Repeat DUI Offender Sentenced for Second-Degree Murder Following Crash

Published on September 11, 2026

On September 11, 2026, Ryan Mathew Wayne Trevino (38, of Fresno) was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison following his conviction for second-degree murder in the death of John Michael Tarter (78, of Fresno).

The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Ryan Wells of the Fresno County Superior Court following Trevino’s plea to second-degree murder on August 4, 2026. Trevino was also sentenced in a separate case for driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs stemming from an offense that occurred on October 1, 2023.

At approximately 2:20 p.m. on January 13, 2024, Trevino was driving westbound on Millerton Road near Table Mountain Casino at a high rate of speed as he approached a curve in the roadway. Trevino allowed his Chevrolet Silverado to cross into oncoming lanes and onto the opposite shoulder, directly into the path of Tarter’s Toyota Tundra. Trevino crashed head-on into Tarter’s vehicle, and Tarter was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter.

Officers with the California Highway Patrol contacted Trevino following the crash. Trevino denied consuming alcohol or any other impairing substances. However, alcohol containers were located inside his Silverado, and officers observed strong indicators of impairment.

Toxicological testing of Trevino’s blood revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .243% nearly two hours after the crash. Further testing also showed the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance in marijuana.

An investigation conducted by the California Highway Patrol’s Investigative Services Unit and Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team revealed additional evidence regarding Trevino’s conduct before and during the crash. Information extracted from his Silverado showed that Trevino was traveling approximately 72 miles per hour as he entered the area of impact around the curve.

Evidence recovered from Trevino’s cellular phone also showed that he had been in the Shaver Lake area earlier that day, where he purchased alcoholic beverages from a bar and liquor store. Minutes before the fatal crash, Trevino recorded himself driving on a rainy State Route 168 at speeds ranging from 75 to 95 miles per hour while bragging about how “good he can drive in bad weather.”

Trevino had previously been convicted of DUI offenses in 2006 and 2018 and had been warned by the courts about the dangers of driving under the influence. At the time of the fatal crash, Trevino was also facing charges for a separate DUI offense that occurred on October 1, 2023.

Four days before the fatal crash, Trevino appeared in court in connection with the pending DUI case and was ordered not to use or possess alcohol or visit establishments where alcohol was the primary item of sale. Despite those court orders and prior advisements regarding the dangers of impaired driving, Trevino chose to get behind the wheel on January 13, 2024.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the California Highway Patrol for its investigative work, dedication to this case, and continued efforts to keep the community safe from impaired drivers.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Steven Ueltzen with assistance from Senior District Attorney Investigator Randall Paulson. The case was prosecuted as part of the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program, which is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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