February 26, 2024 - Sonora, California –– Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke has announced that on February 20, 2024, Jamestown resident Jonathon Gavi was sentenced to a total of 8 years 8 months in State Prison.

The sentence comes after Mr. Garris pled guilty to Transportation of a Controlled Substance for Sale and admitted an enhancement that he has a prior strike conviction.  He also acknowledged understanding a fentanyl advisement which advises that illegally selling or furnishing methamphetamine, heroin or fentanyl-laced drugs carries with it the specific risk that those drugs are potentially laced with a lethal substance and if someone were to die because of ingesting a fentanyl-laced product he provided then he could be charged with manslaughter or murder.  In the same case he also pled guilty to Possession of a Billy and admitted the same prior strike conviction.  Additionally, he pled guilty in a separate case to Failing to Appeal While on Bail connected to the first case along with the prior strike conviction

On February 15, 2023, an officer with the Sonora Police Department contacted Mr. Gavi at a local gas station where he confirmed that Mr. Gavi had an active warrant for a parole violation.   During a search incident to arrest on the warrant, officers 29.53 grams of methamphetamine and 58.71 grams of fentanyl, along with an expandable baton, and a small billy club.  The fentanyl was in the form of “ZKITTLES” cannabis candy which Mr. Gavi admitted was in fact fentanyl.

Mr. Gavi has two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance for sale amongst his prior felony convictions.  Mr. Gavi also has a prior conviction which qualifies as a strike under California’s strike laws for which he was on active parole at the time of the crime.  Under current California law, Mr. Gavi is only subject to a state prison commitment because of his prior strike conviction.
Source: Tuolumne County District Attorney