Yolo County Man Found Guilty of First Degree Murder

Note: A prior version of this story had Mathew Smith's name in the headline, which was incorrect. 

Yolo County District Attorney's Office

District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that on April 19, 2012, a Yolo County jury found 22-year-old Charles Cameron Quillin guilty of first degree murder for killing Mathew Alexsander Smith on August 27, 2011. The jury also convicted Smith of discharging a firearm causing death. 

On August 26, 2011, Quillin, Smith, Smith’s girlfriend and two other friends, went to Quillin’s trailer in West Sacramento to drink and hang out. Sometime after midnight, Quillin wanted one of the girls to leave his trailer. Quillin’s desire to end the party caused an argument between Quillin and Smith’s girlfriend inside the small kitchen within the trailer. Smith intervened in the argument between Quillin and Smith’s girlfriend. Smith asked his girlfriend to leave the trailer and wait for him outside. 

As Quillin and Smith were a few feet apart arguing in the kitchen, Quillin pulled out a revolver from his pants pocket. Quillin shot Smith in the head five times before leaving the trailer, placing the revolver in a bush 160 feet from the trailer, and calling his dad. Quillin surrendered to police when they arrived on scene. 

Deputy District Attorney, Carolyn Palumbo, prosecuted the case. She praised the dedicated efforts of the West Sacramento Police Department and the Victim Services Division who worked with the family of Mathew Smith. She also thanked the jury who spent three days deliberating on the case. “The jury was thoughtful and worked hard to bring about a just verdict,” said Palumbo. “I know that Smith’s family feels that justice was served.” 

Quillin will be sentenced on May 18, 2012 by the Honorable Stephen Mock who presided over the trial. He faces 50 years to life in state prison. 

For more information, please contact Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven via email at jonathan.raven@yolocounty.org.