LAKEPORT — Upper terms were handed out in the sentencing of both defendants convicted last month of crimes related to the stabbing death of 25 year-old Montana man Shelby Ryan Uehling. In delivering sentences for both Shannon Lee Edmonds, 35, and co-defendant Melvin Dale Norton, 38, of Clearlake, Honorable Judge Arthur Mann said the crimes were serious enough for legal consideration of upper terms.
Edmonds was convicted in March of the Sept. 2009 murder of Uehling following nearly three days of deliberation by the jury. He was convicted of murder in the second degree, assault with a knife and 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.
Edmonds was sentenced to 15 years to life for the murder charge. He also received four year sentences for each of the assault charges enhanced by three years the special allegation. His sentences are to run concurrently.
Norton was acquitted of the murder charge in March; however he was found guilty of being an accessory and for assault likely to cause great bodily injury. In sentencing Norton, Judge Mann took into consideration a Romero Motion, which requested the judge”s consideration in striking a prior conviction when considering the sentence at hand. Judge Mann accepted the motion in that he reviewed the prior strike to be of the same act in which Norton was previously convicted.
Had the strike not been considered in Monday”s sentencing, Norton would have had two strikes in his criminal history and would have been looking at 50 years to life. However, Norton”s base sentence was four years eight months, which was doubled on account of the prior strike for a total of nine years four months.
“We brought the motion to strike the one prior because we thought treating Mr. Norton under three strikes was excessive. Under three strikes Mr. Norton was looking at 50 years to life today,” Defense Attorney Stephen Carter said. “But Judge Mann, I believe, saw the justice of imposing a sentence that was consistent with what my client was actually convicted of in this case. It was our co-defendant Shannon Edmonds who was found guilty of murder. We are very gratified that my client will now serve a sentence of nine years four months instead of life.”
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
