Fresno pot farmer sentenced in shooting death
Phayvanh Dydouangphan
FRESNO — The Fresno man who shot and killed a thief who stole marijuana plants from his backyard was sentenced Monday to 28 years to life in prison.
Phayvanh Dydouangphan, 47, shot and killed 40-year-old Stanley Wallace of Caruthers in September 2010. Wallace and several others pulled up to Dydouangphan’s house in Fresno in a pickup truck and stole the medical marijuana that he was growing legally in his backyard.
Dydouangphan came out of his house and shot at the group as they drove away in the pickup, striking Wallace in the head. Prosecutor Michael Frye said during the trial that when police showed up at the scene, Dydouangphan told an officer, “They rob, I shoot.”
During his trial, Dydouangphan said he was scared for his life and shot at the thieves in self-defense. He said one of the thieves pointed a gun at him first.
A jury found Dydouangphan guilty of manslaughter, assault with a firearm, and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
On Monday, Fresno Superior Court Judge Arlan Harrell said that Dydouangphan and his family were never in danger. He said that Dydouangphan apparently valued his marijuana plants “more than human life.”
The victim’s widow, Wanda Wallace, said she was satisfied with the sentencing. She said that marijuana can be regrown, but her husband could not be replaced.
