Jury Finds Fairfield Man Sane In Killing Of Off-Duty Richmond Cop

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — A Solano County Superior Court jury Wednesday found a Fairfield man was sane when he killed an off-duty Richmond police officer in 2016, the Solano County District Attorney's Office said. The jury convicted Robert James Vega, 30, of voluntary manslaughter with personal use of a gun on Oct. 31.

After hours of testimony by Dr. David Howard and Dr. Stephen Pittavino for the defense and by Dr. Jessica Ferranti for the prosecution, the jury found Vega sane.

Vega shot Augustine "Gus" Vegas Jr., 58, multiple times inside Vegas' home at 35 Narragansett Court in the Glen Cove area of Vallejo shortly after 4:40 a.m. on Feb. 11, 2016.

Vega was the father of Vegas' 6-year-old grandson. He woke up the household and shot Vegas, then fled with Vegas' grandson, the District Attorney's Office said.

Fairfield police arrested Vega at his Fairfield home. Vega's son was not harmed.

Vega previously was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and had been smoking marijuana in the days before and on the day of the slaying, the District Attorney's Office said.

Vegas, a foster parent, was a 15-year veteran of the Richmond Police Department. He had 10 children and 22 grandchildren and was involved in the Vallejo nonprofit Foster Greatness organization that provides services
for foster children.

Vega faces a maximum term of 21 years in state prison when he is sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 19 in Solano County Superior Court.

RELATED COVERAGE:

• Solano Co. Man Convicted In Death Of Richmond Officer
• Fairfield Man Pleads Insanity In Police Murder
• Fairfield Man Charged In Murder Of Off-Duty Richmond Cop

By Bay City News Service

Photo via Richmond Police Department