A Rodeo man has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man during a marijuana deal gone wrong in Oakland. Robert Wilder, 33, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 24 years in California State Prison Centinela. The victim, Ruben Alvarado Jr., was shot and killed in December 2016 during a violent altercation that occurred inside a relative’s SUV.
According to court records, Wilder and his co-defendant, Joe’vonnie Wafer, 28, had planned to “finesse” Alvarado, implying that the deal was a setup for a robbery. However, the plan went awry, and Wilder’s gun went off accidentally, killing Alvarado. Wafer pleaded no contest to attempted robbery in 2021 and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Wilder’s lawyer, Darryl Stallworth, described his client as “one of the nicest young men” he has known and said that the 24-year sentence was an “appropriate resolution” given the original charge of life without parole. Wilder has already served seven-and-a-half years in Santa Rita Jail and will receive credit for good behavior.
The case highlights the dangers of drug-related violence and the devastating consequences that can result from a single mistake. Wilder’s lawyer acknowledged that his client made a “horrible decision” that led to the loss of life, but emphasized that Wilder has always been responsible and remorseful for his actions.
