Sixth person sentenced in New Year's Eve homicide

Yuba County prosecutors closed the books this week on the sixth and final defendant in the New Year's Eve homicide of Steven "Sam" Moore.

Moore, 38, was shot and killed Dec. 31 outside an apartment in the 1100 block of Arthur Street by Marcus Nelson Hume. Prosecutors said Hume shot Moore in a jealous rage during a feud over a woman who dated both men.

The final defendant, Samson Mulkey, was sentenced on Monday in Yuba County Superior Court to serve five years of probation as part of plea deal with prosecutors. He received credit for time served in jail.

"Our end of it is finished," said Mechele Cook, deputy Yuba County district attorney.

Mulkey, 17, was seated behind Hume in a pickup truck along with Kari F. Mulkey and the driver, William V. Silliman, Jr. Mulkey testified that he was acting as backup for Hume. Mulkey said he believed Hume intended to fight Moore.

Moore's sister, Massalina Lane, was unhappy with Samson Mulkey's sentence.

"He should've got what Kari got," Lane said Tuesday. "He should've got prison."

Kari Mulkey and Samson Mulkey are siblings. Kari Mulkey played a critical role in Moore's death by arranging for Moore to be on Arthur Street prior to the shooting. She was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Samson Mulkey was not a key player.

Lane said she was satisfied with the sentences the other five defendants received, including Hume.

Hume had been back on the street less than a month after being released from prison when he gunned Moore down. Hume had served time on a weapons possession charge. Hume was released under the terms of the state's prison realignment program, according to court records.

"At least (Hume) will never get out of prison," Lane said. "Samson is the only one I'm really upset about."

Two lookouts, David L. Eneix and Jesse Garate, were standing up the street, about 100 yards from the shooting. Their job, according to trial testimony, was to alert Hume and Silliman if anyone tried to come to Moore's aid.

At Silliman's trial in October, Hume testified he was trying to recover a sex tape he believed Moore made with Hume's girlfriend, Roni Mulkey, a sister to Samson Mulkey and Kari Mulkey.

Prosecutors, police and defense investigators searched for the rumored tape for months leading up to the trial, but a video was ever found. The District Attorney's Office said the tape may never have existed.

Hume rallied his five co-defendants on the afternoon of Dec. 31 in a bedroom at Silliman's apartment. According to testimony, he told some in the group the plan was to rob Moore of money, drugs and the tape. He told others he intended to fight Moore.

Silliman drove Hume and others to Arthur Street where they confronted Moore, who was seated inside his vehicle. Hume was seated in the passenger seat of Silliman's truck. Moore and Hume exchanged words regarding Roni Mulkey and Moore exited his vehicle with a baseball in hand, according to trial testimony.

Hume pulled a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun from his sleeve and fired once, striking Moore in the face, neck and chest. Moore died at the scene.

Five defendants were arrested within hours of the shooting. Hume remained on the run for several days before US Marshals captured him hiding out in a house in Linda.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.