Police say the murder was a
case of mistaken identity, and that it was one of Jessop's roommates that was
the intended target. Calaveras County Prosecutors Barbara Yook and Seth
Matthews told Judge Douglas Mewhinney that the two men went to Jessop's house,
which he shared with a man named James McLain and two other people, intending
to rob the place to elevate their own gang status and to enhance the gang's
ongoing criminal activities. The 15-day jury trial, which has seen numerous
delays, is now set for April 26 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 6 of Calaveras
County Superior Court.
Friday, 23 March 2007 04:28
Moke Hill Murder Suspects Set For Trial
The murder trial has been
set for two men accused of killing a Mokelumne Hill man in the spring of 2005. Donald Pinon and Daniel Rocha are
accused of shooting David Jessop, 19 in the back of the head while Jessop was
in bed. According to Calaveras
County officials drugs
and gangs are believed to be involved. A Calaveras County Superior Court Judge ruled in May 2005
that two Valley Springs men must stand trial for murder along with other
charges. Twenty-one-year-old Donald Pinon and 20-year-old Daniel Rocha stand
accused in the shooting death of Jessop who was found shot to death in his bed
early on March 16th 2005 in
Mokelumne Hill.
Police say the murder was a
case of mistaken identity, and that it was one of Jessop's roommates that was
the intended target. Calaveras County Prosecutors Barbara Yook and Seth
Matthews told Judge Douglas Mewhinney that the two men went to Jessop's house,
which he shared with a man named James McLain and two other people, intending
to rob the place to elevate their own gang status and to enhance the gang's
ongoing criminal activities. The 15-day jury trial, which has seen numerous
delays, is now set for April 26 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 6 of Calaveras
County Superior Court.
