Davis elder-abuse case wraps up

WOODLAND — Testimony in a Davis homicide and elder-abuse trial was expected to conclude this morning, with the jury hearing closing arguments and possibly beginning its deliberations this afternoon.

James Matthew Mattos, 53, is accused of second-degree murder and elder abuse in connection with the Oct. 27, 2012, death of Cecil Wachholtz, a 67-year-old mentally impaired man who had been in the care of Mattos’ family for about 50 years. Mattos took over Wachholtz’s care around 2008.

According to testimony in the case, Mattos called 911 on Oct. 13, 2012, to report that Wachholtz was unresponsive in his Hedy Lane trailer. Firefighters and ambulance personnel arrived to find an emaciated Wachholtz lying on a bare mattress in the residence, which was cluttered with trash and animal droppings.

Wachholtz, his body covered in bedsores, died of septic shock as well as pneumonia caused by aspirated food, Yolo County coroner’s officials ruled. An autopsy also revealed 11 rib fractures that had healed over time.

Mattos has pleaded not guilty to the allegations. His attorney, Deputy Public Defender Emily Fisher, has maintained that her client repeatedly sought advice from his mother regarding Wachholtz’s care, but she failed to come to his aid despite her background in patient care.

Darlene Mattos, 78, originally was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case but entered into a plea agreement two weeks ago in which she admitted to a count of elder abuse by means likely to cause death. She is due for sentencing in May.

On Tuesday, Judge Stephen Mock, who is presiding over the trial, denied a motion by Fisher to dismiss the murder allegation in the case, saying the evidence presented thus far supports the charge being among those the jury can consider in its deliberations.

Mock also declined to remove a juror who realized she had been acquainted with Wachholtz after seeing photographs of him displayed in court.

“I do think I can be objective in this case,” the woman said during questioning outside the presence of her fellow jurors.