LAKEPORT — The District Attorney said Wednesday he would use defendants” prior convictions to impeach them if they choose to testify in the attempted murder and torture case against them.
District Attorney Jon Hopkins and two defense attorneys said defendants Thomas Loyd Dudney and Joshua Isaac Wandrey have prior felony convictions.
Dudney of Fulton and Wandrey of Rohnert Park allegedly shot, tortured and hogtied Ronald Greiner Oct. 20 at the Lakeport man”s home on South Main Street behind the Record-Bee building.
Dudney, 59, and Wandrey, 35, 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.
Dudney and two other co-defendants, Joseph Henri Deshetres, 62, and Cheryl Ann Reese, 56, allegedly conspired in November to intimidate a witness in the attempted murder case against Dudney.
Deshetres of Santa Rosa, Dudney 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 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. Their jury trial is set for May 25.
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.
Hopkins said in the case against Dudney and Wandrey that prosecution is still waiting for forensic evidence results and may not have them by the time trial starts.
Wandrey”s defense attorney, Stephen Carter, said he”s concerned the attorneys don”t have all the evidence.
Hopkins said the lab employees hope to have the results ready by the first trial day.
Attorneys guessed the trial would run from four to seven weeks, which Judge William McKinstry said could have a consequence to jury selection.
Dudney and Wandrey will return to court April 14 for a trial readiness conference, April 26 to be arraigned on consolidation information, 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.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
