“California’s waterways are expected to be crowded during Labor Day weekend,” stated Department of Boating and Waterways’ Acting Director Lucia Becerra. “Wearing a life jacket, avoiding alcohol and maintaining a proper lookout are the top three life-saving practices that boaters are being asked to follow for a safe and pleasant weekend.”

The Lake County Sheriff's Office is reminding all boaters that quagga inspections and stickers are very important for the health of Clear Lake, and its associated waterways.

Since the quagga ordinance was revised earlier this year, making the violation a misdemeanor instead of an infraction, and increasing the base fine from $100 to $1,000, 19 citations have been issued.

While the violation was still an infraction in 2008, 2009 and 2010, a total of 107 citations were issued, the agency said.

Technically, all persons who are cited for this misdemeanor are considered arrested and released on their promise to appear, according to sheriff's officials.

Lake County law requires mandatory screening of all water vessels prior to launching in a Lake County water body. That applies to all registered water vessels, meaning any watercraft, or jet ski, or float plane capable of being launched into a water body.

However, it does not apply to canoes, kayaks, car-top boats, float tubes, rafts, wind surfers/boards, boogey boards, non-motorized paddle boats, and non-motorized sail boats that are eight feet or less in length.

Local law also bans the disposal of live bait and any liquid that contains or has contained live bait into Lake County water bodies, and establishes any violation as a misdemeanor, with a fine of $1,000.

For additional information, call the Lake County Department of Water Resources at 707-263-2344

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office also has a zero tolerance policy and every violator is cited.

It is against the law to operate a boat, or be towed behind or alongside a boat with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more.

Designating a driver is not enough on vessels. The concept works well in cars, but drunken passengers on boats can easily fall overboard, swim near the propeller, or cause loading problems by leaning over the side or standing up in small vessels, causing them to capsize.

Everyone who drinks alcohol on board a boat is at risk. If you do drink, wear a life jacket, officials urged.

Knowing how to swim does not make you drown-proof. Statistics show that many boating fatalities involved boaters not wearing life jackets, getting knocked unconscious and going under the water. A properly fitted life jacket will help keep you float until help arrives.

So far this year, 17 drowning victims statewide have been reported to Department of Boating and Waterways. Eleven were not wearing life jackets, five were and one is unknown.

Other concerns on the water include operator inattention, which Boating and Waterways reported is the leading cause of boating accidents, contributing to 35 percent of all California boating accidents last year.

While the operator is ultimately responsible for maintaining a proper lookout, it is a good idea to designate someone else on board to help watch for other traffic, especially on a large boat or in congested areas.

Boat operators are also encouraged to familiarize their passengers with safety equipment and how to be safe aboard their boats – such as keeping hands inside the boat when near a dock, carbon monoxide dangers, propeller safety, etc.

Officials warned, “If it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility.”

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The number of dead and dying abalone is not known but reports have come from Bodega Bay, Russian Gulch, Fort Ross, Timber Cove and Salt Point State Park, beginning on Aug. 27.

State Fish and Game biologists and game wardens have collected abalone, mussels and water samples and are continuing to document reports from the public.

According to Fish and Game biologists, these abalone deaths coincided with a local red tide bloom – or phytoplankton bloom – and calm ocean conditions.

Although the exact reasons for the abalone deaths are not known, invertebrate die-offs have occurred in the past along the Northern California coast when similar weather and bloom conditions existed.

Biologists are not attributing the deaths to withering syndrome, an abalone disease, since the abalone are not withered and other invertebrates have been affected. Withering syndrome has been known to cause abalone mortality in the past in central and Southern California.

The abalone fishery remains open at this time. Abalone divers and pickers are reminded that they must adhere to all licensing requirements and bag limits, which can be found online at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mapregs3.asp#abalone_open.

There is a daily limit of three abalone and a yearly limit of 24 abalone, along with season restrictions and area closures as well as other regulations for recreational abalone fishing in Northern California.

Abalone fishermen are advised to contact a physician immediately if they feel sick, and to report symptoms to the local county health department (www.sonoma-county.org/health/about/publichealth.asp).

The public is encouraged to report the location, number and date of dead or dying abalone to Ian Taniguchi at 562-342-7182 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The latest red tide updates from the California Department of Public Health are also posted online at www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/DDWEM.aspx.

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Michael J. Trevors, 28, in addition was placed on three years probation by Superior Court Judge Clay Brennan.

Trevors also entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge related to the case during his court appearance on Monday, Aug. 29, according to the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office.

Trevors' sentencing followed that of co-defendant, Qiong Wang, who earlier this year entered a no contest plea to the same two charges.

Wang was sentenced on April 18 to the same terms as Trevors, with the exception that Wang was ordered to serve a full 365 days – known as a “bullet” – in the Mendocino County jail, the District Attorney's Office reported.

