LAKEPORT – A Clearlake man found guilty of the murder of his roommate will likely spend the rest of his life in prison after receiving his sentence Friday.

James Wade Roberts, 46, was found guilty last month of first-degree murder for the October 2006 murder of Ruth Donaldson, 62, as Lake County News has reported.

Roberts stabbed Donaldson to death at the home they shared a home on Mullen Avenue in Clearlake.

His attorney, Stephen Carter, entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Carter had argued that Roberts had a long history of reported mental issues, delusional thinking and psychotic episodes.

On Friday afternoon Judge Richard Martin sentenced Roberts to 86 years to life, a sentence District Attorney Jon Hopkins had anticipated last month, when the jury found Roberts was sane at the time of the murder.

Roberts has five previous strikes, according to Carter, who also told Lake County News last month he expected his client would receive a lengthy sentence.

Hopkins said Roberts stated Friday he planned to appeal the sentence.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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