LAKE COUNTY — Former San Francisco resident Renato Hughes Jr., 23, was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday for assaulting Clearlake Park resident Shannon Edmonds and armed burglary in a December 2005 incident.
Lake County Superior Court Judge Arthur Mann gave Hughes Jr. the upper term of six years for the burglary, enhanced by one year because one of his accomplices was armed. Mann imposed the midterm of one year for an assault on Edmonds with a firearm. Lake County District Attorney Jon Hopkins prosecuted Hughes Jr. as an accomplice to the crimes.
“That”s why we had a change of venue, because we knew we couldn”t get justice here,” Hughes” mother, Judy Hughes, said outside the courtroom.
Hughes Jr. faced two counts of murder for the shooting deaths of his companions, Rashad Williams and Christian Foster, even though Edmonds testified he, not Hughes Jr., pulled the trigger as the men ran from his home. A jury acquitted Hughes Jr. in Contra Costa County Superior Court of murder, attempted murder and robbery charges in August after a change of venue was granted in November 2007.
Hopkins charged Hughes Jr. under the Provocative Act doctrine, alleging Hughes Jr. is responsible for his friends” deaths because his friends had provoked Edmonds to kill during the burglary.
Hopkins dropped a charge of assault on Clearlake Park resident Dale Lafferty with a metal bat by one of Hughes” companions. The Contra Costa jury had hung 11-1 in favor of a conviction in August. Hopkins said retrying the case for the possibility of one year added to the sentence was not worth the court”s time.
According to statements read in court by Edmonds” common-law wife, Lori Tyler, and Lafferty”s grandmother, Deborah Besley, Lafferty suffered permanent brain damage when a portion of his frontal lobe had to be removed during brain surgery because of the attack.
Tyler”s hands shook as she read her statement to the court.
“I do not have any feelings of hatred for the defendant or anybody else involved in the crime. I am hurt and disgusted over what happened,” Tyler said.
Hughes Jr. read the court a statement about his intentions to pursue a business degree, help raise his daughter and “restore balance and harmony” and make a positive impact upon his release.
Hughes” defense attorney Stuart Hanlon said he plans to be back before the court in approximately a year to appeal the conviction and the sentencing.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
