Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 07/27/2009

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Terry Menshek - (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer R. Brady

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

JURY CONVICTS ON CHARGE OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER

On Friday July 24th, 2009, a Sonoma County jury convicted Sean Mooney of murder in the 1st degree. The jury also found several arming allegations and the special circumstance of committing murder for financial gain to be true. The jury also convicted Mooney of elder abuse and receiving stolen property. The jury deliberated for approximately six hours before returning its verdicts.

On May 20, 2008, at approximately 9:16 p.m., Sean Mooney called 911 to report that two male intruders drove into his grandfather's driveway and ran toward the back of his house.  He reported that he then heard a gunshot and saw the two men return to their blue car and leave the scene.  Upon arrival, responding deputies found Robert Deming, age 77, sitting upright in his rocking chair with a devastating wound to his head, apparently from a shotgun blast.

Mooney later admitted that he killed his grandfather. He claimed it was an accident. Forensic experts determined that Robert Deming was killed at close range, and that the barrel of the gun was no more than two to four inches away from the back of his head when it was fired.

When deliberating, the jury considered various lesser offenses, including second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and excusable homicide because of an accident.  They unanimously agreed on the charge of first degree murder for financial gain.

Sentencing is set for August 19th at 8:30 a.m. in Department 1. Sean Mooney faces a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

The prosecution was led by Deputy District Attorneys Traci Carrillo and Rosanne Darling.  District Attorney Investigator Les Vanderpool assisted with the prosecution.  The lead detective on the case was Detective Christopher Vivian from the Violent Crimes Unit of the Sheriff's Department