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VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 1 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2024
CALDOR FIRE INVESTIGATION
Court finds ‘insufficient evidence’ against Smiths Odin Rasco Staff writer The father and son accused of causing the Caldor Fire strode out of El Dorado County Superior Court with smiles on their faces Friday afternoon following Judge Vicki Ashworth’s ruling the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office had failed to present sufficient evidence to bring them to trial. The definition of recklessness and the
potential for a bullet strike to spark a fire were both vital in Ashworth’s decision, who turned to preexisting case law to help make her decision. “There is no doubt the Caldor Fire was devastating to many residents in El Dorado County,” Ashworth said as she began to give her ruling at the conclusion of the Smiths’ four-day pretrial. “However, the court must decide on the evidence, and not based on emotion.”
Though witness testimony, cell phone records and GPS location data all place the Smiths at the area of origin for the fire around the time the fire started, the evidence proffered by prosecutors failed to definitively prove that they started the fire, or that their actions met the court’s definition of recklessness. Turning to the 1982 California decision of People v. Budish, Ashworth concluded
Defense attorney Mark Reichel heads out of El Dorado County Superior Court Department 1 followed by his client, Travis Shane Smith Friday afternoon. Judge Vicki Ashworth ruled there was not sufficient evidence to bring Travis and his father David Smith to trial for allegedly causing the Caldor Fire. Mountain Democrat photo by Odin Rasco
■ See SMITHS, page A3
NEWS
In the
2023
in
The Mountain Democrat looks back on some of the top headlines of the past year. See Friday’s edition for more top stories.
County’s navigation center opens Village Life file photo by Dan Burkhart
Richard Hamlin, pictured in court during his 2006 sentencing, has once again been denied parole.
Hamlin denied parole again Mountain Democrat staff
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Richard Hamlin, a former El Dorado Hills resident and attorney who was convicted in 2006 of torturing his spouse, cruelty to his children, criminal threats and corporal injury to his spouse, was denied release from prison after his third attempt at parole, according to a social media post published Dec. 29 by the El Dorado County District
Attorney’s Office. Hamlin made previous requests in 2011 and 2019. “His former wife and all four of his children demonstrated tremendous courage and resilience by attending the day-long hearing and speaking before the Board of Parole Hearings,” the DA’s post notes. “Their statements described their suffering and upbringing by Hamlin, which has impacted each of their lives. In spite of having to relieve the trauma of that time, they all consistently, eloquently and strongly objected to the release of Hamlin.” Susan Hamlin and her children were subjected to systematic abuse by a man they should have been able to trust — husband and father — for years, according to facts that came out during his trial. The bizarre case came to light in 2004, after Richard escorted his wife of more than 20 years to the El Dorado ■ See HAMLIN, page A3
Eric Jaramishian Staff writer The road to implementing a temporary navigation center in El Dorado County proved to be bumpy, but the homeless population got new services to help them navigate out of homelessness when a shelter opened in February. The Volunteers of America-run center, located at 299 Fair Lane in Placerville at the site of the old juvenile hall, is outfitted with 60 beds and provides food, showers and laundry. The shelter also offers internet, a common room with a television, outdoor recreation and limited kennel space for pets.
HOME LOAN HOME LOAN
District 3 Supervisor Wendy Thomas speaks to attendees at the opening of El Dorado County’s navigation center Feb. 6, 2023. “I am proud that El Dorado County has come together with our community and the city of Placerville to meet the needs of our unhoused neighbors, our residents and our business community,” she said. The low-barrier, referral-only navigation center also provides case management services from VOA staff to connect clients
Eric Jaramishian Staff writer The 2021 Caldor Fire devastated the community of Grizzly Flat, burning hundreds of structures. Rebuilding has been piecemeal but two years later, residents saw a new post office constructed. Homes, a community church, fire station and Walt Tyler Elementary
Annual Percentage Annual Percentage Rate Rate
School, in addition to the post office, were destroyed in the more than 220,000-acre fire, displacing most residents. Some uninsured or underinsured victims of the fire resorted to living in trailers as they returned home. While residents struggle to rebuild what they once had, recovery
■ See SHELTER, page A8
PINESPony• 6462 PonyTrai Express Trail • 644-2363 POLLOCKPOLLOCK PINES • 6462 Express l • 644-2363 EL DORADO HILLSPark• 3963 Drive • 933-3002 EL DORADO HILLS • 3963 DrivePark• 933-3002 Serving our local communities 65 GEORGETOWN 193 • 333-1101 • 6310 Hwy.• 6310 193 Hwy. • 333-1101 Serving our local communities overyears 54 years GEORGETOWN Member Member Serving our local communities for over for 54foryears
Habla Espanol 800-874-9779 Espanol 800-874-9779 Maximum loan$417,000.00, $650,000, primary vacationresidence. residence. Se HablaSe loan vacation Maximum Maximum loan $417,000.00, primary orprimary vacationororresidence. NMLSR ID 479256 20%cash minimum downonpayment on purchase. equityonrequired on refiOther nance.loansOther loans under available underterms. different terms. 20% minimum downcash payment purchase. 25% equity25% required refinance. available different
1,750 OFF
$
up to
PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) Main • 622-0833 PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) 247 Main247 • 622-0833
✓ No application ✓ No application fee fee W. PLACERVILLE l e Dr.Lawyer & Ray• Lawyer W. PLACERVILLE • Placervi•l ePlDr.acervi & Ray 626-3400• 626-3400 ✓ No prepayment ✓ No prepayment penalty penalty • 694 Val Plelasant Road • 626-5701 DIAMONDDIAMOND SPRINGSSPRINGS • 694 Pleasant ey RoadVall•ey626-5701 Local processing and servicing CAMERONCAMERON ✓ Local✓processing and servicing PARKCameron • 4060 Cameron Drive • 677-1601 PARK • 4060 Park DrivePark• 677-1601
A near-completed U.S. Postal Service post office in Grizzly Flat sits on Sciaroni Road as a sign of hope in rebuilding the community fire-torn by the 2021 Caldor Fire.
