Defendant Convicted of Galt Murder

DATE: June 28, 2021

CASE: Javier Montanez, Jr. (Case #06F00341)

PROSECTUOR: Principal Criminal Attorney Kevin Jones, Homicide Unit

Javier Montanez, Jr. was convicted by a jury of the second-degree murder of Clinton Poole.  The jury also found true the special allegation that Montanez personally used a knife in the commission of the murder.

On January 6, 2006, Galt police officers responded to a call of a fight involving 30-40 individuals.  On arrival they found Clinton Poole deceased inside the entryway of his home. Witnesses on scene stated that the victim was standing on his front porch watching the riot in the street when a group of suspects, including Montanez, physically assaulted him on his front lawn.  After the fighting stopped, the victim was standing by his garage door when Montanez stabbed him in the chest, penetrating the victim’s heart.  Montanez fled to Mexico and remained a fugitive until 2018 when U.S. authorities were notified that he had been located in Mexico.  Montanez was then extradited in 2019 to face homicide charges in Sacramento County.

Montanez faces a maximum sentence of 16 years to life in prison.  Sentencing is set for August 20, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. in Department 21 before the Honorable Shelleyanne Chang.