New Hampshire man to be tried in Mendocino County pot killing case

A Mendocino County judge ruled Tuesday there is enough evidence to try a New Hampshire man in the bludgeoning death of a fellow pot grower in Covelo.

Judge David Nelson made the ruling in the case of Joshua Ruoff, 30, who is suspected in the May 17 baseball bat slaying of Timothy Sweeting, 27, of Rohnert Park.

A witness in a multi-day preliminary hearing testified Ruoff attacked Sweeting as the victim lay on a couch at the remote property where all three were growing marijuana.

Ruoff had been complaining that Sweeting was lazy, messy and didn’t take proper care of his dog, the witness said. Ruoff is accused of fleeing to his native New Hampshire before being caught and extradited to Mendocino County.

After hearing the testimony from the witness and others, Nelson ruled Ruoff could be held to answer on a first-degree murder charge with a sentencing enhancement for use of a bat. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Ruoff, who is being held without bail, will return to court in early January for further proceedings.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.