The contents below were extracted from a Facebook post shared by the Mendocino County District Attorney’s office.
In a court hearing held on Tuesday morning at the Mendocino County Superior Court, defendant Leslie Alan Adelman, aged 71 and primarily residing in the greater Ukiah area, was handed a 12-year prison sentence. Adelman, who pleaded guilty to the charge of voluntary manslaughter, was also found guilty of personally using a knife during the commission of the crime.
Voluntary manslaughter, defined as causing the death of another person with the intent to kill while acting under the influence of a sudden quarrel or heat of passion, led to Adelman’s conviction. The incident in question took place on March 27, 2022, when Adelman, living out of his truck in the shared parking lot of Social Services and Wells Fargo Bank on South State Street, allegedly pursued and attacked another homeless man whom he believed had stolen a box of spices from his vehicle. The confrontation resulted in the victim’s death due to Adelman’s use of a knife.
As per California Penal Code, voluntary manslaughter is classified as a violent crime. Consequently, Adelman’s eligibility for release credits, which could contribute towards early parole, is limited to a maximum of 15 percent of his overall sentence. This means that he will likely have to serve more than 9 and a half years of his 12-year prison term, as mandated by current state law.
The evidence presented against the defendant was compiled by the Ukiah Police Department and the Bureau of Investigations within the District Attorney’s office. Dr. Bennet Omalu, a renowned forensic pathologist, conducted the autopsy in this case and would have provided expert testimony on the cause of death had the trial proceeded.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Scott McMenomey spearheaded the prosecution of Adelman throughout the legal proceedings. In early May, Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Victoria Shanahan accepted the defendant’s change of plea and admission, and she presided over the concise sentencing hearing held on Tuesday morning.
This case highlights the consequences of a tragic altercation, resulting in the loss of life and the imposition of a significant prison term for the defendant.
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