Stephen Quick, the father of murder victim Caleb Quick, said he was disappointed but not surprised after learning that Cassandra Michael’s defense plans to appeal her first-degree conviction.

Michael’s defense told local media that they intend to appeal.

Michael was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in a secure youth treatment facility after being convicted of aiding and abetting the murder of 18-year-old Caleb Quick.

Hours after the sentencing, Stephen Quick told GV Wire that the potential appeal was not unexpected because Michael’s defense repeatedly raised a Valley Crime Stoppers issue during the case.

“I’m not surprised because they really were pushing on the Crime Stoppers issue quite a bit when I thought it was pretty settled,” Quick said.

Quick said prosecutors had told him they were unable to obtain additional information from Crime Stoppers.

“I don’t know what information that they’re trying to get,” Quick said. “It’s disappointing for sure.”

Michael Found Guilty by Judge

Michael was found guilty  on Aug. 17 following a bench trial before Fresno County Superior Court Judge Brian Alvarez.

Caleb was shot outside a McDonald’s near Willow and Nees avenues in Clovis on April 23, 2025, and later died at a hospital. Prosecutors said Michael drove the white Tesla used to transport the alleged shooter before and after the targeted, pre-planned killing.

The defense maintained during the trial that Michael did not know the alleged shooter planned to kill Caleb.

Quick said he believes the evidence showed Michael was deeply involved in the events surrounding his son’s killing.

“I’m not sure what evidence from Crime Stoppers would show that she wasn’t there or didn’t have any involvement whatsoever,” he said.

Judge Imposed Maximum Juvenile Term

Alvarez sentenced Michael to the maximum seven-year term available at her juvenile disposition hearing, rejecting a defense request for four years and a probation department recommendation of six years.

Michael received 482 days of credit for time served.

During sentencing, Alvarez said an adult convicted of the same offense would ordinarily face 25 years to life in prison. Because Michael was tried as a juvenile, the judge was required to select a baseline term between four and seven years.

Alvarez found Michael equally culpable with the alleged shooter and said the killing was sophisticated and neither rash nor spontaneous.

“Even though she did not pull the trigger, she started the chain of events,” Alvarez said during the hearing.

The judge also questioned Michael’s actions before and after Caleb’s killing, including that she hugged him before he left.

“Something is wrong,” Alvarez said.

Quick Says Appeal Extends an Already Long Process

Quick said the prospect of an appeal means his family will continue dealing with a court process that has stretched more than a year beyond his son’s death.

“I’m sure they’ll appeal,” Quick said. “It’s just a longer process.”

At Wednesday’s sentencing, Quick delivered an emotional victim impact statement describing Caleb as his “best friend,” “gym buddy,” and “goofball.”

He told the court about the milestones his son would never experience, including his dream of becoming an engineer and an Air Force pilot, and asked Alvarez to impose the maximum sentence.

Caleb’s mother, Stephanie Bauch, also asked for the maximum term, telling the court that no sentence could restore the life her son lost.

Michael declined to address the court before Alvarez imposed the sentence.

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