Sacramento State senior Sarah Elizabeth Dutra pleaded not guilty to murder and accessory to murder in San Joaquin County Superior Court last week. The art major?s arraignment was also continued until April 18 so that her attorney could gather more information.

“Her defense attorney pointed out that he had just received nearly 700 pages of discovery,” said Leann Kozak, the Stockton Court public information officer.

In addition, Dutra also “waived time,” meaning that she temporarily waived her right to a speedy trial. Under law, she may withdraw that waiver at any point.

Kevin Clymo, Dutra?s attorney, did not request bail, saying that he wanted her to be shielded from the public, and that the jail where she is being held is an adequate facility.

“I know she?s safe there,” Clymo said. “They?re allowing her to be comfortable, and they are treating her with respect.”

As of last week, Clymo had not determined if he would request bail on April 18.

Dutra has been held in jail since she was arrested March 19 in connection with the murder of Sacramento attorney Larry McNabney.

McNabney was last seen Sept. 10, 2001, and his body was found buried in San Joaquin County Feb. 5. His wife, Laren Sims, who was known in Sacramento as Elisa McNabney, was captured in Florida March 18. After naming Dutra as an accomplice to the murder, Sims hanged herself in her Florida jail cell on March 31.

The murder charge carries special circumstances of murder for financial gain and murder by poisoning, meaning that Dutra would be eligible for the death penalty if found guilty. Though Dutra implicated herself in the murder of McNabney, Clymo said she did not confess, and he will challenge the legitimacy of her implication.

“There is no confession; there are admissions,” Clymo said. “We will litigate the admissibility of those.”

Dutra, who planned to graduate this spring, grew up in Vacaville and was high school class president for three years at Vacaville High School.

She enrolled at Sac State in 1998, became a residence adviser in 1999 and also worked at Reprographics, the campus print shop, during her second year, Clymo said.

She began working in McNabney?s law office in 2000, and was then accepted into a foreign exchange program at an international school in Florence, Italy.

“She came back, and they wanted her to go back to work for them,” Clymo said.

Dutra returned from Italy at the end of the school year and resumed her job in McNabney?s law office. She continued to attend classes until the night before she was arrested.

“The best scene scenario is to get this turned around quickly,” Clymo said. “Then she can get on with life, re-enroll at Sac State and finish her art degree.

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