A Los Angeles woman whose shooting spree snarled traffic on Highway 101 in Santa Maria two years ago has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison after changing her plea in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
Chappinette Lelani Martin, 35, initially faced nine felony charges for the November 2020 shooting spree.
A man notified California Highway Patrol officers about finding bullet holes in his food truck.
Martin was taken into custody after CHP officers found her near a vehicle stopped on the side of the highway south of the Alvin Avenue overcrossing.
Callers had alerted CHP officers that a subject was standing outside a vehicle, pointing a gun and shooting at passing motorists.
A CHP officer responding to the scene approached Martin’s stopped vehicle that she claimed had broken down.
However, bullet casings on the ground around the vehicle prompted officers to detain Martin.
She allegedly told officers she had a firearm in the vehicle, leading them to retrieve a loaded handgun.
A man later notified CHP officers about finding bullet holes in his food truck.
The incident led to the closure of Highway 101’s southbound lanes for a time as law enforcement officers worked to sort out the allegations and search the area. They did not find any additional suspects.
Martin initially was charged with four counts of assaulting a person with a semiautomatic firearm, three counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or vehicle, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of ammunition.
Additionally, several sentencing enhancements were alleged, including causing great bodily injury and using a firearm during a crime.
Prosecutors alleged it would be her second strike under California’s Three Strikes Sentencing Law.
Last month, she entered a no-contest plea to assault with a semiautomatic weapon plus admitted sentencing enhancements including the second strike.
During her sentencing hearing, Martin received credit for 879 days, or more than two years, in the county jail since her initial arrest.
Deputy District Attorney Austin Ingalls led the prosecution team while Lori Pedego served as the defense attorney.