Compassion, Care, Dignity, and Respect
530-748-3715 • Call 24 Hours In your time of 1004 need,Marshall we promise honest, upfrontCA pricing Way, Placerville, 95667and will never overcharge or mislead you. We encourage you to compare our services, PlacervilleFuneralCremation.com
facilities, and fees with others. We also offer preplanning services. We PREARRANGE NOW WITH GUARANTEED have proudly served the families of Northern California for over 35 years. PRICES • SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 3 C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Midweek Edition – FD-2299
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025
Essential Burial – $3,875*
VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 83 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
Essential Cremation – $1,535*
County settles long-battled fee lawsuit Includes $1,885 casket allowance *Save $1,140
Noel Stack Editor
Includes $95 urn + $100 container allowance *Save $745
530-748-3715 • Call 24 Hours 1004 Marshall Way, “Despite Placerville, 95667 beingCA provided proof that all fees were being utilized for PlacervilleFuneralandCremation.com
the purposes for which they were collected — mitigating the impacts of traffic from new development — the court ordered the county to refund Traffic Impact Fees that were collected over an approximately 22-month period in 2015-16,” a statement released by the county notes. In 2015 El Dorado Hills residents Thomas and Helen Austin sued El
Dorado County, the El Dorado Hills Community Services District and the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, arguing the agencies violated the California Mitigation Fee Act and shouldn’t have collected certain permit fees paid by home builders in those jurisdictions. The act requires agencies to prepare and approve updated nexus studies every five years that justify fees collected and outline how money will be spent to benefit
Prearrange Now with Guaranteed Prices
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 8 executed a settlement agreement to end the decade-long case of Thomas and Helen Austin v. El Dorado County, which challenged the county’s compliance with the procedural requirements of California’s Mitigation Fee Act.
Editor
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
El Dorado County has settled with Ricky Leo Davis, the man wrongfully convicted of a brutal murder in El Dorado Hills 40 years ago. It’s a multimillion-dollar lesson EDC District Attorney Vern Pierson doesn’t want any other law enforcement agency, city or county to learn the hard way. “The Ricky Davis case, with its $4.5 million price tag, exposed the catastrophic consequences of flawed interrogation tactics,” Pierson said. “The financial burden on taxpayers, combined with the profound human cost, demands reform.” The settlement includes Davis receiving $3 million from El Dorado County, $500,000 in state compensation and nearly $1 million in incarceration expenses. In 2016 The Innocence Project challenged the 2005 conviction of Davis, who was sent to prison for life in the 1985 slaying of Jane Anker Hylton.
■ See LAWSUIT, page A5
CLASSY & FLASHY
Wrongful conviction sets DA on new path Noel Stack
the public and offset impacts resulting from new development; however, the agencies named in the lawsuit had failed to submit their nexus studies as required at the time the Austins and many others paid fees. The courts ruled in the Austins’ favor and a series of legal maneuvers followed. In November 2019 a state Court of Appeals denied El Dorado
The victim was stabbed more than 30 times at a Stanford Lane home where she and her daughter were staying following a fight with her husband. Davis’ conviction was largely hinged on what was later determined to be a false confession by his former girlfriend Connie Dahl. DNA located on a shoulder of the gown near where a bite mark also emerged on the 54-year-old victim’s body was tested by the Sacramento Crime Lab, which made its findings known in 2014. The deposit was from a male but did not match Davis or Archie Hylton, the victim’s husband. Legal maneuvers and a new trial for Davis followed but in February 2020 El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Melikian declared Davis factually innocent and vacated his conviction in response to a motion filed by the EDC District Attorney’s Office to dismiss all charges against Davis, who had served 15 years in state prison. In August 2020 Davis filed an $18 million claim against the county, alleging EDSO officers caused his wrongful conviction and imprisonment . These investigators in the late 1990s and early
This year’s Niello Concours at Serrano paid tribute to the golden era of racing and Aston Martin. The Oct. 5 show on the green at the Serrano Visitors Center in El Dorado Hills brought out more than 200 of beautiful cars and even more car enthusiasts. Above, An impressive row of Ferraris catches guests’ attention. From left: Mike Thomas’ 458 Spider, John Grigsby’s 360, Sean Wallentine’s 360 Modena, David Thompson’s California T and Cody Smith’s 458 Italia. Right, spectators snap photos as several race cars slowly parade by. A Koenigsegg Jesko Attack moves along on the left, while Jeffrey O’Neill’s 2016 Ford GT Le Mans sits parked at the front right. Photos by Laurie Edwards ■ SEE MORE PHOTOS ON A5
■ See PATH, page A5
1 Dentist Dentist!
5.000%3.61 5.30% YEAR3.250 YEAR ROOFING • SOLAR • SIDING 1515 3.250 3.61
#
nine times!
1,750 OFF
$
up to
New Patients Always Welcome!
Jeff Little, DDS
Mention CODE: MD
Your Next Project!
*Call for details. May not be combined with other offers, estimates or prior purchases. Quantities Limited.
General & Cosmetic Dentistry
“Look For My Column On Page 3 Today!”
2024
3811 Dividend Dr., Suite A, Shingle Springs (916) 985-9995 • (530) 672-9995 www.straightlineconstruction.com
Mountain Democrat
2010 2024
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 $7.91 $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 GEORGETOWN 193 • 333-1101 • 6310 Hwy.• 6310 193 Hwy. • 333-1101 Serving local over 54 years GEORGETOWN Member Member Serving our local our communities forEspanol over 54foryears Se communities Habla
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
FA L L S P E C I A L
2 colx(3.3”) x 1.5” Mountain Democrat 2 col (3.3”) 1.5” Mountain Democrat
Up to
$2,000 OFF a new roof
and
Up to
$750 OFF roof repairs!
Some exclusion may apply. Coupon must be presented prior to estimate. No cash value.
Y O U R
R O O F E R
F O R
L I F E
• ROOFING • REPAIRS • GUTTERS Lic# 1069901
4261 SUNSET LN, SUITE 100, SHINGLE SPRINGS, CA 95682
roofgeeksca.com
FREE ESTIMATES
CALL TODAY 916-888-7663