In a sentencing that marks the conclusion of a harrowing case, Richard Bradford received a 76-year-to-life prison term for the murder of Joshua Rash, an unhoused man. The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office reports that the Honorable Matthew Gary handed down the sentence after a jury found Bradford guilty of second-degree murder on August 5. Bradford, a convicted felon, was also found to have discharged a firearm, causing death, and to have been illegally in possession of a firearm at the time of the crime.
Rash's death occurred on October 8, 2023, when he was living in an encampment. The convict went to the encampment with the intent to forcibly take Rash's dog. According to a statement by the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, Rash attempted to protect his companion with a metal pole, prompting Bradford to fatally shoot him in the chest. Rash was later found deceased under a bridge on Gerber Road, his dog loyally by his side.
Further aggravating Bradford's sentence was the fact that he had two prior strike convictions, alongside a history of prior prison terms and convictions characterized by increasing seriousness. This background influenced the court's decision. The jury also found true that Bradford's use of a weapon was an aggravating factor in this case.
