Bay Area man who fatally stabbed his brother-in-law sentenced to 12 years

A 37-year-old Fairfield man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Friday after he was convicted in December of voluntary manslaughter for the fatal stabbing of his brother-in-law last year.

Kristopher Robert Johnson, a previously convicted felon, used a knife to kill Raymond Antonio Moore, 30, a musician and music educator, during a violent confrontation at Moore’s home.

In addition to the manslaughter charge, the jury also found true that Johnson used a knife.

Judge Stephanie Grogan Jones sentenced Johnson to 11 years on the manslaughter charge, the maximum allowed under California law, and added 1 year for the deadly weapon enhancement.

The sentence was imposed after several victim statements were read to the court.

Moore’s mother Ginsi Robinson, told the court in a written statement that her son was special to her “long before anyone else” and added “I knew his heart. I knew his dreams. I knew his goodness. I watched him grow into a man who inspired people not just with music but with the way he lived,” she wrote.

Moore’s wife, Jehssikah Plummer also submitted a written statement, saying Moore was her and her children’s “light.”

She called her brother’s actions “senseless” and said he “destroyed the lives of countless people.”

“On top of losing our ray of sunshine, we must live with the fact that someone who should have been family … betrayed us all in the most unjust way that he could,” she said.

Deputy District Attorney Amanda Farr led the prosecution. Alternate Public Defender Rohan Beesla represented Johnson.

As previously reported, Johnson stabbed Moore twice in the chest, puncturing his lungs. The stabbing occurred after the two men got into a fist fight outside the home and continued the violent conflict some moments later inside the home.

Johnson, Fairfield police investigators said, fled the scene and was arrested about 24 hours later at Lincoln Road East motel in Vallejo.

Moore  was considered a talented musician who helped to teach music to disabled children.