Stanton Murder Trial Underway In Sonora

Sonora, CA — Jury selection is taking place today in Tuolumne County Superior Court for the first-degree murder trial of David Roy Stanton.

His sister, Sonora resident Shawna Lea Stanton, is charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Stanton is accused of murdering 29 year old Jon Steven Flaherty on August 25, 2007. His body was found by Sheriff´s deputies several days later in a 1987 Ford Ranger truck at the bottom of Murderer´s Gulch south of the Wards Ferry Bridge.

Both Stanton and his sister have served previous prison terms. Deputy District Attorney Jim Newkirk is the prosecuting attorney while Rick Angermiller is defending David Stanton.

Superior Court Judge Eric DuTemple is presiding over what is expected to be a three week trial.

Written by Bill Johnson