A Sacramento County judge on Monday handed 54-year-old Darin Chastain a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison for the killing of his 74-year-old Carmichael neighbor, James Raleigh. The incident on Kenneth Avenue in September 2022 led to Chastain’s first-degree murder conviction earlier this year.
Attack and immediate timeline
Prosecutors said Chastain had been shouting and throwing rocks at a garage when Raleigh stepped outside with a flashlight. Chastain charged, wrested the flashlight away, and struck Raleigh in the head and mouth. Deputies later found Chastain nearby with Raleigh’s flashlight in his pocket, and the district attorney’s office says Raleigh collapsed and died roughly 20 minutes after the assault, according to ABC10.
Jury verdict came after months of proceedings
A jury returned a first‑degree murder verdict in August after weeks of testimony about the September 2022 attack.The conviction and sentencing on Monday concluded a case that began when deputies arrested Chastain minutes after the assault, as reported by KCRA.
Neighbors call for action, officials respond
The killing brought large crowds to public safety meetings in Carmichael. Residents remembered Raleigh as a familiar neighbor and called for more enforcement around encampments near Ancil Hoffman Park. County officials said they would focus on hot-spot enforcement and increase patrols, as per CBS News.
A tight‑knit neighborhood mourns
Friends and neighbors said Raleigh was a retired plumber who enjoyed working outdoors and walking his dog, Sadie. The neighborhood was left in shock. “James was a pillar of the community and focused his life on building strong friendships in all of the lives he touched,” one longtime neighbor said, as mentioned by CBS News.
Sentence and next steps
The judge imposed the 25‑years‑to‑life term on Monday, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office announced, and Chastain will be transferred to the state prison system to begin serving his sentence, as noted by ABC10. The DA’s office acknowledged the efforts of investigators and jurors for their work.
Raleigh’s family said they are still grieving, and neighbors said they will continue to ask county leaders for safety improvements. The sentence provided some closure but did not resolve questions raised by the case.
