After hearing statements from multiple family members and friends about their loss since Frankie Placido Hernandez’s killing in 2021, a Santa Maria Superior Court judge sentenced the shooter to spend up to 35 years to life in state prison Friday morning.

Erik Rocha Fernandez, 22, changed his plea to guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to dissuade a witness during a March hearing.

Frankie Placido Hernandez, 29, was found deceased in a vehicle near the Broadway interchange with Highway 101 on the north end of Santa Maria shortly after 2 a.m. May 28, 2021, according to police.

Hernandez died of a single gunshot wound to his head, according to court documents. 

Investigators determined that the shooting at a vehicle with three people inside occurred near a business on the 100 block of East Grant Street.

A fingerprint from the bike left at the shooting connected the defendant to the crime, according to police. 

The defendant was arrested the following night while riding a bike.

In the days after the shooting, a large memorial with balloons, flowers and candles grew in a turnout area where the victim’s vehicle ended up at the Highway 101 off- and on-ramps near the Santa Maria River bridge. 

The sentencing hearing before Judge Patricia Kelly had to be divided into two parts after the defendant couldn’t be in court in person on May 5, but listened to statements remotely.

To accommodate relatives who traveled to the Central Coast for the hearing, some victim impact statements occurred last week and others were delivered Friday.

During the May 5 hearing, some spoke out against the agreed upon sentence of 10 years followed by 25 years to life in state prison, saying Rocha Fernandez deserved death. 

Family and friends shared about finding out Hernandez had died, with one saying, “this was the worst day of my life.”

“Frankie had so much potential and could have helped so many people,” a grandmother added.

“It’s not fair. You took the life of an innocent outgoing, handsome young man,” an aunt wrote to the court.

Others shared about the positive impact Hernandez made on their lives. 

“You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” according to one letter.

“My only regret is not being able to have one last conversation with him,” his father said.

“From the entire family we love and miss you Frankie,” his stepmother added. 

Deputy District Attorney Madison Whitmore led the prosecution team while Sydney Bennett represented the defendant. 

The sentence means Rocha Fernandez will be held accountable for his actions, the prosecuting attorney told the court Friday morning. 

“Of course, I cannot say what he will like in 25 years or 35 years, but one thing will still be true – that the world, the community, his family will not have Frankie Hernandez.,” Whitmore said. “I hope that immeasurable loss stays with the defendant for his lifetime, that same way it will stay with Frankie’s family.”

Rocha Fernandez received credit for 714 days he has spent in custody since his arrest. 

The judge also ordered Rocha Fernandez to pay a $10,000 fine and other fees plus set a June 2 hearing date to review the restitution amount owed by the defendant.

The judge told Rocha Fernandez “it is a very telling situation when you have two days” of victim impact statements and urged the defendant to consider the impact of his actions, including leaving the victim’s young daughter without her father. 

“I wish you good luck,” Kelly said at the end of the hearing.