A Fresno man who has a history of committing violent crimes has been sentenced to life in prison for the attempted murder of an employee at Lithia Ford, a dealership near Blackstone and Bullard avenues.

On Monday, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Brian Alvarez sentenced 39-year-old Manuel Bracker to three years plus 14 years to life in state prison. 

On Aug. 15, Bracker pleaded guilty to all counts of enhancements and admitted a prior strike conviction. He later entered a not guilty plea by reason of insanity. After an Aug. 22 court trial, he was found legally sane.

The attempted murder occurred on Oct. 26, 2022, when Bracker stole a knife from a nearby Target and went to the dealership. Once inside a conference room, he stabbed the victim twice in the back before being chased out by employees and detained by law enforcement. The victim survived after undergoing emergency surgery.

Bracker’s criminal history includes a 2020 conviction for stabbing another victim in the neck at a local grocery store. 

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Innessa Yenokian, with investigative support from Senior District Attorney Investigator Jacob Rios.