A late-night tenant dispute in Adelanto has turned into a massive payout, after a federal jury ordered San Bernardino County to pay $27.3 million to Steffon Todd Barber, a man shot six times by a sheriff’s deputy in 2021. Barber was hit in the head, a wound his lawyers say left him with permanent brain damage, and he now uses a wheelchair.
Where It Happened
The shooting unfolded after 11 p.m. on April 27, 2021, in the 1200 block of White Avenue in Adelanto during a tenant dispute, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors described a narrow, poorly lit driveway about 96 feet long and highlighted an opening in a fence near that driveway, a detail that later became a key point of contention at trial.
What Jurors Decided
The federal jury found that sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Alfred used excessive force and was negligent when he fired six shots at Barber as the vehicle reversed. Jurors awarded $27.3 million in damages, divided into $7.25 million for past pain and suffering, $18.25 million for future pain and suffering, and $1.85 million for future economic losses, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Prosecutors' Review and the Sheriff’s Response
In its own review, the district attorney’s office concluded the deputy’s use of deadly force was legally justified, pointing to the tight confines of the driveway and the deputy’s account of what happened, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. The sheriff’s department told the Los Angeles Times that the civil jury simply reached a different conclusion and said the case “reflects the complex and often difficult circumstances deputies face.”
Criminal Case and Federal Path
Barber was convicted in San Bernardino County Superior Court of assault with a deadly weapon and later sentenced to 13 years in prison. He filed his federal civil suit in April 2022, and in December 2025 the district court denied the county’s motion for summary judgment and rejected a qualified-immunity defense, clearing the way for trial, according to Central District of California filings. Those same filings show both sides battled through multiple pretrial motions that shaped how the case would be presented to jurors in January.
What Plaintiffs Argued
At trial, Barber’s attorneys told jurors that the deputy never identified himself as law enforcement, gave no warning before firing, and could have moved to the nearby fence opening instead of shooting. “Deputy Alfred did not issue a verbal warning before shooting,” the court record states, language jurors were asked to weigh in deciding whether the use of force was reasonable, according to the federal filings.
What Comes Next
Defendants still have options. They can file post-trial motions and appeal the verdict, a process that often stretches on for months and can include efforts to reduce or overturn large awards. As of the time of reporting, it was not yet clear how quickly San Bernardino County would respond, or whether it would ultimately move to challenge the $27.3 million judgment.
