Realtor Gets Life Sentence for Fatal Shooting

Scott Sherman, a 40-year-old Lodi realtor, received a sentence of 50 years to life, plus three years, for the drug and alcohol-fueled fatal shooting of Felix Makinano. This sentencing occurred following Sherman's conviction for first-degree murder and related offenses. The incident took place on October 3, 2023.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Sherman had consumed alcohol and psilocybin before meeting Makinano outside a Lodi bar. Witnesses testified that a paranoid Sherman, armed with a gun, shot Makinano twice in the back as he tried to escape. Sherman was apprehended at his apartment shortly after the shooting.

District Attorney Ron Freitas stated that the sentence brings justice for Makinano's family, describing the act as senseless violence. He affirmed the commitment to holding offenders accountable for heinous crimes and protecting the community. Sherman's defense had previously attempted to link the drug found to marijuana, which was denied by law enforcement.