A judge in San Francisco, California, is currently facing backlash after she ordered a man convicted of involuntary manslaughter to be released on probation. The individual killed a beloved grandfather by shoving him to the ground. The 84-year-old man succumbed to a brain hemorrhage only days later.
Content creator Braeden Sorbo took to TikTok to express his outrage over how Antoine Watson, 25, had been ordered to be released on probation by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Linda Colfax. His clip garnered 138,200 views, 25,700 likes, and more than 600 comments.
As reported by the American Community Media (ACoM), the incident occurred back on January 28, 2021. At the time, Vicha Ratanapakdee, known as “Grandpa Vicha,” was walking in his neighborhood. Suddenly, a 19-year-old Watson approached him and shoved him. Vicha fell onto the ground, hitting his head.
Two days later, Grandpa Vicha, a Thai immigrant, succumbed to his injuries, having suffered a brain hemorrhage. Watson was arrested and charged with murder.
Five years later, in January 2026, Watson was acquitted of murder but was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and force likely to produce great bodily harm. ABC7 reported that both the prosecution and Vicha’s family were extremely disappointed with the verdict.
However, months later, in March 2026, Judge Colfax sentenced Watson to eight years in prison. Watson got five years’ credit for his time served since he was arrested, and then Colfax ordered the rest of his sentence to be suspended. He has since been released from prison and remanded to his mother’s home, ACoM reported.
California Judge Under Fire
The sentencing sparked backlash online directed at the California judge.
Some users targeted the judge’s decision, calling it flawed, with one user asking, “Why do people allow judges who don’t judge properly?” Others urged Vicha’s family to take further action, with one viewer suggesting, “The family should sue the state. That is a scandalous result.”
Meanwhile, users expressed feeling exhausted by how the law is enforced in California. One user wrote, “I’m so freaking DONE with California, and I don’t even live there.” Another one added, “This state is exhausting.”
Many factors contribute to the case having the reach and engagement that it has. Of course, the fact that Grandpa Vicha was an elderly man minding his own business makes the whole case heartbreaking. Furthermore, the users’ sense of justice can also explain the case’s virality.
Watson will have to pay $19,000 in restitution to Vicha’s family. He is also barred from visiting the California grandfather’s neighborhood and must stay away from those who survived the beloved grandpa.
