WOODLAND, Calif. — A Yolo County jury Tuesday morning acquitted an accused man of murder and voluntary manslaughter in a nearly three-year-old homicide case in which defense attorneys argued that he acted in self-defense to protect his wife.
The verdict was announced shortly after 9 a.m. on Oct. 27, 2026, in Department 7 of Yolo County Superior Court, with Judge Paul K. Richardson presiding.
The accused was charged with murder in connection with a Dec. 3, 2023, incident, with voluntary manslaughter considered as a lesser included offense.
According to earlier reporting by KCRA, the incident occurred outside a business in the 100 block of West Main Street in Woodland, where police said an ongoing dispute escalated into a fatal confrontation.
Police initially alleged that the accused struck the other man with his vehicle before fatally shooting him. Investigators reported recovering a firearm at the scene and initially described the deceased man as unarmed.
However, during an April 2025 bail hearing previously covered by the Vanguard, Defense Attorney Dale R. Gomes disputed the prosecution’s account, pointing to evidence that the deceased man had a gun and had previously threatened the accused’s family.
Gomes also argued that the accused had been on the phone with 911 seeking assistance before the confrontation. The defense maintained that his actions were necessary to protect his wife, an argument that ultimately prevailed when the jury acquitted him of murder and voluntary manslaughter.
At the April 2025 hearing, Gomes also emphasized that the accused had no prior criminal record. Judge Daniel M. Wolk upheld $1 million bail despite the defense’s request for a reduction.
The case also involved allegations of great bodily injury, personal use of a firearm and aggravating circumstances. The jury found the accused not guilty of both homicide offenses and rejected two enhancement allegations. The remaining aggravating circumstance was dismissed.
Addressing the jury after the verdict, Judge Richardson said, “I know this case was tough.”
The court subsequently ordered the release of the accused’s vehicle, removal of his Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor (SCRAM) ankle monitor and exoneration of his $50,000 bond.
Family members of the accused were visibly emotional inside the courtroom. They stood as the jury left, and several thanked the jurors.
In a statement following the verdict, Gomes said the acquittal vindicated his client’s actions, maintaining that he had acted lawfully to protect his wife.
“The jury’s verdict reflects what the evidence showed: [The accused] acted lawfully in self-defense in order to protect his wife from a very dangerous man,” Gomes said.
Gomes also criticized the prosecution’s handling of the case, arguing that his client and his family had been subjected to years of unnecessary criminal proceedings.
“[The accused] and his family were the victims here, but those who were vested with the responsibility of vindicating the innocent failed the [accused’s] family,” Gomes said.
Gomes thanked the jury for its consideration of the evidence and its verdict, describing his client as a hero.
“[The accused] and his family are grateful that the jury carefully considered the evidence and returned a just verdict. It took years but justice was finally done today,” Gomes said.
To comment please go to one of these social media platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisVanguard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peoples-vanguard-of-davis-inc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davisvanguard/
X: https://x.com/davisvanguard
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vanguardnewsgroup.bsky.social
Subscribe to the Vanguard News letters. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit davisvanguard.org/donate or give directly through ActBlue. Your support will ensure that the vital work of the Vanguard continues.
