A 50-year-old Woodland man lost his bid for a new trial Friday and will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for his role in the murder of California Highway Patrol Officer Andy Stevens.
Taken away in chains after his sentencing Friday, Gregory Zielesch nodded to his weeping family members in the Woodland courtroom.
Jurors convicted Zielesch in April of murder and conspiracy in the Nov. 17, 2005, roadside slaying of Stevens, 37.
Prosecutors argued that Zielesch had supplied a revolver to 22-year-old Brendt Volarvich to kill a man who was involved with Zielesch's estranged wife.
Stevens intercepted Volarvich during a traffic stop on a rural road near Woodland and was killed with a single shot to the head.
Jurors found Volarvich, a previously convicted felon, guilty of murdering the officer to avoid going to jail.
Following the jury's recommendation, Yolo Superior Court Judge Stephen L. Mock imposed a death sentence on Volarvich in June. The Roseville man is on death row in San Quentin State Prison.
The sentencing of Zielesch was delayed after defense lawyer Stephen Naratil moved for a new trial based on newly uncovered evidence.
Doug Shamberger, the alleged target of the murder-for-hire plot, had given a statement to the defense team that he and Zielesch were on good terms and Zielesch had no reason to want him killed.
Shamberger had refused to testify at trial, asserting his constitutional right against self-incrimination, but came forward after jurors convicted Zielesch.
He testified last month that a key prosecution witness, Rebecca Pina, had made up the story of the murder plot to curry favor with prosecutors in her own criminal case.
Mock agreed Friday that Shamberger's testimony was newly discovered evidence but said inconsistencies in Shamberger's statements made it "not credible."
The man's testimony was unlikely to make a difference if he granted Zielesch a new trial, the judge said.
He then sentenced Zielesch to 25 years to life for the murder of Stevens, and another 25 years to life for the conspiracy to kill Shamberger.
A variety of weapons and drug charges netted Zielesch additional years in prison.
"The use of methamphetamine is so central to everything that happened in this case," Mock said in regard to the drug charges.
Zielesch will not be eligible for parole until he is at least 90 years old, Naratil said after court Friday.
Naratil said jurors had been conscientious but "got it wrong" when they convicted Zielesch, who has always maintained his innocence.
The testimony of Pina, a methamphetamine addict and convicted felon who had dated both Zielesch and Volarvich, was not believable, Naratil said.
Pina testified that she had overheard Zielesch and Volarvich make a pact to kill Shamberger in exchange for the older man bailing Volarvich out of jail.
Zielesch's conviction would be appealed, Naratil said.
The murdered CHP officer's mother, Pat Stevens, attended Friday's sentencing.
In the courthouse hallway she said she was relieved to see Zielesch sent to prison.
"He was the one that was behind all this," she said.
Call The Bee's Hudson Sangree, (916) 321-1191.
