Sentenced to 150 Years: One Man’s Violent Crime Spree Shakes California

Sentenced to 150 Years: One Man’s Violent Crime Spree Shakes California

Tele Matangi, a 37-year-old man from Pittsburg, California, has been sentenced to 150 years to life in prison after committing a series of violent crimes that stretched across multiple cities in a single day.

It all began on September 18, 2023, when Matangi crashed through a locked gate at Gonzales High School, triggering a chain reaction of chaos. What followed was a spree that included two carjackings, a head-on collision on Highway 101, gunfire directed at a good Samaritan, and a home burglary.

After stealing a second vehicle and then a golf cart, Matangi was ultimately found hiding inside a storage unit. He reportedly pointed a firearm at officers before being arrested.

Authorities found a .40-caliber handgun, methamphetamine, ammunition, and stolen keys in his possession. That same firearm was later linked to a drive-by shooting in Antioch the day before.

Matangi was convicted on multiple felony charges including:

• Carjacking

• Attempted carjacking

• First-degree robbery

• Shooting at an occupied vehicle

• Residential burglary

• Hit-and-run

• Possession of a firearm and controlled substances

• Being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition

• 
  

With prior serious felony convictions on his record, Matangi was sentenced under California’s “Three Strikes” law, receiving the maximum penalty.

This case has drawn attention not only for the severity of the crimes but for what it reveals about the state’s criminal justice framework. It demonstrates how repeat offenders face mandatory extended prison terms and how a single day’s actions can lead to a lifetime behind bars.

To see more high-profile criminal cases and justice system breakdowns, visit:https://www.sdotvenom.com/blog