Clovis Man Sentenced for Fatal Fentanyl Sale

In Clovis, Lakota Wakley has learned his sentence for selling a fentanyl pill that resulted in the death of Olivia Patla on May 31, 2021. A Fresno County Superior Court judge handed down the maximum penalty of five years, to be served consecutively after Wakley's current federal prison term. The court received 165 letters from friends and family of the victim, who filled the courtroom wearing shirts that read "Justice for Liv."

Olivia's parents, siblings, and grandfather delivered emotional statements detailing the profound pain of her loss. Her mother described the moment she last saw her daughter being taken away, stating it felt like her life was being extinguished. The family finds solace in knowing that Olivia's death has spurred changes in legislation, potentially leading to murder charges for future cases involving fatal drug sales, a consequence of Proposition 36 enacted in 2024.