Author: Elina Vaidya | Wild About Trial
On August 30, 2023, Sidney Bararchie Clarke, 31, shot and killed his neighbor over a dispute about smoking. Nearly two and a half years later, this California man was found guilty of first-degree murder.
On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, an Orange County jury felt that the prosecution reached their burden of “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that the defendant was guilty of first-degree murder. Clarke left the victim, Logan Kahmar, with a total of 17 bullet wounds.
Clarke and Kahmar, 21, were neighbors and resided at the Raintree Apartments. Clarke lived alone in an apartment above Kahmar’s unit. Just prior to Kahmar’s tragic death, Clarke claims that the two neighbors were engaged in a verbal confrontation about Kahmar’s frequent smoking. Clarke also claims that he and Kahmar had a hostile relationship with one another, as Kahmar would using racial slurs towards Clarke.
Kahmar was found dead on his patio by the Brea Police Department. His infant daughter was also found alone inside the apartment. One day after this incident, Clarke was found the police in his Jeep with a gun, the murder weapon, located in a backpack in the vehicle as well.
Earlier this week, Clarke was convicted of PC §187(a) with an added enhancement for the discharge of a firearm causing death, pursuant to PC § 12022.53(d). While Clarke was officially convicted of these charges, he has not yet been sentenced. His sentencing is currently set for December 1, 2025, when the judge will determine how long Clarke will spend in state prison.
At the sentencing hearing, both sides can put forth an argument regarding the sentence they think Clarke should receive. A conviction of first-degree murder could very likely lead to a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Given the defendant’s enhancement of a firearm that caused great bodily injury or in this case, death, he is also likely to face an additional term of 25 years to life.
Sidney Clarke and Logan Kahmar may have battled neighborly disputes like anyone else. Now, one of them has tragically lost their life, and Clarke will spend the foreseeable future in state prison.
