Photo: Stanislaus County District Attorney

MODESTO- The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office has announced the conviction of Derrell Musantha Smith. In a statement released to the public he was convicted on March 27th, after a 7 day trial:

“... a Stanislaus County jury convicted Smith of attempted voluntary manslaughter, attempted kidhnapping and domestic violence causing great bodily injury. The jury also found true that Smith had four prior robbery and one assault with a firearm convictions from 1992 which makes him eligible for a life sentence in state prison under California's "Three Strikes" law”.

According to the DA the attempted murder happened amidst a child custody battle following a custody hearing that he didn’t. It show up for:

“... Smith may have not shown up for his February 22, 2019 custody hearing , but he didn't miss his ex-wife afterwards when he ran her down with his car in a downtown Modesto alley. After knocking her to the ground with his SUV, he got out and stabbed her multiple times before trying to force her into the back seat. When she escaped he tried to run her down again”.

Smith remains in custody in the Stanislaus County jail awating sentencing May 3rd.

The DA adds, “He won't miss his next hearing”.