18-Year-Old Gets Nine Years in Prison for Assault with Semiautomatic Firearm
Above: Aidan Sewall
(Courtesy of Butte County D.A.’s Office)
Originally published by the Butte County District Attorney’s Office:
An Oroville man was sentenced today to nine years in state prison for charges stemming from a drive-by shooting outside of an Oroville residence in May of this year.
Aidan Romero Sewall, 18, had earlier pleaded no contest in Butte County Superior Court to a count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm causing great bodily injury.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the charge stemmed from an incident on May 28, 2023, when Oroville Police were called to a Spencer Avenue residence on a shooting. When they arrived at the residence, they located a 21-year-old male with a gunshot to his arm. The victim described being in front of the residence with friends when a black Infiniti sedan drove by. The victim heard a gunshot and then felt his arm get “flung in the air.” A closer examination showed he suffered a single through-and-through gunshot wound to his right upper forearm.
Some of the victim’s friends at the scene described seeing a gun appear from the window of the black Infiniti just before the gunshot was heard. The gun was described as a 9mm Glock semi-auto pistol. A 9mm spent casing was located at the scene of the shooting. None of the witnesses were either willing or able to provide police with names or a description of any of the occupants of the Infiniti. However, a couple of hours after the shooting, a black Infiniti was stopped by police in Oroville driven by Aidan Sewall’s twin brother, Riley Sewall. It was determined Riley was the driver of the Infiniti at the time of the shooting.
After an extensive and painstaking investigation, the detectives determined Aidan was a passenger with Riley at the time of the shooting. Aiden was detained by Red Bluff police on June 26, 2023 on a separate felony assault charge in Tehama County. During questioning about the Oroville shooting, he admitted shooting what he described as a “Ghost Glock” towards the victim, claiming he was acting in self-defense when he saw the victim reaching for his waistband but then admitted he did not see a firearm. More evidence was obtained suggesting the shooting was an act of retaliation for an incident that occurred the evening before involving Aidan, Riley, and some of the victim’s friends.
At today’s sentencing hearing, the defense argued Aidan Sewall should receive a lower term of six years because he was only 18 at the time of the offense. However, prosecutors pointed out Aiden was a self-admitted street gang member and had many photos of himself with guns on his social media. Judge Corie Caraway ruled the middle term of nine years was more appropriate because Aidan had engaged in violent conduct that indicated he was a serious danger to society.
Riley Sewall has been charged with and is currently being sought for a charge of accessory after the fact in connection with his twin’s case. Anyone knowing his location is encouraged to call the Oroville Police Department.
