Submitted by Del Norte County District Attorney – March 22, 2017
Del Norte District Attorney has charged David Joseph Soldano (56) of Klamath, California with Murder with a Special Circumstance Allegation that the victim, Timothy Thompson, a Native American, was intentionally killed because of his race. An additional Special Allegation has been charged alleging that Soldano personally used a deadly weapon, a knife, in the commission of the murder.
Soldano was also charged with the Attempted Murder of Todd Burhus arising from the same incident. Soldano was again charged with the Special Allegation that he personally used a deadly weapon, a knife, in the commission of the attempted murder. Finally, Soldano was charged with the Special Allegation that he committed a Hate Crime against Burhus, a Native American.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred outside of Crivelli’s in Klamath during the early morning hours of March 20, 2017. A joint investigation by the Del Norte Sheriff’s Office and the Del Norte District Attorney’s Office was conducted thereafter and remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Del Norte District Attorney’s Office at 450 H St. in Crescent City or by calling (707) 464-7210 or the Del Norte Sheriff’s Office at 650 5th St. in Crescent City or by calling (707) 464-7210.
Soldano was arraigned this afternoon. At the request of District Attorney Trigg, bail was denied. Soldano will return to court on March 24, 2017.