Prosecutor Tim Stoen said that in February of this year Trevors drove Wang from the Bay Area to Van Damme State Park on the Mendocino Coast.

Trevors then helped unload dive equipment, changed into dive gear, and maneuvered a kayak for Wang to dive from. With Trevors assisting from atop the water, Wang then poached 55 abalone on that day. The legal limit is three per day.

Trevors after his arrest contended that Wang asked him for a ride and that Wang had misled Trevors as to what could happen if they got caught. Trevors also attempted to downplay his involvement by arguing that he himself had not personally taken from the water any of the abalone.

Stoen said while Trevors was indeed less culpable that Wang, he was nevertheless guilty of aiding and abetting the crimes.

The case was initially investigated by the Special Operations Unit of the state Department of Fish and Game, Department investigators were aware of a prior offense by Wang and started surveillance on Wang's Bay Area residence. Wardens tracked the two suspects on the day they drove to Van Damme State Park, and witnessed the illegal poaching.

Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster said fish and game wardens did “a terrific job investigating this case and in bringing both Wang and Trevors to justice. I appreciate the long hours and hard work of all the wardens, as well as the continuing diligence of Deputy DA Stoen to protect our local natural resources.”

Trevors is to surrender to serve his jail time on Oct.11. Wang is currently serving his jail time in the Mendocino County Jail.

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Officers will be on duty during the MEP, which begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 5.

“Celebrate the Labor Day weekend but remember to celebrate safely,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Since California enjoys such fantastic weather this time of year, our roadways may be congested with traffic and pedestrians. Many families will be out and about in our great state to enjoy the last days of summer.”

Last year over Labor Day weekend, 21 people were killed in collisions on California roadways. In addition, more than half of all vehicle occupants killed in CHP jurisdiction were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

During the Labor Day weekend 2010, CHP officers throughout the state made 1,521 arrests for driving under the influence, which was up 7 percent from the previous year.

“End summer on a high note and drive safely, soberly and defensively,” said Farrow. “There is no excuse to for driving while intoxicated. Designate a non-drinking driver before you head out, and always ensure that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.”

Motorists are reminded to call 911 if they see a suspected drunk driver.

To assist law enforcement, callers should be prepared to provide the dispatcher with a description of the vehicle, its location and direction of travel.

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The Ferris wheel towers over the still-silent midway at the Lake County Fair in Lakeport, Calif., on Wednesday, August 31, 2011. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The home of the Lake County was filled with activity on Wednesday as the final preparations for the opening of the event were under way.

The Ferris wheel towered over the midway as other carnival rides were assembled. Nearby exhibit halls were filling with arts, crafts, flowers, baked goods, photography and other items created by local residents. Vendors were putting up booths to line the fair's main pathways.

In the livestock buildings, 4-H and FFA members were tending to their livestock in preparation for shows and the weekend Junior Livestock Auction.

“We're looking forward to a great year,” said Lake County Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons, who was busy overseeing the final preparations. “The weather is going to be fantastic.”

Carousel horses sit waiting for a busy weekend on the midway of the Lake County Fair in Lakeport, Calif., on Wednesday, August 31, 2011. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

The fair, which runs from Thursday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 4, averages an estimated 40,000 annual visitors, according to Persons.

He said the first Lake County Fair was held in 1880. However, the events weren't held annually until the fair moved to the current fairgrounds at 401 Martin St. in 1948.

The kickoff to the fair takes place on Thursday evening, with the annual Lake County Fair Parade.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., the parade will make its way from Natural High School on N. Main Street, traveling south until it reaches Martin Street, and then traveling to the fair's main gate, where the opening ribbon cutting ceremony will take place. Everyone who enters the parade with a float will receive free entry to the fair.

This year's fair parade grand marshal is Ginny Craven, founder of Operation Tango Mike, a group which over the past several years has sent thousands of care packages to members of the military stationed overseas.

Sheep wait for the show in the livestock pavilion at the Lake County Fair in Lakeport, Calif., on Wednesday, August 31, 2011. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

Fair organizers hope to bring this year's theme – “Make Some Magic!” – to another large audience, and so far indications are that it should be a strong year for attendance.

Persons said presale ticket sales – which ended on Wednesday – have been brisk. A steady stream of visitors were making their way into the fair office Wednesday afternoon to pick up tickets ahead of the fair in order to beat what are expected to be long lines.

Also up “by quite a bit” this year are commercial spaces, said Persons, and the number of animals entered in the livestock division also has grown. So far spaces in the exhibit halls for fair contest entries appear to be on par with previous years.

The late Jean Holdenried's colorful quilt

Jason Michael Frick, 37, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possessing a destructive device and to being a felon in possession of a firearm, also a felony, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

Frick also admitted two prior Humboldt County “strike” convictions – one for residential burglary and the second for robbery.

