C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 175 • ISSUE 34 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2026
Murder suspect, alleged accomplice appear in court Noel Stack
weapon was used, in this case a cord, and the complaint also notes the violent crime was carried out A murder with “great violence” is with “planning, sophistication and how the El Dorado County District professionalism” and “involved great Attorney’s Office describes the death violence, great bodily harm, threat of county resident Tyson Fiddler, of great bodily harm or other acts according to the criminal complaint disclosing a high degree of cruelty, filed against murder suspect Joshua viciousness or callousness.” Joseph Lighthall of Sacramento. The El Dorado County Sheriff ’s The complaint also alleges Office announced Lighthall’s arrest Lighthall had an accomplice. April 24, more than a year and a Michael Alexander Cooney faces half after Fiddler’s body was found. the charge of being an accessory Lighthall is in custody at the El JOSHUA LIGHTHALL after the fact with the complaint Dorado County Jail in Placerville — alleging Cooney had “knowledge held without bail. Cooney was not that the crime of murder … had been committed listed in custody. by Joshua Lighthall, did harbor, conceal, and aid “This arrest is the culmination of a lengthy and said Joshua Lighthall, with the intent that he might detailed investigation, which began in October of avoid and escape from arrest, trial, conviction and 2024. Lighthall was booked into the El Dorado punishment for said felony.” County Jail on a no-bail arrest warrant for Both men pleaded not guilty during their murder,” sheriff ’s officials shared in a statement. arraignments Monday, April 27, in El Dorado “We greatly appreciate the patience and support County Superior Court at the Main Street of the community and those involved with this Courthouse in Placerville. investigation as we work to find justice for Tyson.” In addition to the first-degree murder charge, Lighthall faces a special allegation that a deadly n See MURDER, page A11 Editor
Courtesy photo
Tyson Fiddler was found dead in October 2024.
CAUTION: ROAD WORK AHEAD
DOT road projects starting soon Noel Stack Editor
Utilizing funds from the state via Senate Bill 1 (gas tax revenue) and other revenue sources, the county Department of Transportation’s road maintenance team and contractors have a busy summer and fall ahead. The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on April 21 received a presentation on the road maintenance program that highlighted projects that both wrap up this fiscal year and launch in 2026-27. DOT divides its resources and funding about equally in each supervisor’s district with a total of 1,086 centerline lane miles of county roads that require maintenance and repair. “We look at the potential roads we’ve noted throughout the five districts, analyze the data, including Pavement Condition Index and Average Daily Traffic, and the estimated life and return, and factor in the economies of scale, which is where we try to tie in projects within the known work area
to reduce costs since equipment is already mobilized within that area,” explained Nathan Haynes, DOT’s incoming deputy director of Maintenance and Operations. “Our strategy (is) prioritizing the roads that are already in fair to good PCI category, allocating 80% of the available funds toward maintaining those roads ... and 20% toward rehabilitating the roads that are in poor condition,” he continued. “(This) has led to a significant improvement in the county’s overall PCI. In the last seven years, the PCI has increased from 64 to 70, which is the benchmark that most other counties aim to achieve.” In addition to SB1 funding, DOT’s other funding sources for road maintenance are Tribal funds, Transient Occupancy Tax/General Fund and Measure S in the Tahoe Basin. “We are always looking to explore any avenues of funding to repair any of the roads available to us,” Haynes added.
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Summer projects • Districts 2, 3 & 5 — Sly Park Road Area Phase 2 Road Rehabilitation and Surface Treatment, Mormon Emigrant to Pleasant Valley Road, including work on Leisure Lane, Park Creek and Mormon Emigrant Trail. • District 1 Lakeridge Oaks and Highland Village Road Rehabilitation and Surface Treatment n See ROADS, page A11
Mountain Democrat photos by Andrew Vonderschmitt
Leslie Griffith, assistant director for El Dorado County Child Welfare Service, offers remarks during the April 24 remembrance ceremony in Placerville for Children’s Memorial Day.
Ftolag R aised honor young lives lost Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
T
he El Dorado County Child Abuse Prevention Council and guests marked Child Welfare Awareness Month with a solemn flag-raising event to underscore the community’s shared responsibility to keep children safe. Dozens gathered at the El Dorado Community Health Center in Placerville mid-morning Friday, April 24. The Union Mine High School Choir opened the Children’s Memorial Day ceremony with the National Anthem. Maria Moody, council coordinator, said the month is a time to “acknowledge a truth that those of us in child welfare carry with us every day, that every child deserves to grow up safe, nurtured and n See CEREMONY, page A2
El Dorado County Fire Protection District representatives have the honor of raising the flag that pays tribute to children across the United States and within the local community whose lives have been lost to violence.
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