District Attorney

PEOPLE V. JOSHUA JEEMANG LEE-  Defendant was convicted of a felony violation of Penal Code section 192(b), Involuntary Manslaughter of his 2 month and 22 day-old baby girl, Ariel Zoey Lee.  On January 8, 2021, Ariel was non-responsive and life flighted to UC Davis Medical Center, where she was placed on a ventilator and was not expected to survive as the doctors found bleeding on Ariel's brain and brain swelling, signs of shaking the baby.  Both doctors who examined the baby at UC Davis Medical Center opined that the injuries inflicted upon Ariel were a result of the baby being shaken, not consistent with the Defendant's initial explanations of her choking during feeding or falling off the bed in their Willows apartment. Defendant, who was 18.5 years old at the time of the incident, eventually confessed that he picked up his daughter under her arms and shook Ariel twice. Defendant admitted he shook Ariel because he was angry and frustrated that she would not stop crying, thinking shaking would make her stop crying. Defendant was also coming down from being under the influence of non-prescribed Xanax, Percocet, and marijuana. Defendant spoke at sentencing that he "loved and misses his daughter greatly and wishes she was still here."  Defendant Lee's attorney argued that the Defendant is mentally unstable and had an IEP in school, mitigating his criminal conduct. 

DA Stewart argued to the court that many times the defense used the term "accident" yet this deliberate action by the Defendant was not an accident.  Mr. Stewart stated Ariel was shaken so hard that her brain was smashed against her skull, shaken so hard that she died because of the injuries at the hands of her father. Injuries that the Defendant admitted he intentionally inflicted because he was mad, angry, and frustrated. Mr. Stewart stated “Defendant intentionally inflicted these injuries because Ariel would not stop crying, taking out that frustration on his 2 month and 22 day-old child, silencing her forever.”  

After lengthy arguments asking for a prison term under mandatory supervision from the prosecution versus a request for probation from the defense, the Defendant was granted probation for 4 years, 180 days in custody to serve at a substance abuse rehabilitation treatment facility, a 52 week Child Abuser program, drug court, anger management , and mental health counseling. This case was prosecuted by DA Stewart with assistance from Glenn County Sheriff's Office Detective Lopeteguy and Victim Witness Advocate Pinedo.  Our sincerest condolences and prayers for healing to the Bassetti family for the loss of their baby girl. In January of 2021, Ariel donated her heart and saved the life of a 5-month-old boy in Seattle. Rest in peace, Ariel.