Jamestown, New York – A Jamestown man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of a 35-year-old man in August 2022. Kevin Roldan-Pantojas, who pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in November, received the decade-long prison term, as announced by the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.
The case began on August 19, 2022, when Jesus Batista-Perez was killed during a barrage of gunfire on Prendergast Avenue in Jamestown. District Attorney Jason Schmidt stated that the conviction and sentence are not a cause for celebration, emphasizing the danger and recklessness of the incident, which endangered the lives of innocent residents in the neighborhood.
Initially, Kevin Roldan-Pantojas and Joseph A. Fontanez Walker were both charged with criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. However, charges against Walker were later dropped. Roldan-Pantojas faced a five-count indictment a month after the homicide, and bail was set at $1 million cash or $2 million property bond.
Jamestown detectives spent months developing and testing evidence, identifying the shooters, and reconstructing the sequence of events. Despite facing a potential 25-year sentence, Roldan-Pantojas agreed to plead guilty to the manslaughter charge, avoiding trial. He has been in custody at Chautauqua County Jail in Mayville and was represented by local attorney Andrew Brautigam.
The conviction and sentence of Roldan-Pantojas highlight the efforts of law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office to hold those who commit violent crimes accountable for their actions. The tragic events that unfolded on that summer afternoon in Jamestown serve as a sobering reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence in communities.