‘It’s just not fair.’ Murder victim’s family speaks about gang member’s crime spree
A Stanislaus County judge has sentenced a Modesto man to 200 years to life in prison for a crime spree last year that involved five shootings, killed two people and injured others.
But prosecutors have said the convicted man, Stephen Tisdale, 20, could be released after serving only 25 years behind bars.
The family of one of Tisdale’s murder victims, Sameer Sogol, wrote a letter to the judge, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday in a news release. The victim impact statement was read by Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff Mangar during the defendant’s Nov. 21 sentencing hearing.
“Tisdale’s family can still talk to Tisdale, but we will never be able to talk to Sameer,” the family wrote in the letter. “It’s just not fair.”
Tisdale on Sept. 26 pleaded no contest to two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, two counts of participating in a criminal street gang, child endangerment, vehicle theft and home invasion robbery.
Tisdale’s conviction included enhancements to his charges for using a gun. Superior Court Judge Scott Steffen sentenced Tisdale.
Since Tisdale was younger than 25 when he committed his crimes, changes in state law now make him eligible for parole after serving 25 years of his sentence, according to prosecutors.
Police have said the shootings were related to criminal gang activity and drugs. Tisdale was arrested and charged three months after the first shooting.
About 9 p.m. Sept. 18, 2018, Tisdale went to the Stop ‘n’ Shop on Yosemite Boulevard in east Modesto. Prosecutors said Tisdale had intended to rob the convenience store, but the business was closed for the night.
When the store clerk refused to open the locked front glass doors, Tisdale shot through the doors at the clerk, according to prosecutors. Gunfire struck the clerk’s hand. They said Tisdale ran from the store. The shooting was captured on the store’s video security camera system.
About 3 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2018, Tisdale shot a bicyclist in the area of El Pasado Drive near Riverside Park in east Modesto, according to prosecutors. The bicyclist was seriously injured. Authorities have said Tisdale was trying to kill the victim in retaliation over a drug debt owed to the Norteño street gang.
About 8 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2018, Tisdale drove to the home of James Chisum, 37, a few blocks east of El Vista Avenue in east Modesto. Prosecutors said Tisdale — armed with a shotgun — went into the home and shot Chisum once in the chest.
Chisum, who was holding his grandson when he was shot, died; the child was not injured. Prosecutors said Tisdale believed that Chisum was a Norteño gang dropout. Dropouts are former gang members, some of whom want to better their lives by no longer associating themselves with the criminal activity.
Later that same night, Tisdale fired a gun at a couple walking home near the Sunrise Village Mobile Home Park along South Seventh Street in Modesto, according to prosecutors. They said Tisdale believed the 53-year-old man and his 57-year-old girlfriend also were Norteño gang dropouts. The woman was hit by gunfire and seriously injured.
On the evening of Oct. 31, 2018, Tisdale shot and killed Sameer Sogol, 58, at a home in the 3700 block of Coffee Road in north Modesto, according to prosecutors. Police have said Sogul was shot and robbed inside the home’s garage.
Tisdale was spotted driving a gray 2003 BMW 530 in the area of South Abbie Street in Empire about 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 4. The car had been reported stolen the day before.
Modesto police detectives identified Tisdale as the suspect in the crime spree and arrested him on Dec. 7. At that time, Tisdale was on probation for a conviction of domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon, according to prosecutors.
This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 4:20 PM.