Guilty Plea Entered In Man's Death In Graton Casino Altercation

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Lake County man pleaded guilty in Sonoma County Superior Court Tuesday to the involuntary manslaughter of a Santa Rosa man at the Graton Resort & Casino near Rohnert Park in September. James Morgan Lewis Jr., 45, of Hidden Valley Lake, will be sentenced Aug. 28 to four years in prison as part of a plea agreement with the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office, Lewis' attorney Steve Gallenson said.

Lewis also admitted an enhancement alleging he inflicted great bodily injury on the victim, and he will actually serve two years of his term, Gallenson said.

The victim, Dondiego Hermilo Andrade, 55, known as "Milo," died three days after the confrontation that occurred outside the casino around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 15.

Members and supporters of Andrade's family carried signs that said "Justice for Milo. No Plea" outside the courtroom this morning. Andrade's brother-in-law John Gurrola read two letters by family members asking for the case to go to trial. Gurrola said the family is angry the prosecution agreed to a plea agreement.

"They folded," he said."This case was vetted at the highest levels, and the plea is in the interests of justice," Deputy District Attorney Robert Waner told the judge.

Waner said the prosecution will ask the court to remand Lewis immediately at the sentencing.
Both Andrade's family and Lewis have given different accounts of the altercation that occurred outside of the casino.

According to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, Andrade was with several men at the casino when an argument between the men and Lewis occurred after the men's Honda SUV door struck Lewis' truck.

During the argument, Lewis' girlfriend allegedly was pushed to the ground and Lewis was punched in the face. Lewis and his girlfriend did not request prosecution for the assault because they were not sure which man assaulted them, sheriff's Sgt. Brandon Cutting said.

Deputies who responded to the incident left the scene, but returned 10 minutes later regarding a second altercation, Cutting said.

Deputies learned Lewis saw Andrade, one of the men he believed was involved in the earlier assault, and shoved him backwards, causing Andrade to fall and hit his head, Cutting said.

Andrade was unresponsive and unconscious and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and listed in critical condition, Cutting said.

After Andrade died, Lewis surrendered to the sheriff's office and was arrested for involuntary manslaughter and assault. He posted $50,000 bail and was released from Sonoma County Jail.

Gallenson said four years in prison is the maximum term for involuntary manslaughter, which can be served at a county jail. Because Lewis admitted inflicting great bodily injury, he will be sent to prison.

Gurolla said Andrade leaves behind his grieving wife and three children and he was an active usher in his church. In their letters, family members said Andrade was a wonderful family man who made sacrifices to provide a safe home. They called him a "peacemaker" and a "gentle, kind and
loving person."

Family members said Lewis could have walked away to avoid a confrontation but he took matters in his own hands, disregarded the law and committed "a brutal, malicious and selfish act."

—Bay City News Service