Man convicted in Yuba County homicide wants to withdraw plea: ‘Another delay tactic’

A man convicted in a Yuba County homicide was scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday to more than 20 years in prison for the death of a 27-year-old woman. But the judge was forced to postpone the sentencing hearing because the defendant is seeking to withdraw his no-contest plea.

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On Wednesday afternoon in Yuba Superior Court, Ricky Singh Lasher, 41, was supposed to be formally sentenced to 24 years in prison for the 2023 death of Amery Sweany. Her body was found along a rural road in Marysville.

Lasher entered the courtroom Wednesday handcuffed and wearing a black-and-white striped jail uniform. The bailiff seated the defendant on the far end of the jury box near his attorney, Roberto Marquez.

The defense attorney told Judge Julia Scrogin that his client wanted to withdraw his no-contest plea because Lasher didn’t realize his conviction would prevent him from possessing a California driver’s license for the rest of his life.

Marquez said his client was aware of the consequences of withdrawing his plea. It would mean Lasher would face a jury trial, including a murder charge in Sweany’s death, without an agreed-upon prison sentence.

Lifetime California driver’s license ban

Deputy District Attorney Adam Seraphin objected to Lasher’s unexpected request, asking the judge to proceed with the sentencing with Sweany’s relatives in attendance. Some of them had taken flights to be in court Wednesday and speak about the impact of Sweany’s homicide.

The prosecutor told the judge that the sentencing hearing was scheduled five months after his plea at the defendant’s request.

“I don’t think this arises to a good cause to withdraw the plea,” Seraphin argued “This is another delay tactic by the defendant.”

Lasher pleaded no contest to felony charges of voluntary manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon and sexual battery in connection with Sweany’s death, which authorities believe occurred on April 27, 2023.

Court records show Lasher entered his no-contest plea on April 10, four days before his trial was scheduled to begin. Charges of first-degree murder, assault with the intent to commit mayhem and misdemeanor charges of sexual battery and possessing drug paraphernalia were dropped as part of the deal.

The judge read in court a portion of the transcript of the April 10 hearing. Scrogin said Lasher nodded his head, indicating he understood the conviction on the assault with the deadly weapon charge meant he would be forfeiting his right to possess a California driver’s license for the rest of his life.

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The defense attorney said he didn’t go over that specific part of the no-contest plea with Lasher, who was represented in court that day by another attorney filling in for Marquez.

Scrogin scheduled the attorneys and Lasher to return to court Oct. 22 to argue over the defense motion seeking to withdraw the no-contest plea. If the judge denies the defense motion, the sentencing hearing will be held Oct. 26.

Lasher spoke only briefly Wednesday in court, telling the judge he agreed to delay the proceedings until next month. “I do, ma’am,” he said.

Homicide victim found in Marysville orchard

Sweany’s body was discovered April 27, 2023, in the 1700 block of Simpson Lane in Marysville, just outside the town of Linda. Yuba County sheriff’s officials said a passerby spotted the body within an orchard near the road.

Authorities have said an autopsy led them to believe her cause of death was a result of blunt force trauma after possibly being struck by a vehicle, the Appeal-Democrat newspaper reported.

Investigators arrested Lasher on the murder charge nearly a year after Sweany’s body was found. Detectives, serving an arrest warrant on the homicide charge, took Lasher into custody in the 1400 block of Jamie Drive in Yuba City, sheriff’s officials said.

Since then, Lasher has remained in custody at the Yuba County Jail.

Sweany moved out on her own and continued her studies first at Butte Community College and then at Chico State, according to an obituary for Sweany posted on the website Legacy. She was originally from Vacaville, where she attended Buckingham Magnet Charter School.

In the obituary, Sweany’s family remembered her as compassionate, intelligent and extremely strong-willed.

“Amery faced unfathomable battles in her lifetime and her life was ended abruptly and unjustly,” her family wrote. “Amery wished to overcome her personal battles, and looked forward to living an adventurous and fulfilling life, traveling more, having a successful career and one day raising a family.”

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