LAKEPORT >> Billy Raymond Mount was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Steven Galvin, aka “T-Bone,” outside of a Clearlake home in broad daylight on July 2, 2015. Within the last 10 days, Mount’s Defense Attorney, Anakalia Sullivan, informed the court that Mount is requesting that a new trial motion be brought and is trying to hire private counsel.
A pivotal issue in this case involved Galvin allegedly identifying a man other than Mount as his assailant moments before he died. During the murder trial, Deputy District Attorney Sharon Lerman-Hubert presented the court with footage from the body camera work by Clearlake Detective Ryan Peterson. The video showed Peterson arriving at the scene, approaching Galvin, who was lying face down. Peterson asked Galvin who was responsible for his attack. According to court documents he replied, “Cyclops,” reportedly a nickname for David Cox.
A few days after the shooting, a second Clearlake resident, Sean Whiteman told police that he was driving his white pickup truck with Mount that day. Whiteman indicated that Mount had used a handgun to shoot Galvin.
Although Whiteman led police to a weapon, forensic experts were not able to lift a print or find DNA of Mount. They did, however, find evidence linking Mount to Whiteman’s truck.
Within less than four hours after closing statements, the jury returned a guilty verdict for Murder, Assault with Semiautomatic Firearm, Maliciously Shooting From a Vehicle at Person, and Possessing Firearm within 10 Years of Conviction, along with additional special allegations.
Both sides of counsel waived polling the jury, while one of the jurors was visibly crying.
Due to the recent request of a new trial motion, the Court appointed Defense Attorney, Christina DiEdoardo for the purpose of determining if a new trial motion should be filed. The Court informed Mount that should he hire private counsel, DiEdoardo can be relieved.
The Court set this case on Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m. in Department Three for appearance of DiEdoardo and the possible motion for new trial and/or Sentencing.
Mount is facing an undetermined sentence of 25 years to life in state prison and is also ordered to appear.
