” to be tried as an adult for this callous crime of violence.
DA Zimmer commented; “A choice by a young adult to sell marijuana on the streets is unwise, but that decision is entirely undeserving of the violence that befell the young man and his friend. Such violence demands serious penalties in the adult judicial system.”
Sentencing is scheduled for December 9, 2026 where Veleta faces a sentence of up to 54 years to life in prison.
