LAKEPORT — Shannon Lee Edmonds, 35, was found guilty of second-degree murder as well as two other assault charges alleged in the Sept. 2009 stabbing death of Shelby Ryan Uehling, 25. A verdict of guilty was also rendered in relation to a special allegation waged against him in the 13-day murder trial.
Co-defendant Melvin Dale Norton, 38, was found not guilty of murder as well as lesser included charges of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, assault with an asp (retractable, police-type baton) and assault with a knife. He was, however, found guilty of being an accessory to murder as well as of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury.
“We are pleased with the verdict and believe it represents a very fair appraisal of the evidence as it unfolded during the trial,” Deputy District Attorney Art Grothe said. “The jury was very attentive and professional in their approach to the case throughout the entire trial process. Their conduct was exemplary.”
Grothe said that strong detective work as well as that of law enforcement on all levels contributed to the outcome of the case.
Verdicts were rendered at 10:50 a.m. Thursday after nearly three full days of deliberation by the jury. The jury found Edmonds to be guilty of murder in the second degree, assault with a knife and assault with an asp. While the jury found Edmonds not guilty of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, it did find him guilty of the special allegation, in that he did personally inflict great bodily injury upon the victim.
“I feel very confident that we did the right thing and we put in a lot of thought,” Juror No. 5 Teresa Cates said. “We went over everything with a fine-toothed comb and we went over it again to make sure we made the right decision.”
While Norton was not convicted on murder charges he was however, found guilty of being an accessory to murder as well as assault likely to cause great bodily injury.
“I was very pleased to secure an acquittal on the homicide charge for my client,” Norton”s defense attorney Stephen Carter said. “I was hopeful of an acquittal on the assault with a deadly weapon on the case. I know the jury worked very hard on the case, as did Judge Mann, and I accept their verdict.”
Carter said that while he is pleased with the verdict in relation to his client, much work remains in the case for his office. Carter said he intends to present a Romero Motion at the sentencing, which is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. April 26 in Lake County Superior Court Department 3 in Lakeport.
A Romero Motion is a request to the judge for consideration of removing a strike(s) for prior serious or violent felony convictions. Outside the presence of the jury, Judge Arthur Mann addressed alleged prior convictions belonging to Norton. Norton admitted to convictions rendered in July 2001 for robbery and assault and battery.
“With the Romero Motion, what we”re going to be asking the judge to do is strike one of the prior felony convictions that my client suffered,” Carter said. “The two different convictions were suffered in the same case and they involved the same or similar conduct. So, we will be bringing the motion for the judge to strike one of those convictions. The affect in terms of sentencing would be the difference between 25 years to life for my client or approximately 10 years in prison.”
Carter said without the prior convictions and based on the charges the jury found him to be guilty of on Thursday, Norton would have been looking at a sentence of four years and eight months. “Because of the prior record the issue is 25 years to life,” Carter said.
Edmonds” convictions also carry a maximum sentence of 25 years to life.
Defense Attorney Doug Rhoades, who represents Edmonds in the case, did not return a call the newsroom before press time Thursday.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