ROOFING • SOLAR • SIDING
• ReÀ• nance Purchase ReÀnance PLACERVILLE Purchase PLACERVILLE 4040 ElRoad Dorado• 622-1492 Road • 622-1492 • 4040 El •Dorado
2 colx(3.3”) x 1.5” Mountain Democrat 2 col (3.3”) 1.5” Mountain Democrat
homeless crisis in El Dorado County, which was declared in spring 2022 by the Board of
Courtesy photo
■ See GRIZZLY FLAT, page A3
180180 Monthly per $1,000Borrowed Borrowed MonthlyPayments Payments of $8.30 $7.03 $1,000 180 Monthly Payments of $7.03 ofper $1,000per Borrowed
Check the El Dorado Advantage: Check the El Dorado Advantage:
to housing or medical resources. The temporary navigation center is the county’s latest effort to address the
Signs of recovery in Grizzly Flat
5.750%3.61 6.05% YEAR3.250 1515YEAR 3.250 3.61 Fixed RateFixed Rate
Mountain Democrat file photo by Eric Jaramishian
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Mountain Democrat
2022
5.750%3.61 6.05% YEAR3.250 1515YEAR 3.250 3.61
HOME LOAN HOME LOAN
Fixed RateFixed Rate
Annual Percentage Annual Percentage Rate Rate
• ReÀ• nance Purchase ReÀnance PLACERVILLE Purchase PLACERVILLE 4040 ElRoad Dorado• 622-1492 Road • 622-1492 • 4040 El •Dorado
180180 Monthly per $1,000Borrowed Borrowed MonthlyPayments Payments of $8.30 $7.03 $1,000 180 Monthly Payments of $7.03 ofper $1,000per Borrowed
Check the El Dorado Advantage: Check the El Dorado Advantage:
PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) Main • 622-0833 PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) 247 Main247 • 622-0833
✓ No application ✓ No application fee fee W. PLACERVILLE l e Dr.Lawyer & Ray• Lawyer W. PLACERVILLE • Placervi•l ePlDr.acervi & Ray 626-3400• 626-3400 ✓ No prepayment ✓ No prepayment penalty penalty • 694 Val Plelasant Road • 626-5701 DIAMONDDIAMOND SPRINGSSPRINGS • 694 Pleasant ey RoadVall•ey626-5701 Local processing and servicing CAMERONCAMERON ✓ Local✓processing and servicing PARKCameron • 4060 Cameron Drive • 677-1601 PARK • 4060 Park DrivePark• 677-1601
PINESPony• 6462 PonyTrai Express Trail • 644-2363 POLLOCKPOLLOCK PINES • 6462 Express l • 644-2363 EL DORADO HILLSPark• 3963 Drive • 933-3002 EL DORADO HILLS • 3963 DrivePark• 933-3002 Serving our local communities 65 GEORGETOWN 193 • 333-1101 • 6310 Hwy.• 6310 193 Hwy. • 333-1101 Serving our local communities overyears 54 years GEORGETOWN Member Member Serving our local communities for over for 54foryears
Habla Espanol 800-874-9779 Espanol 800-874-9779 Maximum loan$417,000.00, $650,000, primary vacationresidence. residence. Se HablaSe loan vacation Maximum Maximum loan $417,000.00, primary orprimary vacationororresidence. NMLSR ID 479256 20%cash minimum downonpayment on purchase. equityonrequired on refiOther nance.loansOther loans under available underterms. different terms. 20% minimum downcash payment purchase. 25% equity25% required refinance. available different