San Antonio police can only use deadly force to protect themselves, a fellow officer or bystander only if their lives are in immediate danger, according to department policy. Credit: Shutterstock

Former Bexar County Sheriff’s Office corporal Giovanni Ceja has been sentenced to 15 years to life in a second-degree murder case in California, KSAT reports.

Ceja, 31, was convicted of striking and killing a man on Aug. 7, 2023, while driving a borrowed vehicle on a highway in Riverside County, California, and fleeing the scene, the TV station reports, citing a statement from Riverside’s district attorney.

Ceja reportedly returned to work in San Antonio. However, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office contacted BCSO on Aug. 14, saying it had a murder warrant for the corporal in the death of 38-year-old Gilberto Sotelo, KSAT reports.

After his arrest, Ceja was extradited to California to face charges in the case. He was a five-year BCSO veteran before he resigned..

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This article appears in Jan 24 – Feb 6, 2024.

Sanford Nowlin is editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Current. He holds degrees from Trinity University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative...