Calaveras County deputies have a 45 year old Mountain Ranch man in custody on several charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, while they investigate the death of his neighbor.
Leonard Mitchell is being held under 90-thousand dollars bail.
62 year old Jimmy Blanchard was found dead in his bedroom the day after his brother Lawrence Blanchard says he was beaten and terrorized by Mitchell.
Blanchard says Mitchell beat him, fired a handgun near his head, and prevented him from calling 9-1-1 for help. Mitchell is also charged with battery and being a convicted felon in possession of a weapon.
An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause Jimmy Blanchard´s death.
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 5:29 pm