LAKE COUNTY— Alan Leroy Ashmore was in custody and present, appearing via remote appearance for his sentencing hearing.
In March of this year, shortly before the pandemic, Ashmore pled no contest to murder and attempted murder charges which stemmed from a 2017 shooting rampage in Clearlake Oaks. The defendant has accepted a 140 years to life prison sentence.
A no contest plea is similar to a guilty plea as it carries the same fundamental consequences without the official admission of guilt.
During the latest hearing the Court read and considered The Report and Recommendation of the Lake County Probation Officer as well as the Memo of Probation dated April 8, 2020. By stipulation, the report and memo were received into evidence.
District Attorney Susan Krones read victim impact statements from Steven Patrick, Aaron Georgopulos, James Braden and Hartley Braden. The victim impact statement by Suzanne Ware was read by the Court and the impact statement of Steven Patrick was marked as People’s Exhibit 1 (ID).
The Court is honoring the previously agreed upon sentencing agreement.
Probation has been denied and the Court made the following findings – the defendant was under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the commission of the offense and he has demonstrated a history of substance abuse.
DNA samples are on file with the California Department of Justice.
Restitution in the amount of $42,519 (plus 10% annual interest) has been ordered by the Court along with restitution reserved for all of the other victims in this case. No other fines or fees are ordered as the Court has determined the defendant has no ability to pay.
Alan Ashmore pleaded to first-degree murder for the killing of his father, Douglas Ashmore, 85, and to the killing of his friend, Richard Braden, 64.
The defendant also plead no contest to the attempted first-degree murder of CHP Officer Steven Patrick.
The defendant was to be sentenced in April of this year, but due to the pandemic, the sentencing was held this month.
The sentencing agreement allowed the dismissal of several counts, including assault with a deadly weapon, hit and run involving a vehicle the defendant struck in Clearlake Oaks, a felon in possession of ammunition and guns and more counts dismissed.
During a motion to continue hearing last September, the People requested a continuance in this matter and there was no opposition from the defense as the Court granted the motion to continue.
In August of 2018 Ashmore, pled not guilty by reason of insanity.
During a settlement conference earlier in 2019, the jury trial was rescheduled for September 25, 2019.
The Jury Trial/Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity had been set for Jan. 16, 2019, but due to a continuance motion filed, the January 16 trial had been vacated. The Court, pursuant to the request of the People, ordered this matter be continued to March 2019– the March jury trial was also continued.
During a settlement conference in June of 2019, the People requested a continuance in the matter and again – the Courts granted the request. The matter was continued to July 16, 2019 for a Settlement Conference/Trial Readiness Conference with a jury trial date of Aug. 21, 2019.
The doctors’ reports, which contain the evaluation of Ashmore’s mental capacity, were received in court during a hearing in 2018 and the matter was set for trial.
The Clearlake Oaks man was held to answer on the homicides of his father Douglas Ashmore and Richard Braden and the attempted murders of CHP Officer Steven Patrick, Harold Noell, and Mauro Lopez.
At the request of counsel, this matter was set for a master calendar call (to confirm all parties were ready to proceed with the upcoming scheduled court dates) on Jan. 31, 2020 with the jury trial set for Feb. 5, 2020, which was also vacated.
The Court, pursuant to the request of the Defendant, ordered the Master Calendar Call be continued to February 28 with the Jury Trial scheduled for March 4, 2020 at 8:15 a.m. in Department 4.
The day before the March 2020 jury trial, the defendant pled no contest.
The defendant was awarded 989 days of credit for time served.
Alan Ashmore was represented by Defense Attorney Andrea Sullivan.
The defendant was remanded to custody of the Lake County Sheriff to be delivered to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
