Matthew Daniel Mora was recently present by remote appearance and in custody at a Disposition/Setting Hearing.
Mora has been charged with Murder, Assault with a Semiautomatic Rifle on Person and Discharging a Firearm in a Negligent Manner.
The defendant also has been charged with a violation of probation in another matter involving driving under the influence of alcohol, which resulted in a conviction on Jan. 25, 2021. This matter trails the murder case, which has been set for a settlement hearing on Jan. 19, 2022, followed by a trial assignment hearing on Feb. 4, 2022 with a jury trial set for Feb. 9, 2022.
The charges stem from an incident earlier this year when, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, on Jan. 26, 2021, at approximately 5:40 PM, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 600 block of East Highway 20 in Upper Lake for a report of a gunshot victim. When deputies arrived they found a female dead from an apparent gunshot wound.
The victim was identified as 56-year-old Christine Mora. Witnesses identified the shooting suspect as the victim’s step son, 35-year-old Matthew Daniel Mora. Mora fled the scene prior to the deputies’ arrival. Witnesses stated Mora was intoxicated and arguing with family at the residence when he shot his step mother.
The Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene to continue the investigation. Deputies were able to locate Mora at a local hotel and take him into custody. He was booked at the Lake County Jail where he is being held with bail set at one million dollars. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 707-262-4238.
During a preliminary hearing in March, Judge J. David Markham ordered the defendant to stand trial for his stepmother’s, Christine Mora, murder.
Also in March, an arraignment on an information hearing was held and the defendant entered a not guilty plea to all counts (Murder, Assault with a Semiautomatic Rifle on Person and Discharging a Firearm in a Negligent Manner) and he denied the Special Allegations.
