Oakdale man sentenced for voluntary manslaughter, shooting of former rodeo rider
A judge sentenced an Oakdale man to 21 years in prison for fatally shooting a former rodeo rider during an argument in 2019, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
William Beck Usilton III, 30, received the maximum sentence for voluntary manslaughter and personal use of a firearm at an Oct. 18 hearing.
Usilton shot and killed Cody Sorensen, 25, on Feb. 10, 2019 around 2:30 a.m., The Bee previously reported. Witnesses said the two argued in Usilton’s apartment after coming back from H-B Saloon. Police found Sorensen with a gunshot wound to the face and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Sorensen worked as a rodeo rider until suffering a career-ending injury about three years before his death, The Bee previously reported. During the sentencing hearing, several relatives told Judge Linda McFadden about how his death affected them, the DA’s Office said in a press release.
Usilton was convicted after a two-week jury trial. He initially pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder and said he acted in self-defense, The Bee previously reported. Usilton could have faced a life sentence if convicted of second-degree murder instead of manslaughter, his lawyer Richard Meyer said.
Deputy District Attorney Tracy Griffin prosecuted the case, per the press release.
This story was originally published November 6, 2021 at 5:46 AM.
