LAKEPORT — A Sonoma County man is set to go to trial in May in Lake County for two cases carrying a total of four life sentences.
On Monday, visiting Judge Diane Elan Wick set the jury trial for May 25 and other court appearances for Thomas Loyd Dudney, 59, and Joseph Henri Deshetres, 62, while Cheryl Ann Reese, 56, asked for a one-week continuance.
Dudney, Deshetres and Reese allegedly conspired in November to intimidate a witness in the attempted murder case against Dudney.
District Attorney Jon Hopkins said he might ask to formally join the cases next week.
Deshetres of Santa Rosa, Dudney of Fulton, and Reese of Lakeport are charged with intimidating a witness and participating in a criminal street gang. Special allegations that the crimes were committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang accompany the first charge. The charges with special allegations carry a life sentence.
Dudney and another co-defendant, Joshua Isaac Wandrey, 35, of Rohnert Park are charged with premeditated attempted murder, aggravated mayhem, torture, home invasion robbery in concert with another, first-degree burglary, assault with a firearm, assault with a blunt force object, assault likely to produce great bodily injury, serious battery, simple mayhem and participating in the criminal street gang the Misfits.
Three of the 11 charges carry life sentences. Special allegations that the crimes were committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang, that great bodily injury was inflicted and use of a firearm accompany the charges.
The charges against Deborah Ann James, 47, were dropped March 1 after Judge Arthur Mann found there wasn”t sufficient evidence on charges of premeditated attempted murder, home invasion robbery in concert with another, first-degree burglary and participating in the criminal street gang the Misfits.
Wick approved Hopkins” motion to combine Dudney”s and Wandrey”s attempted murder case with no objection from the defense attorneys.
The pair will return to court April 14 for a trial readiness conference, April 30 for a trial call and May 4 for jury trial. Dudney and Wandrey are being held without bail in the attempted murder case.
Dudney and Deshetres are scheduled to return to court for a motion hearing 8:15 a.m. May 10 in Department 3, 8:15 a.m. May 12 in Department 1 for trial readiness conference and 8:15 a.m. May 21 in Department 3 for trial assignment. Reese will return to court for general appearance of council 8:15 a.m. Monday.
Deshetres entered a general time waiver.
Deshetres and Dudney remain in custody at the Lake County Jail with a no-bail hold. Reese made her $250,000 bail March 19 and was released from jail.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
