Prison for SLT man who drew gun; Mo’s beating case lingers
South Lake Tahoe resident Scott Enerson is expected to spend seven years in prison after pulling a gun on a fellow patron at Whiskey Dick’s bar.
Enerson has pleaded guilty to assault with a firearm in the June 2012 incident. The enhancement to the felony charge is what is sending him to state prison.
Formal sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 21 in El Dorado County Superior Court.
The Whiskey Dick’s incident came two weeks after the beating of Derek “Zippy” Penaranda at Mo’s Place. Penaranda died in October from his injuries. No charges have ever been filed in the case.
“The investigation and review of the matter at Mo’s Place is continuing, but I am not at liberty to make any further comment about that situation at this time,” El Dorado County Assistant District Attorney Hans Uthe told Lake Tahoe News.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
How can the beating of Derek “Zippy” Penaranda at Mo’s Place continue to be under investigation.
The El Dorado County District Attorney office and SLTPD do not help their image when major crimes like this are not prosecuted.
This sounds like total incompetence or corruption.
Was there any follow up on about who ran a vehicle into the Meyers School? Or is it still under investigation by the CHP?
Some good lessons here. In the Penaranda case; If you are drunk and start a fight, you can in fact die. In the Enerson case; Do not exhibit your firearm until you are also ready to die. Seven years in prison is a death sentence.
Greg,
I believe the reason for the delay is that investigations take time, especially with limited resources.
Today one mistake can cost the prosecution their case and with the rigors of the legal system it isn’t like settling a kid’s school yard fight.
Just my two cents.
Thanks Dan. I know nothing about the particular case, but I still know more than the knee jerkers and blanket dwellers hereabouts who believe they know everything. “Two cents” is twice as much sense as some of our posters.
I too have read about the incident at Moe’s Place. The way I understand the incident is that an unruly man was told to leave Moes and punched Moe so hard that he knocked Moe unconscience. Then the employees stepped in to subdue the aggressor or protect Moe, and there was more violence. When the incident culminated, the original aggressor was taken to the hospital where he later died. Now, I know a little bit about laws pertaining to self defense. In my opinion, assuming the information I have is correct, the employees did not violate any law. The right to self defense includes the right to defend others. A simple example is a man defending his child. Deadly force is acceptable by law when a person acting in self defense has reasonable fear that a serious injury or death might result to a victim without an act of self defense. Given that Moe had already been knocked unconscience, there appears to be just cause for the employees to act in defense of Moe, and to use deadly force if they deemed necessary. It’s not necessary for those acting defensively to prove danger of serious injury. It is only the appearance of such danger that allows a person to act defensively, and even to use deadly force if the need appears to be necessary. In my opinion, if the district attorney filed criminal charges against those who came to aid Moe, he wouldn’t have a case. But that opinion is based upon the information I have. My info may not be accurate. In order to understand this case people have to examine self defense law first; then apply what happened to the law. Simply forming an opinion without first considering the law and knowing the circumstances only leads to errors in judgement.
I concur with Greg about the SLTPD and DA “This sounds like total incompetence or corruption.”
RE:
How can the beating of Derek “Zippy” Penaranda at Mo’s Place continue to be under investigation.
The El Dorado County District Attorney office and SLTPD do not help their image when major crimes like this are not prosecuted.
This sounds like total incompetence or corruption.