Four men accused of killing a marijuana grow caretaker accepted a plea agreement Wednesday September 19th that will allow them to avoid spending the rest of their lives behind bars.
Andrew Marisap;19 Michael Saechao,21; David Tai,23; and Vu Tran, 24, all Pled Guilty to voluntary manslaughter for last September's Killing of victim He Ting Fu. Fu died during an exchange of gunfire that erupted at the marijuana grow site located off Carbondale Road near Ione. The four Sacramento men also admitted that the crime was committed in furtherance of a criminal street gang and that one of the gang members was armed with a gun at the time the crime was committed.
On September 27, 20011, the four co-defendants and a fifth man, Son Nguyon, 20 of Elk Grove, came to Amador County to steal from the marijuana grow. The four men will be sentenced to 22 years in state prison. Because the offence is a serious and violent crime, they will have to serve out 85% of the sentence before they are eligible for parole. Additionally, the conviction qualifies as a "strike" under California's Three Strikes Law, meaning that any subsequent felony conviction for the four men would expose them to double punishment and requires them to register as violent offenders upon release.
Sentencing for the four co-defendants is set for November 20th. Nguyen is set for a preliminary hearing on December 11, 2012. If convicted Nguyon could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Story from Press Release edited by Tom Slivick TSPN TV
The Upcountry Community Council meeting will be held on October 8, 2012 from 6-8pm at the Veterans Memorial Hall on Buckhorn Ridge Road in Pioneer. The primary agenda item will be the final Buckhorn Town Center Development Criteria.
UCC Chair Lynn Morgan, also hopes to have on the agenda an the agreement of both the County Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors pertaining to the Fire Safe Council and the High Country Fire Plan. If you have questions, Call Lynn Morgan, UCC Chair at 295-8626 or Sherry Curtis at 295-8626.
Story from Press Release edited by Tom Slivick TSPN TV
The Amador County Sheriff's Office will again participate in the nationwide Take-Back Initiative on Saturday September 29, 2012 from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. Last year, Americans participating in DEA's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day events turned in more than 276 tons of pills at more than 5,600 sites.
During the four previous "Take Back" events federal, state and local law enforcement partners including the Amador County Sheriff's Office have taken in over 1.5 million pounds of prescription drugs. Study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In an effort to prevent increased pill abuse and theft, the Amador County Sheriff's Office will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at one location within Amador County. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
The location in Amador County will be the Amador County General Services parking lot located 12200 B Airport Road Martell CA 95654 Saturday September 29, 2012 between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
Story from Press Release edited by Tom Slivick TSPN TV
