California Supreme Court: Man can be tried for murder

A Rio Linda man, Dustin William Sparks, can be tried on murder charges even though the shooter was convicted only of voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of two Olivehurst man during an attempted medical marijuana robbery, the California Supreme Court ruled today.

The ruling sets aside a decision by Yuba County Judge James Curry.

Michael Huggins shot Scott Davis and Christopher Hance to death in September 2005, claiming self-defense. He was charged with first-degree murder but a Yuba County jury convicted him of voluntary manslaughter.

Sparks, one of several accomplices, had planned to enter the Hance property in Olivehurst with Huggins but stayed outside the fence.

Sparks' attorney, Justin Scott, argued that his client should be charged only with voluntary manslaughter instead of first-degree murder.

Sparks has been held without bail in Yuba County Jail since his 2005 arrest.

Scott cited an earlier 3rd District Court of Appeal case, People v. Taylor, in ruling that Sparks should not face first-degree murder charges. But the Supreme Court justices ruled that later decisions by their own court and the U.S.Supreme Court "have undermined Taylor's reasoning and the authority on which it relied."

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.