LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport man arrested in early January for sexually assaulting a female acquaintance has entered a plea in the case.

Charles Peter Lamb, 31, on Monday entered a guilty plea to felony assault with intent to commit rape, said Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg.

A call to Lamb’s attorney, Barry Melton, was not returned.

Lamb allegedly assaulted a female acquaintance on Jan. 1, and was arrested the following morning by Lakeport Police, according to the initial police report.

He originally was charged with count of rape and one count of sodomy by force, and was held to answer to the charges following a January preliminary hearing, as Lake County News has reported.

Borg said assault with intent to commit rape is a violent felony, or a strike, and will require Lamb to serve prison time; he won’t be eligible to serve the sentence on parole. He also will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his term.

Lamb will have to register as a sex offender as well, Borg said.

The charge brings between two and six years upon conviction. However, when Lamb is sentenced on April 9 by Judge Andrew Blum he will face four years, as Borg said he and the defense agreed to a mid-term cap based on Lamb’s minimal prior criminal history.

The female victim was aware of the District Attorney’s Office’s negotiations with Lamb and was OK with the plea bargain, Borg said.

The matter has been referred to Lake County Probation, which will complete a presentence report that considers Lamb’s criminal and social history, Borg said. Blum will use that report as the basis of his decision.

Borg said that because the charge to which Lamb pleaded is a violent felony and requires sex offender registration, Lamb will have to serve his term in state prison, not the county jail, as some individuals convicted of felonies now are doing under correctional realignment.
        
Lamb has remained in the Lake County Jail since his arrest.

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