Autopsy reveals meth intoxication caused death of Santa Rosa homeless man

A 50-year-old man police initially suspected was beaten to death in January behind a Santa Rosa auto repair shop died after ingesting a toxic amount of methamphetamine, Sonoma County District Attorney officials said Tuesday.

Derrick Young, who was homeless, had been seen arguing over a bicycle with another man, William Amons, who police said beat Young with the handle of an ax during the ?Jan. 31 encounter near the Piner Road repair shop.

A passerby witnessed part of the fight and called 911. Officers located Young’s body and arrested Amons after finding him riding a bicycle about a half-mile from the auto shop. Amons since then has been in Sonoma County Jail, charged with felony voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon.

But the results of a forensic autopsy released in March showed Young had more than twice the amount of methamphetamine in his blood needed to cause a habitual user to exhibit “violent or irrational behavior,” according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Staebell. A meth-induced state of extreme agitation, called excited delirium, can be deadly.

“He was suffering from excited delirium and his levels of meth in his system were toxic,” Staebell said.

The coroner report lists acute methamphetamine intoxication as the cause of death for Young, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. The report lists “physical assault with blunt force injuries” and a variety of health conditions, including high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as “other significant conditions contributing to death,” Crum said.

On Tuesday, Amons pleaded no contest to felony assault with a deadly weapon in a plea agreement with prosecutors, who dropped the felony voluntary manslaughter charge against him.

Amons’ attorney, public defender Lynnette Brown, said her client acted in self-defense when he wielded the ax handle against Young.

A second man police arrested in connection with the beating was released from jail after prosecutors determined there was not enough evidence to charge him with a crime. Amons chose to avoid going to trial because his prior convictions would dramatically raise the minimum sentences if a jury convicted him, Brown said.

Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Robert LaForge will evaluate Amons’ plea bargain at a May sentencing hearing. If approved, Amons will be released at sentencing and be placed on three years probation, Brown said.

Homeless outreach workers described Young as a pleasant man known for helping other homeless people solve issues and find services. Young had a criminal record that included three drug convictions.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 707-521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.