CLEARLAKE – Friday, April 20, has been established as a date for setting a preliminary hearing for Teresa Sanders, a Middletown horse owner, in the Clearlake division of Lake County Superior Court.

Sanders is charged with the mistreatment of more than 80 Arabian horses in a case brought to light by the Lake County Animal Care & Control Agency.

Her case has been delayed several times because no defense counsel has yet appeared in court with her.

Ultimately, Judge Stephen O. Hedstrom appointed Marta Cadloni, a public defender, to represent Sanders.

But there was yet another delay last week when Cadloni said she could no longer represent Sanders because she is leaving the area.

Another public defender, Jason Webster, has taken over Sanders' defense, but needs time to get up to speed on the issues, said Senior Deputy District Attorney John J. Langan, the head prosecutor in the case.

Langan is hopeful that the trial can begin in May, but cautions that there are two murder trials (Edward Munoz and Renato Hughes Jr.) expected to begin the same month and courtroom space may be limited.

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

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Superior Court is seeking at least 30 applicants willing to serve as jurors and alternates on the 2007-2008 Lake County Grand Jury panel.

The 19-person grand jury is selected from the different supervisorial districts in proportion to the population of each district.

The Grand Jury serves as the public’s “watchdog” by investigating and reporting upon the affairs of local government.

The term of service runs from July 1 to June 30, 2008, and may entail from 10 to 20 hours of work per week attending committee and general meetings, responding to citizens’ complaints, performing research, and investigating the operations of governmental agencies and allegations of wrongdoing by public officials or employees.

The court is looking for applicants in good health who are interested in community affairs, are objective, and are able to work cooperatively with others. Experience in researching, interviewing, writing and editing, and/or auditing is desirable and having a general knowledge of the responsibilities and functions of governmental and other public entities is helpful.

A Grand Juror must be a U.S. citizen, age 18 or older, speak English, be a resident of California and Lake County for at least one year prior to selection, and not hold an elected office or have any felony convictions.

Applications may be obtained by mailing a letter with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Grand Jury Coordinator, 255 N. Forbes, 4th Floor, Lakeport, CA 95453. Applications are also available at each Superior Court Clerk’s Office; located at 255 N. Forbes, 4th Floor, in Lakeport, or at 7000 A South Center Drive, in Clearlake.

Applications must be received by May 15.

Personal interviews will be scheduled prior to final selection. If you are interested, please apply. If you are not interested, but know someone who may be, please let them know of this opportunity.

Further information may be obtained by calling the Grand Jury Coordinator, 263-2282.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

LAKE PILLSBURY – After authorities spent much of Thursday searching for a man reported to have died in the Hull Mountain area near Lake Pillsbury, a body has been found.

Sheriff Rod Mitchell confirmed that a body was recovered Thursday.

On Wednesday, a Spanish-speaking man had told authorities his son had died in the area that morning and he had been walking all day in order to reach help, according to California Highway Patrol incident logs.

Mitchell didn't specify a cause of death for the individual, but said it doesn't appear suspicious.

“There's no reason reason for us to suspect any foul play related to the death,” Mitchell reported.

While LCSO searched for and located the body Thursday, Mitchell said they later determined the location was just over the Mendocino County line.

Jurisdiction in the case therefore passes to the office of Mendocino County Sheriff Thomas Allman, Mitchell said.

As far as further details in the case, including an identification of the man, Mitchell referred those questions to Allman's office.

Calls to Allman's spokesman, Kevin Broin, were not returned Friday.

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

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

CLEARLAKE – A Clearlake man has been arrested for operating what police officials say was a commercial marijuana growing operation.

Lt. Mike Hermann of the Clearlake Police reported that Tuesday morning a city employee reported to police that he smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from a residence in the area of the 14500 block of Emory Avenue.

Clearlake Police officers responded, according to Hermann, and confirmed the odor was coming from a residence which had all of its windows completely covered. Officers determined that marijuana was being cultivated inside the residence, which they secured.

Police called in Lake County Narcotic Task Force agents and obtained a search warrant for the location, Hermann reported.

Inside, police and LCNTF agents found more than 150 marijuana plants. When the property owner – 44-year-old Martin Stull – showed up at the scene, Hermann said he was arrested for marijuana cultivation.

Stull was taken to the Lake County Jail and booked, Hermann said.

Hermann reported that LCNTF agents remained on scene for several hours as they processed and collected evidence.

The investigation, Hermann said, is ongoing.

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

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

CLEARLAKE – The Superior Court's Clearlake Division will soon have new weapons screening equipment and staff thanks to a state grant.

Superior Court Executive Officer Mary Smith received the Board of Supervisors' approval on Tuesday to install the equipment at the south county courthouse.

California's penal code prohibits unauthorized possession of weapons in a courtroom, courthouse or court building, as well as at public meetings.

A report Smith prepared for the board explains that the state is actively working to increase security at courthouses.

