A Yolo County jury convicted Marco Antonio Topete of first-degree murder for fatally shooting Sheriff’s Deputy Jose “Tony” Diaz on June 15, 2008. It was less than a day into the trial that the jurors reached their verdicts on Tuesday.
The jury also ruled that the 39-year-old suspect shot the officer as an active gang member, to avoid arrest and while lying in wait. All special circumstances qualify him for the death penalty or life in prison without possibility of parole.
The penalty phase of the trial is scheduled for next Wednesday.
