GOLD RUN, Calif. — A homeless fugitive from San Bernardino County was sentenced to 32 years in prison after assaulting a man trying to stop a burglary at a Placer County church.
According to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, 27-year-old John Waninger was sentenced Thursday.
CASE HISTORY
The church burglary and assault happened June 26, 2021, at the Pioneer Union Church in Gold Run.
The sheriff’s office says the elderly victim confronted Waninger as he was trying to steal sound equipment and tools from the church. Waninger told him he was homeless and needed the money.
The victim offered to pay Waninger for yardwork and his phone to take a picture of him. He demanded the phone and shot at the victim with a pistol before pistol-whipping him to the ground.
Investigators say Waninger then demanded the victim drive him to an ATM, but he refused, so he demanded money before taking off to Interstate 80 on a scooter.
A witness called 911 and a manhunt began that lasted several hours until someone reported seeing Waninger walking on Interstate 80 near the Dutch Flat exit. He was arrested in the woods.
Investigators found Waninger had a warrant out for his arrest for a San Bernardino County homicide that happened three days earlier.
He arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, robbery and burglary in the Placer County case. He was ultimately convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, attempted carjacking, criminal threats and commercial burglary.
He will now be taken to San Bernardino County to face murder charges from the case down there.
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