On September 24, 2024, Francisco Menesses, 23, of Stockton, was convicted of first-degree murder and several related felony charges stemming from a violent 2018 home invasion in Lathrop that resulted in the death of Robert Archuleta. Menesses, who was 17 years old at the time of the crime, was initially charged as a juvenile. However, San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas, who personally prosecuted the case at its onset, successfully argued for Menesses to be transferred to adult court.

 He was found guilty of the following charges:

- PC 187(A) First-Degree Murder 

- PC 12022.53(D) Use of a Firearm Causing Death 

- PC 459 1st Degree Residential Burglary 

- PC 12022.5(A) Use of a Firearm 

- PC 667.5(C)(21) Person Present 

- PC 212.5(A) Residential Robbery 

- PC 12022.53(B) Use of a Firearm 

- PC 245(A)(2) Assault with a Firearm 

- PC 12022.5(A) Use of a Firearm 

- PC 236 False Imprisonment 

- PC 12022.5(A) Use of a Firearm 

- VC 2800.2(A) Evading a Peace Officer 

 On April 15, 2018, Menesses entered a Lathrop residence, holding four adults at gunpoint while two minor children hid in a bedroom. When one of the adults, Robert Archuleta, attempted to flee, Menesses chased him and fatally shot him. He then fled the scene in one of the captive adults' vehicles, leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 5, which ended in a multi-car collision. Menesses was later apprehended after fleeing on foot, with witness identifications and forensic evidence confirming him as the shooter.

 District Attorney Ron Freitas, reflecting on the case, stated: 

“As the prosecutor who first handled this case, I knew immediately that Menesses’ brutal actions demanded the full weight of adult prosecution. Violent criminals like Francisco Menesses will face the full force of the law. His reign of terror ended in this conviction, and this community is safer because of it.”

Freitas emphasized the importance of protecting San Joaquin County residents from violent offenders: 

“I will not stand for our residents being terrorized in their own homes. We will ensure that those who commit violent acts are held accountable.”

 He also highlighted his office’s dedication to public safety:  “Our mission to keep San Joaquin County safe is resolute. We remain dedicated to securing justice and protecting the people of this community.”

Freitas commended Deputy District Attorney Theresa Stroud for her excellent work in prosecuting the case, as well as the investigative efforts of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. "Thanks to DDA Stroud and our law enforcement partners, a dangerous criminal has been taken off the streets," Freitas added.

 Freitas also expressed his gratitude to the Honorable Judge Seth Hoyt for presiding over the case and to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office for their diligent investigation. "Our office will always stand firm against violence and deliver justice for victims," Freitas concluded.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2024, in Department 8A of the San Joaquin County Superior Court.