Six of eight defendants charged in connection with an explosion that killed seven men in Esparto returned to court Thursday for arraignment proceedings, as victims’ family members testified about how the blast had upended their lives, CBS Sacramento reported.
Yolo County prosecutors allege that roughly 450 tons — about one million pounds — of explosives and pyrotechnics were stored on property owned by former sheriff’s deputy Samuel Machado, and that the cache caused the deadly explosion.
Samuel and Tammy Machado were arraigned and are scheduled to return next week for a preliminary hearing. Tammy Machado is the only defendant free on bail; the others remain in custody, according to CBS Sacramento. A judge denied Samuel Machado’s bail request.
Yolo County Deputy District Attorney Deanna Hays cited Samuel Machado’s close ties to sheriff’s deputies present in the courtroom and throughout the county as a flight risk factor, arguing he could easily evade justice.
Machado’s defense attorney, David Fischer, maintained in a filed motion that his client was merely a landlord in the matter.
The mother of Joel Melendez Jr., 29, addressed the court on behalf of her family. She said that while she wishes she could have her son back, the family wants those responsible held accountable. Relatives said they recently sang “Happy Birthday” to an empty chair on what would have been his 29th birthday.
The sister of two other victims — Jhony and Jesus Ramos — asked the judge to deny bail to all defendants, saying they bear responsibility for seven deaths. Custody conditions for all defendants remained unchanged.
Jesus Ramos’s girlfriend appeared in court with their newborn child; Ramos died before his son was born. She told the court that life without him has been hard, but that she is relieved the case is moving toward justice.
What’s Next
Jack Lee, Douglas Tollefsen, Craig Cutright, and Gary Chan are scheduled to complete their arraignments next week. Cutright’s attorneys filed a motion Friday to lift his bail hold; a hearing on that request is set for Monday, CBS Sacramento reported.
All six defendants are expected back in court together at next week’s general session.