PLACERVILLE, California — Three men charged in the murder case of El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Ishmael were arraigned this afternoon in an El Dorado County courtroom.
All three defendants sat separately in the jury box wearing orange jail jumpsuits as they plead "not guilty" through their court appointed attorneys.
Juan Vasquez Orozco is the alleged shooter charged with murder.
Ramiro Bravo Morales, 22, charged with "accessory after the fact" and Gary Ross, 47, who owned the property where the shooting took place, was also charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter.
The District Attorney said Ross was being charged under what's called a "theory of implied malice."
"The court has described it as when you set a lethal man trap in a dark alley and send someone into it unknowingly," said Vern Pierson, El Dorado County District Attorney.
The complaint filed in the case says Ross had agreed with Orozco and Morales to contract a portion of Ross' 10-acre property to grow marijuana.
Ross would get $13,000. He was "initially paid $2,000, followed by a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was valued at $8,000."
On the night of the shooting, Oct. 23, Ross called 911 reporting that people were trying to steal the marijuana.
The complaint said Ross didn't disclose there were two caretaker/guards living next to the marijuana grow who were armed.
When Ishmael and an off-duty San Joaquin County Sheriff's Deputy arrived, the complaint alleged Ross sent the deputies in the direction of the grow where they were then ambushed with gunfire.
"Our thoughts are with all the impacted deputies, as well as the family of Deputy Ishamael," said Pierson.
The DA is not seeking the death penalty right now, but he said that could change. The U.S. Attorney is also seeking drug trafficking and firearms charges.
There is no bail for all three on the federal charges. The next court hearing for all three is December 17th.
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