Man convicted for shooting woman at motel gets 39 years-to-life

A 58-year-old man convicted of shooting a woman at a 16th Street motel will probably spend the rest of his life behind bars, after his recent sentence.

Louis Clifton Trimble was sentenced to 39-years-to-life Jan. 25 for shooting a 24-year-old woman at the Siesta Motel, located at 1347 West 16th St. A jury convicted Trimble last year attempted felony premeditated murder and attempted robbery of a dwelling. Both counts had an enhancement attached for use of a gun.

Prosecutors said Trimble had lured the victim into a room at the hotel on Nov. 5, 2008, offering to smoke crack cocaine with her. Inside the room, he pulled a revolver from his waistband and fired four times. The bullets struck the woman in the upper torso. Trimble then pointed the revolver to the woman’s head, according to the prosecution, and clicked the trigger several times.

Merced police arrested Trimble hours after the shooting and found residue on his hands from firing the gun.

Trimble’s public defender didn’t deny that his client shot the woman, but argued it was a crime of passion, saying Trimble reacted after learning the woman involved in prostitution and used drugs. — Victor A. Patton