Stockton Man Gets Life in Prison for Vicious Assault of Gas Station Clerk in Tracy
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, CA — A judge has sentenced Rene Vega of Stockton to life in prison plus 14 years for the brutal, unprovoked assault of a gas station clerk in May of 2022.
According to a press release by the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, Vega, 51, entered the AM/PM gas station in Tracy at around 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2022, while the victim was working alone.
He first reportedly tried to steal two Gatorades and demanded that $50 of gas be put in his vehicle, and when the victim tried to de-escalate by offering to comply and pay for the items, Vega grew more agitated and began making threats to assault and kill the victim.
After about ten minutes, Vega ripped a metal bar from the wall, went behind the counter, and viciously beat the victim with the bar until it broke in half.
The victim suffered multiple skull fractures, a broken jaw, a brain bleed, blindness, and other life-threatening injuries, but ultimately survived.
Vega was later convicted in court of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated mayhem, attempted robbery, and criminal threats with enhancements to include great bodily injury and the use of a deadly weapon.
On Monday, May 4, 2026, Honorable Judge Mallett sentenced Vega to life in prison plus 14 years and eight months.
The District Attorney’s Office noted that Vega had never met the victim before the day of the attack.
“This was a calculated and extraordinarily violent attack on a completely innocent victim simply doing her job. The level of brutality in this case is difficult to comprehend,” District Attorney Ron Freitas said of the case.
“Because of the relentless work of law enforcement and our prosecution team, this defendant will spend the rest of his life where he can no longer harm anyone. We remain committed to standing with victims and ensuring justice is served.”
The District Attorney’s Office also commended Detective Eric Smith for his investigative work and Deputy District Attorney Mahjoubeh Foolad for prosecuting the case.
