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FALL SAVINGS – Midweek Edition – C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 25 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
Fentanyl dealer pleads guilty in woman’s death Chris Woodard Staff writer
Kamaal Yusuf, who was charged with second-degree murder for the fentanyl-related death of a 20-yearold Shingle Springs resident in 2022, pleaded guilty on March 21 and will be sentenced to 15 years to life, according to an El KAMAAL YUSUF Dorado County District Attorney press release. The 15-year sentence is the maximum possible sentence allowed under the law for second-degree murder, according to DA’s Office. The guilty plea comes almost three years after Yusuf sold counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl that led to the death of Shingle Springs resident Gillian PetersonMurray. Yusuf was arrested in early 2023 at his parents’ Elk Grove home, where law enforcement found over 5,000 fentanyl-laced pills, cocaine and an illegally-owned rifle. He pleaded not guilty in
Mountain Democrat photos by Chris Woodard
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers Keith Dougherty, Patrick Rude, Jordan Duncan, Daniel Freeman and Kyle Emmitt, left to right, are all smiles after receiving special recognition from the Mother Lode Lions Club last week.
CLASS ACTS
■ See GUILTY, page A5
Shooting injures one First responders treated to dinner, awards ■ Suspect taken into custody
Chris Woodard
Mountain Democrat staff
he Mother Lode Lions Club celebrated El Dorado County’s finest at the annual recognition dinner for local firefighters and sheriff ’s officers in Diamond Springs on March 20. The Mother Lode Lions club has been hosting the dinner since 2007. This year, EDSO School Resource Officers team and two local firefighters stood in the spotlight. “I’m proud to be here honoring our fire and sheriff ’s department in recognition of exemplary work and keeping our community safe,” said Mother Lode Lions Club President Jim Serpa. “We’re really
A 56-year-old man suffered a non-life threatening injury after reportedly being shot Monday afternoon, according to El Dorado County sheriff ’s officials. Around 2:20 p.m. on Monday, March 24, EDSO Dispatch received a phone call indicating that a shooting had occurred at a residence in the 5600 block of Rocky Ridge Road south of Placerville, reads an EDSO social media post. Deputies immediately responded to the area. The victim, a resident of Placerville, was PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
transported to a local hospital for treatment. The suspect in the assault was identified as Sven Gosta Metour, 57, of Placerville. Deputies contacted Metour in his vehicle and he was taken into custody without incident, the post noted. Metour was arrested and booked into the El Dorado County Jail in Placerville on suspicion of assault with a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As of Tuesday morning, Metour was listed in custody with bail set at $210,000. Due to the active nature of the investigation, sheriff ’s officials noted no further information will be provided at this time.
Staff writer
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Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Chief Matt Gallagher recognizes Engineer Christian Balderson at the annual dinner, noting Balderson’s reliability and professionalism. specific team this year — the school resource officers. “As school safety concerns grow across the nation, our SROs have made it their priority to engage
proud of you guys.” EDSO usually recognizes one of two deputies at the annual dinner, but El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf explained he wanted to recognize a
with students, work alongside administrators and build strong partnerships with the El Dorado County ■ See AWARDS, page A5
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