Vallejo man sentenced to life without parole for violent sexual assaults

A 36-year-old Vallejo man learned Tuesday in Solano County Superior Court that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars for two violent sexual assaults in 2018 in Vallejo.

During proceedings in Department 15, Judge Robert S. Bowers sentenced Kenneth Lee Weathersby Jr. to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for crimes he committed against a minor female and 150 years to life for crimes committed against an adult female.

Court records showed that on July 16, Weathersby kidnapped the adult woman at gun point while she was walking in Vallejo. A stranger to her, he ordered her into his car, and drove around for several hours. During that time, Weathersby committed acts of forcible oral copulation and rape upon her.

Two weeks later, on July 30, he also kidnapped the minor female at gunpoint in Vallejo, ordered her into his vehicle, and proceeded to drive around for hours.

During this period of time, the girl was held at gun point while being raped and forced to perform several acts of oral copulation. Eventually, she was able to escape from the vehicle while stopped at a red light and run for help. She was able to provide identifying information about her attacker to Vallejo Police Department which helped them solve the case. The defendant was positively identified by both victims.

“Both of these women displayed a tremendous amount of resourcefulness, bravery, and courage not only throughout this horrific ordeal but also throughout the trial,” which began on Feb. 24, 2020, Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams noted in a press release issued Tuesday.

“Despite the overwhelming amount of fear, anxiety, and stress in going to trial, both women courageously testified,” she added in the press statement.

On March 18, 2020, Solano County issued a shelter-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Bowers abruptly halted the trial. Two days later the trial resumed, and, after hearing closing arguments, the jury convicted Weathersby of the following charges: kidnapping to commit rape; forcible rape; forcible oral copulation of a minor victim over 14 years; forcible oral copulation of a minor over 14 years; forcible oral copulation of minor over 14 years; and criminal threats.

Of the adult victim, the jury convicted Weathersby of kidnapping to commit rape; forcible oral copulation; (another count of) forcible oral copulation; and forcible rape.

The jury also made a true finding that Weathersby personally used a firearm during the commission of the crimes.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Shelly Moore led the prosecution. Detective Josh Caitham of the Vallejo Police Department was the primary investigating officer. Victim Witness Advocate Shamar Lewis provided victim advocacy.