Forestville Triple Murder Accomplices - Father, Son - Are Sentenced

SANTA ROSA - A father and son were sentenced this morning in Sonoma County Superior Court for their roles in a triple murder during a marijuana deal in Forestville in 2013.

Francis Dwyer, 68, of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges that include conspiracy, being an accessory and possession of marijuana for sale.

Dwyer will serve his term in Sonoma County Jail and his attorney Walter Rubenstein said after Thursday's sentencing that Dwyer will be released in February 2017 with credits for time already served and half-time credits earned in the jail.

Odin Dwyer, 41, of Black Hawk, Colorado, was sentenced to 20 years and four months in state prison on charges that include involuntary manslaughter and being an accessory.

Both men also were charged with the murders but pleaded no contest to lesser charges in return for their testimony against the gunman, Mark Cappello, 49, of Central City, Colorado.

Cappello was sentenced last week to three life terms in prison without parole for the murders of his partners in the marijuana deal, Raleigh Butler, 26, of Truckee; Richard Levin, 46, of Huntington, New York; and Todd Klarkowski, 42, of Boulder, Colorado.

Cappello shot each of them once in the head as they packaged marijuana for transportation in the bedroom of a Forestville cabin on Feb. 5, 2013.

Cappello recruited the Dwyers to drive to Sonoma County and transport about 70 pounds of marijuana back to Colorado for eventual sale in the New York area.

Francis Dwyer testified he tended to Cappello's dog in a Santa Rosa motel while Cappello and Odin went to the cabin.

Odin Dwyer testified Cappello told him the murders "had to be done."

Also on Patch:

• Families Vent Anger At Convicted Murderer In Sonoma Courtroom
• Colorado Man Found Guilty Of Forestville Marijuana Murders
• Marijuana Murder Trial: Jury Begins Deliberations
• Marijuana Murder Trial: Closing Arguments
• Marijuana Murder Trial: Final Arguments Scheduled
• Marijuana Murder Trial: Odin Dwyer Testimony
• Court Testimony: Forestville Marijuana Murder

-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock