What started as a bathroom dispute at Lake Berryessa on a busy June weekend has ended with a decade-long prison term for an American Canyon man.
Gabriel James Chavez, 27, of American Canyon, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison on Tuesday after pleading no contest in the Lake Berryessa shooting that killed 39-year-old Andres Fabian Sandoval Garcia. The gunfire broke out during a large brawl at the Oak Shores Day Use Area on June 8, 2024, and prosecutors say Chavez admitted he used a firearm during the mêlée.
Plea Deal and Prison Term
Chavez pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, and he admitted the special allegation that he personally used a firearm, according to the Napa County District Attorney's Office. The negotiated deal calls for a 10-year state prison sentence and was handled by Deputy District Attorney Rolando Mazariegos.
How a Restroom Argument Turned into Chaos
Investigators say the violence began with an argument over a restroom encounter that quickly spiraled into multiple fights in the parking lot, with witnesses reporting that bottles and other objects were used as weapons. The Press Democrat reported that Chavez was injured in the mêlée before the fatal shot was fired, and that deputies later detained him after going through witness statements and video evidence.
Inside the Napa Courtroom
In Napa County Superior Court, Chavez, represented by defense attorney Vincent Maher, entered his no-contest plea and received his sentence from Judge Scott R. L. Young, according to reporting by the Napa Valley Register. The Register quoted family member Jennifer Castro as saying "the sentence will keep Chavez from damaging other people," and noted that Chavez received credit for roughly 744 days he had already spent in custody.
Appeal Clock Already Ticking
Under California rules, a defendant generally has 60 days after judgment to file a notice of appeal, which gives Chavez only a short window if he chooses to challenge the plea or sentence. The Sacramento Superior Court outlines the typical timing and strict procedural hurdles that apply to criminal appeals across the state.
Lake Berryessa on Edge After Holiday-Weekend Violence
The case drew intense local attention because Lake Berryessa is a popular weekend getaway, and the June 2024 mêlée left several people injured. Hoodline coverage of the fatal shooting and multiple stabbings last year chronicled just how out of control the brawl became. Napa County said the investigation involved multiple agencies and urged anyone with video or witness information to contact law enforcement.
Chavez was remanded to state custody to begin serving his sentence and may still seek appellate review within the statutory period. For now, the outcome closes a grim chapter from a violent day at Oak Shores that left a Vallejo man dead and a community still wrestling with what unfolded at the lake.
