Sonoma Man Pleas No Contest to 2009 Murder

A Sonoma man pleaded no contest in Sonoma County Superior Court
today to killing a Penngrove man nearly two years ago.

Salvador Camargo, 28, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the May 9, 2009 death of 52-year-old Kenneth Swolley, Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said.

Camargo also admitted to personally using a firearm in the murder and is expected to be sentenced to 21 years in prison on June 10, Ravitch said.

Camargo shot Swolley in the head at close range while Swolley was fixing a stereo in the Arnold Drive house in Sonoma where Camargo rented a room, Ravitch said.

Camargo then disposed of the firearm in a nearby vineyard pond, Ravitch said.

Dive teams from Sonoma and Solano counties recovered the gun, and the Department of Justice determined it was the murder weapon, Ravitch said.

Camargo initially was determined incompetent to stand trial and was sent to Napa State Hospital, Ravitch said.

A Sonoma County grand jury indicted Camargo on Jan. 15, 2010 for the murder and Camargo entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity, Ravitch said.

Ravitch said the district attorney's office entered into a plea agreement with Camargo because of his health evaluations around the time of the murder and his use of controlled substances before the slaying.

"Holding the defendant accountable for the death of Mr. Swolley will bring some measure of peace to his family, who can now put this case behind them," Ravitch said.

Bay City News