(Sacramento, CA) — A Sacramento County judge has sentenced Jimmy Washington to life in prison without the possibility of parole for a deadly carjacking that claimed the life of ATM technician James Nguyen. According to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s press release, the ruling came Friday in Sacramento County Superior Court, where Judge Shelleyanne Chang delivered the mandatory sentence following Washington’s conviction for first-degree murder with special circumstances.
The crime dates back to June 17, 2021, at a Wells Fargo branch near Stockton Boulevard and Florin Road. Nguyen was servicing a drive-up ATM when Washington, who had just cashed a check inside the bank, jumped into Nguyen’s work van. As Nguyen tried to stop the theft, he became trapped in the driver’s side window while Washington sped through the parking lot. Witnesses described a terrifying scene as Washington drove recklessly, narrowly missing pedestrians and other vehicles.
Eventually, Nguyen fell and was run over as Washington fled. He suffered catastrophic injuries and remained in a vegetative state for nearly nine months before dying.
Meanwhile, the sentencing ignited strong reactions across Sacramento neighborhoods, with residents sharing their thoughts on social media platforms like Nextdoor:
(Screenshot of comments from Nextdoor post by Sarah Denos, OpGov.ai)
Rainer Urbach of Del Paso Manor: “Justice has been served.”
Cindy Jonesy Chavez of Brentwood: “RIP Mr. Nguyen.”
Dana McBeth of Silver Legends: “The wheels of justice turn slowly – but they DO turn. Well done jury!”
Philip Paul of Swanston Estates: “Thank you Judge for making the right call.”
Rose Burke of Central Oak Park: “It seems that these days criminals many times don't receive the sentences they deserve. I'm glad the law won out in this circumstance. If this sentence serves to dissuade others from violent crime then the jury, judge and prosecutor did their jobs.”
Rosa S. of Avondale: “Why did it take so long to convict this guy? Was he on the run for awhile before they caught up to him?”
What Is California’s Felony-Murder Law?
California’s felony-murder rule allows prosecutors to charge individuals with murder if a death occurs during the commission of certain felonies, such as robbery, carjacking, or burglary—even if the defendant did not intend to kill. Historically, this law imposed broad liability, but reforms under Senate Bill 1437 (2019) narrowed its scope. Now, a person can only be convicted of felony murder if they were the actual killer, acted with intent to kill, or were a major participant in the underlying felony who acted with reckless indifference to human life.
These changes were designed to prevent individuals with minimal involvement from facing murder charges. However, in cases like Washington’s—where evidence showed he was the actual killer—the law still mandates severe penalties, including life without parole when special circumstances are proven.
Note: Information for this report was sourced from the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office press release and Sacramento County Superior Court records.
Picture of Wells Fargo bank provided by Google street view. Submit Sacramento County tips and story ideas to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com.
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