58° P/SUNNY, Hearing set in strangulation death of Guerneville man
Last Modified: Monday, November 2, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.
A preliminary hearing is set Thursday in the case of a medical marijuana grower from England accused of strangling a Guerneville man.
Briton Andrew Brian Sharkey, 36, is charged with killing Michael Van Tillman, 67, in his converted garage in June. Sharkey was arrested after he reported the death to police, saying he witnessed the man's slaying.
Tillman, who worked at Bohemian Grove, was strangled with a wire and stabbed in the back of the neck, detectives said.
Sharkey, who remains in custody in Sonoma County Jail, appeared Monday before Judge Andrew Wick along with Gary Allen Scott, 56, who is charged as an accessory.
Prosecutors said Sharkey and Scott worked at a Guerneville medical marijuana growing operation. Sharkey was allegedly trying to steal money from Tillman when the killing occurred, Deputy District Attorney Traci Carrillo said. His body was found June 27.
In addition to the murder charge, Sharkey faces a count of elder abuse and a weapons enhancement that could put him prison for life if convicted.
Scott's alleged role was unclear. He was arrested in Arizona and was free on bail.
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