In 2006, a state study found that 94 court facilities in 22 counties lacked the proper perimeter security. As a result, the state's Administrative Office of the Courts asked for funds to address the issue. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger responded by including $13.4 million for staffing and $3.5 million for equipment in his 2006-07 fiscal year budget.

Smith's report noted that the Board of Supervisors gave conceptual approval to weapons perimeter screening at both courthouses at its Sept. 5, 2006, meeting.

The county, Smith reported, will have two people covering the stations during usage, for an annual cost of $97,301. The court has received quotes for hiring unarmed security guards, according to her report.

Smith said the screening stations will include walk-through scanners, hand scanners and x-ray machines. The one-time setup cost for the screening equipment is $38,925.

Smith told the board that she planned to move forward with Clearlake's screening station first, since it was a smaller courthouse and would give them a chance to see how everything worked before taking on Lakeport's larger court facility.

“Our long-term goal, obviously, is to have weapons screening stations in both locations,” she said.

Supervisor Rob Brown said he has concerns about how a new screening station would eventually be handled in the Lakeport courthouse. He said there is a lot of general public business that takes place on the fourth floor of Lakeport's courthouse, and that a screening system needs to be set up in such a way that it doesn't impede the public.

Brown also suggested that there is an opportunity – in a future discussion -- to look at ways to offer enhanced security to the Lakeport courthouse's fourth floor, as opposed to the entire building.

Supervisor Ed Robey wanted to clarify whether or not there would be any costs to the county for the screening and staff. Smith assured the board that all costs will be covered by ongoing state funding.

The Clearlake courthouse has already undergone some modifications at the court's expense, Smith's report to the board noted. Those include moving the entrance doors 8 feet for additional space, and placing panic hardware on a side door, which allows it to stay locked while also functioning as an emergency exit.

In an interview after the board meeting, Smith said that she expects that equipment will be ordered and in place at the Clearlake court soon, possibly within a month. “We're trying to get up as quickly as possible,” she said.

As for Lakeport's courthouse, she said she's still working out all of the issues involved with securing that facility. Part of that includes being sensitive to all the fourth-floor tenants, including other county offices.

The state Administrative Office of the Courts is working out bids on card-key access and monitoring systems, which she believes will be essential for the Lakeport site. Until the state settles on vendors and other logistical issues are worked out, Smith said Lakeport's project will be delayed.

“The size of this building warrants additional measures,” she said.

There will be, however, some security upgrades for Lakeport's courthouse taking place this week, Smith said.

The courthouse's only walk-through scanner, located at the entrance to Department 3's courtroom, will be replaced with a newer piece of equipment today, Smith said.

That scanner, she said, was originally installed in the 1990s. She said it's staffed by the Lake County Sheriff's Office during trials and other court proceedings.

“It is at their discretion that they use it,” she said.

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

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

CLEARLAKE – Clearlake Police officers have arrested a man who has reportedly confessed to violently attacking two females Tuesday night.

Tyrone McElmore, 19, has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon – in this case, a large rock – as well as assault causing bodily injury, attempted rape and attempted robbery, according to a report from CPD Lt. Mike Hermann.

McElmore is alleged to have brutally beaten a teenage victim in the head with a large rock as she was walking from the laundry room at Clearlake's Galaxy Resort. Hermann reported that McElmore allegedly fled from the scene after the teen began screaming for help.

Later than night, McElmore is alleged to have followed a 30-year-old female victim near Redbud Park, attacking her and also striking her on the head, Hermann's report stated. McElmore also is alleged to have attempted to rob and sexually assault the woman during the attack.

Hermann said McElmore allegedly fled the scene when a bystander heard the woman's screams and came to her aid.

Both of the victims were transported to the hospital where they were treated for their injuries and released, Hermann reported.

At 8:55 p.m. Tuesday, a Galaxy Resort resident called and reported that a subject matching the attacker's description was at the resort, according to Hermann.

CPD Officer Tim Hobbs responded to the call and contacted McElmore, who was found to be in possession of a black watch cap with eye holes cut out in it and a small paring knife.

During the interview McElmore gave Hobbs details of the attacks, but he claimed to have been a witness.

Hobbs took McElmore to the Clearlake Police station, Hermann reported, where Hobbs and Det. Richard Towle interviewed McElmore.

During the interview, McElmore is reported to have confessed to committing the crimes himself, and provided numerous details that Hermann said were known only to the victims and officers investigating the case.

Hermann said McElmore also gave police permission to search his residence, where they found clothing that was alleged to have been worn in the attacks.

At 1:20 a.m. Thursday police placed McElmore under arrest and transported to the Lake County Jail.

On Thursday morning, a jail official said McElmore was still being booked and bail had not yet been set.

Hermann said the investigation into the attacks is continuing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Clearlake Police Det. Richard Towle, 994-8251.

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

{mos_sb_discuss:2}