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Man guilty of voluntary manslaughter for neighbor’s death

by K. Enrique • May 28, 2014

Michael Norton was arrested at his home when sheriff's investigators responded to the scene on the night of March 19, 2013. (ED FROMMER)
Michael Norton was arrested at his home when sheriff’s investigators responded to the scene. (ED FROMMER)

LANCASTER – A Lake Los Angeles man who shot his next-door neighbor in the chest after an argument last year has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

An Antelope Valley jury last week found 59-year-old Michael Robert Norton guilty in connection with the death of 46-year-old William Kenneth Mayes, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.

The fatal shooting occurred on the night of March 19, 2013 in the 38600 Block of 159th Street East, sheriff’s officials said.

William Kenneth Mayes died of a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.
William Kenneth Mayes died of a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

Mayes, a single father, had recently moved to the neighborhood with his daughters, according to family members.

Before the shooting, both neighbors had been drinking alcohol at Mayes’ home when an argument ensued, Sheriff’s investigators said on the night of the incident.

Mayes accused Norton of making sexually suggestive comments about his teenage daughter, and the two men got into a fist fight with Mayes threatening to kill Norton, according to court documents.

Norton returned home but came back outside with a gun, sheriff’s officials said. Mayes was shot to death in his front yard.

Norton is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20. He faces a minimum of six years in state prison and a maximum penalty of up to 21 years, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.

Editor’s note 5/29/14: This story has been corrected. Norton was initially charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was amended to voluntary manslaughter before the trial started, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.

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Previous related story: Man shot to death in Lake LA, neighbor arrested for the murder

 

 

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

15 comments for "Man guilty of voluntary manslaughter for neighbor’s death"

  1. Elizabeth says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:46 am

    Happy Birthday Daddy .. You would have been 48 today you were taken from us way to soon . LOVE YOU DADDY .. I MISS YOU VERY MUCH .. HAVE A GREAT DAY UP THERE .

  2. kris says

    May 29, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    if you are found guilty of attempted murder in CA ( no matter the circumstance) you get automatic life, but if you actually kill the person you can get 6 years??? got to love the legal system and the AV DA’s office.

  3. Alicia W. says

    May 28, 2014 at 9:14 pm

    I can’t believe the court settled on 6 years. That is OUTRAGEOUS! Got to love the system. Well, he has his karma waiting for him. It is sad that Bill’s family and friends have to go through this and I pray for them.

  4. Elizabeth says

    May 28, 2014 at 5:01 pm

    My father was a good Man . Yes he had a mouth on him and he Would always protect his childern.. But he was a big baby he Would never hurt a fly . He was always helping who he can give his last dollar to.help those in need even if he was stuggling himself .. He didnt not deserve for his life to be taken .. But Norton i forgive you . Hate and Angry will only hurt myself it will not bring my father back . My father rasied us right and he Would want me to forgive you .. I MISS YOU DADDY VERY MUCH YOU WILL FOREVER BE IN MY HEART AND BY MYSIDE .. R.I.P DADDY I LOVE YOU .. YOUR OLDEST BABYGIRL ELIZABETH

    • michael chrisman says

      May 28, 2014 at 6:10 pm

      You dad was a good man and one of my best friends for Norton hope he never gets out of jail that’s where he belongs.for the rest of his life

  5. mm says

    May 28, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    Try not to be the judge and the jury. You don’t know this man. A child molester he is not. He was clearly beaten in this picture. Might have been in fear for his life.

    • Elizabeth says

      May 28, 2014 at 5:10 pm

      Agreed no one can call him a molester he never touched my sister .. but there was unapropriaTe comments made about her .. And any father Would over react .. and drinking had a huge part on both sides.. Yes my father should have never said the words im going to.kill you .. So yes I belevie he held a huge part in his killing .. But he didnt desver to have his like taken leaving his childern behind .. those whom i now take care of at the age of 26 and having my own childern its alot to take on .. We lost a huge part of us so everyone needs to stop judgeing o. High sides cuz noone knows what Either of them Were thinking at the moment.

      • Deborah Lynn says

        May 29, 2014 at 9:29 pm

        Elizabeth. I want to commend you on stepping up and speaking on this matter. I know how difficult this is for you. I know your Daddy is looking down with great pride in your courage and honesty. You sound like a wonderful person which tells me that your father was a good man. As for some of you here that want to do nothing but gossip n talk trash. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Children have lost their father and you should think b4 you speak of a matter you know nothing about. This is a terrible tragedy that alcohol played a huge factor in. I believe that in a calmer state of mind these 2 could have come to a much better solution to this problem. But unfortunately that did not happen. Elizabeth. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope that you hold all the good that your father gave in the short time that you have however at the same Time I don’t feel that there needs to be any more suffering and mr. Norton should be allowed to somehow be given the chance to come back and show how much he regrets what has happened. I thank you for forgiving him. It is what is best. But I know if mr. Norton is out of jail you may be very surprised at the outcome. I hope that people learn from this one thing. If you have a dispute with someone alcohol should be no part of the solution. It WILL make things happen that otherwise would not come to be. Blessed be to you and yours

        • parentwithgirls says

          May 30, 2014 at 8:10 pm

          as a parent , i honestly dont know what I would do if some weirdo said anything about one of my kids. I do know what my husband would have done. This man was a weirdo, . I honestly cant believe he will be allowed to see the light of day. These young ladies will never have their father. To walk them down the isle. to see them graduate. There is no excuse for anyone to take a life.

          • R, Barr says

            August 9, 2014 at 2:01 pm

            This man mike has gone through life being call an weirdo all his life, he is not. he been one best people I known. goes out of his way to help if he can to help. Its very sad that this took place,,, But he would Not have said any thing to these Young Ladies,,( but what man dosn’t look at ladies with clothes 1/2 off). Mike would only shoot someone if he was in fear of being kill.He been my friend for over 30 years. But at the same time he will have to live with this for the rest of his life,

  6. Sixyears? says

    May 28, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    You take someone’s life away an you only get six years? Wow!!!!!!!!
    Leaving a teenage daughter behind! Norton looks like a child molester! SAD WORLD!

    • bird says

      May 28, 2014 at 6:47 pm

      Sixyears—Child molesters don’t have a certain look.

      • outtahere says

        May 28, 2014 at 7:59 pm

        Yea they do, they all look like birds…We need MORE guns.

        • Sas says

          May 29, 2014 at 12:49 am

          good one!

      • R,Barr says

        August 9, 2014 at 2:05 pm

        In order for you to say this your the child molesters., But why are all of you being the judge, say what you want but that makes you no better than Him

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