Repeat DUI Offender Sentenced to Life Term Following Murder Conviction

Published on April 10, 2026

On April 9, 2026, Marvin Vance Reese Sr. (60, of Lemoore) was sentenced to five years plus 45 years to life in state prison after being convicted of second-degree murder.

The sentence follows a jury trial that concluded on December 9, 2025. The jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before returning a guilty verdict. The Honorable Brian Alvarez of the Fresno County Superior Court presided over the trial and imposed the sentence.

In the early morning hours of June 29, 2019, Reese was driving a Hummer H2 southbound on Highway 41 at a high rate of speed when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Hyundai Elantra driven by Derek Balderas (36, of Fresno).

Balderas, who was working as an Uber driver and returning home after dropping off a passenger in Lemoore, was killed when his vehicle became engulfed in flames following the crash.

Reese was found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.13%, well above the legal limit.

Reese had five prior DUI convictions (1994, twice in 2006, 2011, and 2013) and had been repeatedly advised that future impaired driving resulting in death could lead to a murder charge. Despite those warnings, he continued to drive under the influence.

In addition to his DUI history, Reese had four prior “strike” convictions, including two robberies, a residential burglary, and criminal threats. In total, he has sustained 18 criminal convictions in California.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office thanks the California Highway Patrol for their investigation and continued commitment to keeping our roadways safe.

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

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