Overall, Frick has been convicted of seven strikes: two in Tehama County, three in Humboldt County – including the two mentioned above – and two in Del Norte County.

As a result of his guilty pleas and admissions, Frick may face a prison sentence of up to 50 years to life, depending on the outcome of defense motions to be decided by Superior Court Judge Richard Henderson on Oct. 21, the District Attorney's Office reported.

District Attorney David Eyster prosecuted the case. Frick’s defense attorney was Public Defender Linda Thompson.

The Humboldt County Superior Court had issued a warrant for Frick’s arrest after Frick had failed to appear in court on felony charges alleged to have occurred in October 2010, charges that included stalking, corporal injury on a cohabitant, first degree burglary, and possession of controlled substances, according to the District Attorney's Office. The Humboldt County matter remains on hold pending the October sentencing here in Mendocino County.

On Feb. 22 of this year local law enforcement became aware that Frick may be hiding out in the Willits area. The SWAT team and other local law enforcement resources were mobilized and it was confirmed that Frick was inside a Birch Street residence.

An 11-hour stand-off thereafter ensued, with Frick eventually surrendering just after 2 a.m. on Feb. 23, officials reported.

During the early stages of the stand-off, Frick told negotiators that he had a bomb and would not come out without defending himself.

Frick also fired a shotgun into the ceiling of the residence during the stand-off, later telling negotiators that he had done so because he believed somebody had placed a laser on him.

A bomb squad was dispatched from Humboldt County and the destructive device was made safe.

That pipe bomb was found to contain nails and BB’s mixed in with explosive matter, according to the District Attorney's Office's report.

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The fire restrictions will continue through the end of fire season, according to a Thursday report.

“This summer the Mendocino National Forest has been very fortunate when it comes to wildland fire,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Lee Johnson. “We would like forest visitors to help us continue this by being safe when using fires in designated areas, complying with these fire restrictions and reporting smoke when they see it. By being aware we can all help protect the forest’s resources from human-caused wildfires.”

Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal fires or stoves are prohibited on the National Forest unless in the following designated recreation sites:

• Upper Lake Ranger District – Fuller Grove, Fuller Group Camp, Navy Camp, Pogie Point, Oak Flat, Sunset, Middle Creek, Deer Valley, Bear Creek, Penny Pines and Lower Nye Campgrounds.

• Grindstone Ranger District – Red Bluff Recreation Area and Big Springs Day Use Area; Whitlock, Kingsley Glade, Sugarfoot Glade, Three Prong, Wells Cabin, Sugar Springs, Letts Lake, Mill Valley, Dixie Glade, Plaskett Meadows, Masterson, Little Stony, Grey Pine, Fouts Springs, Davis Flat, South Fork, Cedar Camp, Mill Creek, North Fork and Old Mill Campgrounds.

• Covelo Ranger District – Eel River, Little Doe, Howard Lake and Hammerhorn Lake Campgrounds.

California Campfire Permits are not needed in the designated recreation sites listed. In all other areas of the forest, lanterns or portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel with be allowed as long as the person has a current California Campfire Permit with them.

California Campfire Permits may be obtained at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or CAL FIRE office in California, as well as most Forest Service field employees. They may also be obtained online at www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino under passes and permits and click on recreation passes and permits.

The following activities are also prohibited as part of the fire restrictions:

• Smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or in the designated recreation sites listed above.

• Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.

• Using explosives.

• Possessing, discharging or using any kind of fireworks.

Forest visitors will be able to continue riding Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) on designated roads and trails, provided that the vehicles are equipped with the required spark arresters.

Spark arresters are also required on chainsaws being used for people filling valid personal use wood cutting permits, and may also only be used on designated roads and trails.

Temporary fire restrictions are put in place annually to protect natural resources and limit the threat of human-caused wildfires.

Similar restrictions are going into effect on neighboring forests. However, restrictions can vary by forest and visitors should check with the forest they plan on visiting for the latest fire restrictions and conditions.

For the Mendocino National Forest, the fire restrictions are formally referenced through Order Number 08-11-06.

Violation of these fire restrictions is punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months imprisonment or both.

Fire season typically ends in late fall following a series of drenching, measurable rains in the mountains. An announcement will follow when fire restrictions are lifted.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316, or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino.

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Robert Coker and an American Indian statue at Tatonka Land. Photo by Beth-Katherine Kaiman.

Tatonka Land will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday.

Owners Bunnie Carter and Robert Coker have spent months restoring the golf course to its original glory.

Over the past several years, the course had been vandalized and all the statues either stolen or destroyed. They were able to locate and restore a few of the original statues.

One of the statues they were able to track down was a polar bear that had been seen lying next to the course for years before it suddenly disappeared.

