Ex-Yolo sheriff’s lieutenant pleads not guilty to murder in Esparto fireworks blast
The former Yolo County sheriff’s lieutenant at the center of the ferocious Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion that killed seven workers last July pleaded not guilty in Woodland to murder and explosives charges in the deadly blast.
Samuel Machado remained in custody Thursday after emotional statements from victims’ families and prosecutors’ arguments at a lengthy bail hearing prompted Yolo Superior Court Judge Daniel Maguire to keep him jailed without bail. Machado is scheduled to return April 22 to Woodland for further proceedings.
“They did what they wanted. They took advantage of the system. They thought they were above the law,” said an emotional Matt Voller.
Voller, father of Angel Matthew Voller, 18, was among several relatives who spoke at the morning bail hearing and looked toward the holding cell where Machado and the other defendants were held. Machado, as at Monday’s hearing, stood near the cell’s side wall, out of families’ view.
“He’s still hiding behind the wall. He cowardly won’t look at us,” Voller said of Machado. “I love my son and miss him very much. He was loved by so many. It doesn’t go away. It won’t go away. They will never feel what we’re feeling.”
Family members filled a first-floor courtroom again Thursday to see four of the men — Machado, Craig Allen Cutright, Jack Lee, and Douglas Tollefsen — face further arraignment and bail reviews on charges outlined in the 39-page criminal grand jury indictment.
Seven workers were killed July 1 in the powerful blast that leveled Devastating Pyrotechnics’ fireworks warehouse: Jesús Ramos, 18; Jhony Ramos, 22; Joel “Junior” Melendez, 28; Carlos Rodriguez-Mora, 43; Angel Mathew Voller, 18; Christopher Bocog, 45; and Neil Li, 41.
The blast victims’ families in December filed a $35 million claim against Yolo County, state fireworks regulators and public officials, alleging widespread negligence in the disaster.
Machado’s wife, former sheriff’s employee Tammy Machado, returned Thursday on a separate indictment for mortgage fraud and other charges related to the fireworks operation. She pleaded not guilty at Monday’s hearing and is scheduled to return June 4. She remains free on bail pending that hearing.
Gary Chan, also indicted on murder charges and various counts related to possessing, transporting or conspiring to transport explosive or destructive devices, appeared briefly before Maguire Thursday afternoon in Yolo Superior Court. Maguire delayed Chan’s arraignment until April 22.
The focus at the Thursday bail hearing centered on Samuel Machado and his alleged role in the detonation of about 1 million pounds of fireworks at the Esparto compound.
Defense attorneys argued Machado was a landlord and caretaker of a family fireworks business unaware of illegal and dangerous activity on his property, as attorney David Fisher said.
Prosecutors contend Machado used his authority as a law enforcement officer while working with the owners of Devastating Pyrotechnics and BlackStar Fireworks to illegally obtain, store, manufacture and ship explosives, leading to the murder charges.
“He’s charged with murder, but this is not an attempt-to-kill murder. This is not a violent crime,” defense attorney Fisher told Maguire. Instead, Fisher argued, the catastrophe was an industrial accident, adding later, “there are conclusions, but no facts.”
“He’s a landlord,” Fisher continued. “Nobody ever told him, ‘This is a problem. You have dangerous fireworks on your property.’ There is no evidence that he knew that the retail sale fireworks were illegal — Machado had nothing to do with that. He was a lieutenant. He lived a regular life. He lost his house and all of his assets. His dog died.”
Attorneys also argued for Cutright, held on 10 counts in the grand jury indictment connected to the possession and transport of explosives. Maguire left bail unchanged at $500,000. Cutright also returns to court April 22, as will defendants Lee and Tollefsen.
Attorney Darryl Stallworth argued to reduce the 61-year-old Cutright’s bail to $100,000, saying Cutright had no previous criminal record and is not a flight risk as he is caring for an elderly father diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“Cutright has not been charged and there is no evidence attached to his being responsible for that tragic loss,” Stallworth said.
But Yolo County prosecutor Deanna Hays said Cutright had extensive knowledge of and training with fireworks in running a “bootleg brand” that endangered the lives of Machado and the workers killed in the explosion.
Hays alleged that Cutright stored the illegal products for BlackStar and later worked with Devastating Pyrotechnics before the blast.
Hays said Cutright was not charged with murder in the workers’ deaths because the blast at his section of the compound happened 45 minutes to an hour later than the Devastating Pyrotechnics explosion.
Lee and Tollefsen face murder charges and are expected to be formally arraigned April 22 despite ongoing concerns from Yolo County’s conflict defense panel about its ability to defend Lee.
“This is a very significant case filed by the DA in this county. We are not equipped to handle a case of this size,” said conflict panel attorney Ava Landers. “Currently, we do not have the resources. We are at our maximum. We simply do not have the manpower to proceed today.”
This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 1:41 PM.
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