Napa Co. Man Sentenced To 8 Years For Killing His Mother

NAPA COUNTY, CA – A Lake Berryessa area resident was sentenced to eight years in prison for the fatal shooting of his mother nearly two years ago.

Joseph Brook Conkright, now 22, was convicted in May of involuntary manslaughter but acquitted of the murder of Danae Dee Conkright, 54, on Dec. 8, 2014.

He was sentenced by Napa County Superior Court Judge Francisca Tisher Thursday to three years for involuntary manslaughter and five years for discharge of a firearm causing death.

The defense argued the shooting was accidental, and Conkright dropped the AR-15 rifle while he was cleaning it in the family's house in the 200 block of Manzanita Lane.

Conkright's father reported the shooting to the Napa County Sheriff's Office. Danae Conkright died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Conkright has nearly two years credit for time already served since the shooting, Assistant Napa County District Attorney Paul Gero said.

Previous coverage:

• Napa Jury Acquits, Then Convicts Man On 2 Charges In Lake Berryessa Shooting
• Napa Man Held To Answer On Fatal Shooting Of His Mother
• Man, 20, Arrested On Suspicion Of Killing His Mother Near Lake Berryessa
• Monday’s Shooting At Lake Berryessa Ruled Homicide
• Fatal Accidental Shooting Reported This Afternoon At Lake Berryessa

--Bay City News/Shutterstock image