Man convicted in officer’s 2010 death sentenced to 96 years in prison

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A probationer who failed to tell law enforcement about
armed people holed up in his apartment, leading to the death of a San Diego
police officer, was sentenced Monday to 85 years to life in state prison, plus
11 years.

Alex Charfauros, 29, was convicted last month of second-degree murder in
the 2010 death of Officer Christopher Wilson, a father of two and 17-year
veteran of the San Diego Police Department.

Kaylee Wilson, who was 20 when her father was killed, said it makes her
“sick” thinking about Charfauros' inactions when officers asked him if there
were any guns, people or drugs in his apartment.

“All you had to do was say something,” Kaylee Wilson told the
defendant. “I lost my dad and your (10-year-old) daughter lost her dad.”

The officer's daughter said she had to get married without her father
present and her younger brother had to graduate from high school without his
father being there.

“Your actions forced us to grow up very quickly,” she told Charfauros.

The night of Oct. 27, 2010, probation officers and U.S. marshals went to
Charfauros' apartment on South Meadowbrook Drive. Probation officers were
checking on Charfauros, and the marshals were looking for Holim Lee, who had
outstanding warrants for assault and a probation violation, prosecutor Michael
Runyon said.

A man — not the defendant — opened the door and said Charfauros wasn't
home, then slammed it shut. Officers forced entry into the apartment and
Charfauros came crawling out of the east bedroom.

Once outside, officers asked Charfauros if there were any guns, drugs or
anyone else inside, but the defendant was uncooperative, Runyon said.

A number of officers were called to assist, including Wilson. Once
inside, an officer kicked in the door of the west bedroom and “all hell broke
loose at that point,” Runyon said. Wilson, 50, was shot in the head and died a
short time later.

Charfauros had not told law enforcement that Lee and his girlfriend,
Lucky Xayasene, were living in the apartment and that four guns and a shotgun
were “waiting on those officers,” Runyon said. Charfauros also failed to
inform officers that Patrick Luangrath and Melissa Ortiz were in the apartment.

The bodies of Lee — believed to be the shooter — and Xayasene were
found in the west bedroom with self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Luangrath and Ortiz pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Luangrath
was sentenced to more than 22 years behind bars.