Pair convicted of robbing, killing Marin Co. man during pot deal
SANTA ROSA (BCN) - A Sonoma County Superior Court jury convicted two men Tuesday afternoon of the first-degree murder and second-degree robbery of a Marin County man during a marijuana deal at a Santa Rosa motel nearly a year ago.
David Edward Espinal, 47, of Sacramento, and Donald Paul Parker, 36, of Vallejo, were convicted of killing Max Jackson Weinreb, 21, during a robbery at the Vagabond Inn on Aug. 31, 2014.
The jury also found enhancements against both defendants alleging firearm use and discharge to be true.
Weinreb was trying to sell 10 pounds of marijuana when Espinal shot him, according to the prosecution.
Defense attorneys claimed Weinreb pulled out a gun when Espinal went to pay for the marijuana and Espinal shot him in self-defense. A .22-caliber pistol was found under Weinreb's body.
The prosecution claimed the defendants planned to rob Weinreb.
Santa Rosa police said Weinreb was shot several times in the torso.
Parker was arrested at his Vallejo home on Sept. 10, and Espinal was arrested in Sacramento on Sept. 15.