Trial

“I cannot believe this,” Somerville said in the video. “This has got to be the worst day of my (expletive) life.” Throughout the video, Somerville is heard asking questions such as “This guy, was he married?” “Does he have family?” “Kids” “How old?” He questioned why the fire department didn’t say it was them on the other side of the door. Somerville’s family exited the courtroom in the middle of the video playing.

The status of the defendant is another factor to consider when evaluating
the need for a change of venue. Robert Somerville is described as a Modesto
resident who owned Capital Concessions Manufacturing which designs and builds food trucks. His family is quoted as describing him as a “good” man and “great” father. Those who knew him described him as a “nice,” “quiet,” and “decent” neighbor. There is one negative reference in the pretrial publicity to prior DUI charges: Modesto resident.

Tre Somerville said his father has owned Capital Concessions and Manufacturing for more than ten years. “We design and build food trucks,” he said he said his father is a food truck designer and builder and has owned Stockton’s Capital Concessions and Manufacturing for more than
ten years. “My father is a good man. He’s a great man. He’s a community man,” he said.

Robert Somerville, the man charged in connection with the fatal
shooting of Stockton Fire Capt. Vidal “Max” Fortuna, was a quiet and
decent neighbor, owners of businesses located near Somerville’s
business said.

“He seemed very decent,” Laura E. Gassner, co-owner of Mark Ease,
a sign and banner store located on Aurora Street next to Somerville’s business, said. ‘”He’s so quiet,” Jose Torres, owner of the nearby La Popular Mattress store, said of Somerville. “He’s a nice guy.” Torres and Gassner said they recalled Somerville, who lived at the shop, as a decent and quiet neighbor. “Words alone will never be enough to express the devastation and
the sorrow we feel for Stockton Professional Firefighter Max Fortuna’s wife
and two children,” the statement said. “At this moment, we would just like to respect the Fortuna family and have respect for ours as well as we deal with this,” Tre Somerville said.

The judge said based on Somerville’s history of failing to appear in
court two times for DUI charges, it would be a strong probability he
wouldn’t appear in court if he was granted bail.

Most of the media coverage focuses on the status of the victim and the
community’s reaction following the death of a local first responder. Consistent
In other cases of this nature, the victim, Captain Max Fortuna, is often
described as a hero and leader who was respected and loved:
Fortuna was a hero, Lincoln said. “His leadership, his commitment to our city is reflected here by his brothers, sisters, his community showing relentless support.

“Max was a firefighter who showed up every day and never complained about being on the job. Don’t know too many firefighters who enjoyed the job as much as him.” “Everybody loved Max. He showed up to work every day and was well respected.” Stockton Firefighters Local 456 Union President Mario Gardea remembered Fortuna as someone who was always smiling and
laughing.