FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Opening statements began Monday in the trial of a man who confessed to killing a popular raisin farmer near Biola.
Jose Canas (above) confessed to being the gunman after farmer George Salwasser Jr. was shot back in May of 2014, when he found a group of people in the middle of the crime–taking the tires off a stolen truck.
The others accused – Maria Mansanalez (right), and Adrian Aceves (left) both accepted plea deals.
25 year old Fabian Mansanalez (middle) was not present when the killing took place but arranged for the truck to be stripped.
In October of 2015, Mansanalez was found guilty of receiving a stolen vehicle and possession of a gun not related to the homicide, and received seven years behind bars.
If convicted of Salwasser’s murder, 34 year-old Canas faces a minimum of 40 years up to life in prison.
Click below to hear the story by KMJ News Reporter Liz Kern:
