LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Finley man arrested last February for the murder of his cousin has been convicted of the killing but also found to have been legally insane and so is expected to serve his sentence in a mental institution.
On Thursday, Jan. 28, Salvador Flores Guzman, 70, was convicted of murdering his 78-year-old cousin Manuel Guzman in February 2015, according to District Attorney Don Anderson, who personally prosecuted the case.
Anderson said the court also found Salvador Guzman guilty of assault with means – specifically, a knife – likely to produce great bodily injury, and special allegations of inflicting great bodily injury on a person over the age of 70.
Salvador Guzman had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, not a common occurrence in the local courts, Anderson said.
Because of that plea, a special hearing followed the verdict, with the judge finding that Salvador Guzman was legally insane at the time he committed the crime, Anderson said.
Barry Melton represents Salvador Guzman in the case. “He was found both guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity,” Melton explained.
Judge Arnold Rosenfield presided over Guzman's bench trial. Anderson said local judges had recused themselves because Manuel Guzman's daughter is a court employee.
Anderson said that Salvador Guzman really hated his cousin, who he believed had been the cause of several problems he had been having over the past 30 years.
In particular, Salvador Guzman believed Manuel Guzman had poisoned him, tampered with his vehicle, entered his house late at night, tried to cause problems with his taxes and worked to get him deported.
“It was all just some delusions he had. None of it was real,” said Anderson.
“He finally said he had enough of it and he figured he had to kill him,” Anderson said of Salvador Guzman's motive.
On the night of Feb. 8, 2015, Salvador Guzman stalked his cousin in the parking lot at Konocti Vista Casino in Lakeport, Anderson said.
When Manuel Guzman left the casino in his pickup truck, Salvador Guzman followed him out in his van, according to the investigation.
Anderson said Salvador Guzman forced his cousin off the road and into a pear orchard on Stone Drive in Finley. Salvador Guzman then approached Manuel Guzman and stabbed him several times before he fled the scene, leaving his cousin in the orchard.
After responding to a report of a traffic accident, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers found Manuel Guzman lying in the orchard next to his vehicle, as Lake County News has reported.
Anderson said Manuel Guzman was found to have multiple stab wounds to his face and chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
With the help of family members, deputies located Salvador Guzman the next morning in his van at Lakeside County Park, according to Anderson.
Salvador Guzman will next be in court on Feb. 26 for sentencing and placement, Anderson said.
Melton said the Feb. 26 court appearance will be for two purposes – one for the conventional sentencing and the second for the recommendation of the community program director as to where he's to be placed.
“He'll go to one of the state's mental hospitals,” Melton said.
Guzman is older and has a series of medical problems, “aside from everything else,” Melton explained. “They're going to need to put him someplace where medical services are available.”
Melton said he would be able to comment more on the case after sentencing is complete.
“Although I can't comment on the verdicts at this point in time, I want to acknowledge that I was greatly honored to be in trial with the elected district attorney of Lake County, Don Anderson. He is a highly ethical lawyer and an extraordinarily gifted prosecutor,” Melton said.
Anderson said Salvador Guzman will end up spending the rest of his life in a mental institution.
After sentencing, Guzman will be transported to a facility, which will depend on finding a place for him.
“Sometimes it's very difficult finding a bed for them some place,” Anderson said.
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