Thanks to the efforts of Russ Jonas of Jonas Oil the bear was rescued and found a new home with Craig Scovel of Highlands Alarm. When the word went out there were new owners Scovel returned the bear, which now wears a name tag that says “Craig.”

Carter and Coker opened Tatonka Trading in January 2009.

There's a new sheriff in town and her name is Cowlamity Jane. Photo by Beth-Katherine Kaiman.

“It has always been my dream to restore the golf course,” said Carter. “I have invested my retirement money into the future of Clearlake and I feel this town is going to come back in full force for the community to have a place to be proud of.”

She added, “I remember while growing up here, the resorts were full with people and there were always people walking down the street laughing and having a good time. I felt the community needed a safe place for our kids to hang out and stay out of trouble, so we opened Tatonka Land.”

In addition to the 18-hole miniature golf course, guests will be able to have rides on Zippy Pets, which are battery operated, ride-on animals able to hold up to 300 pounds. Kids can ride them on their own or with their parent.

Tatonka Land is keeping it affordable for all families. Five dollars will get you an 18 hole round of golf or a ride on one of the Zippy Pets. Special prices are available for birthday parties, office parties, family reunions, etc.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake Family Resource Center has vacated its Clearlake facility after venting geothermal gases led to concerns about potential health hazards.

Gloria Flaherty, the center's executive director, said they are moving out of the 2,400-square-foot building, located at 14264 Austin Road, at the suggestion of local health officials.

She said the center was notified that they were probably going to have to move out on on Thursday, Aug. 18. “And we did move out that afternoon.”

Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait said county health agencies recommended that Lake Family Resource limit use of the Clearlake building due to indoor air quality concerns related to the geothermal gas.

Tait said the issue is a longstanding problem that local health officials have been evaluating, adding that it is “complex and represents new ground in the health arena in many ways.”

“Strict guidelines for long-term air quality are lacking, so we've arrived at this recommendation after a lot of research, air quality measurements and deliberation,” Tait told Lake County News.

She said Lake County Public Health has been working with agencies including Lake County Air Quality Management District, Lake County Fire and its own Environmental Health division, the Environmental Protection Agency.

Lake County Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski said Environmental Health did not do an enforcement on the building, just offered the recommendation not to use it.

“We advised them that there’s a possibility of hazardous conditions,” he said.

The facility wasn't staffed every day, said Flaherty, explaining that staff stopped in there to do paperwork. The space also had been used for therapy, workshops and parenting classes the nonprofit offers.

“It has always smelled but it's been worse the last couple of years,” Flaherty said, adding that they didn't want to take any chances due to the situation.

Tait said the venting “comes with living in volcano territory.” Local agencies were trying to determine if there are some guidelines needed to advise residents of precautions to take when living in areas where this activity is more noticeable.

She suggested that Lake Family Resource Center could mitigate the building's problem with some engineering, but Flaherty wasn't sure if the problem could be resolved, noting that a former owner tried putting in a ventilation system.

Ruminski said the venting is a “neighborhood phenomenon,” adding the area is a mixture of residential and commercial.

The venting gases appears to become more common during the rainy season than the dry season, said Ruminski. He said the venting is related to atmospheric pressure and groundwater levels, becoming more prevalent when the ground is saturated by water.

Wet conditions led to a natural hydrogen sulfide leak leak in February 2010 on an empty lot on Division Avenue in Clearlake, not far from the Lake Family Resource Center building. That incident required several agencies to respond and put equipment in place to diminish the strong sulfur smell, as Lake County News has reported.

When such venting occurs, there is a mixture of gases involved, said Ruminski, with carbon dioxide and methane as the major constituents. Hydrogen sulfide is found at a smaller concentration.

In a confined space or interior, if too high of a concentration of carbon dioxide builds up the oxygen concentration is lowered. “Then you can get an oxygen deficient atmosphere,” he said.

Ruminski said nobody really knows what levels of those gases are safe to be exposed to on a long-term basis.

He said there are other concerns as well.

“There’s a risk of fire and explosion if there's a buildup of the methane,” Ruminski explained. “There's a couple different hazards to worry about with these gases.”

Ruminski recalled that about 20 years ago in the same area a similar situation arose during the winter in a home. The home had so many problems that it eventually was foreclosed on and later demolished.

Because of the county’s geothermal resources, Clearlake isn’t the only area where such venting is found, Ruminski said.

He said there is an effort to get more resources focused on monitoring the venting issues. Last March the US Environmental Protection Agency did some field reconnaissance to study the issue.

There has not been any damage to the nonprofit's equipment, and Flaherty said Lake Family Resource Center will continue to maintain the building's exterior.

“We will probably use it for storage or something,” she said.

Flaherty said the challenge now is to find a building for workshops and classes.

“We own that building outright so now we're going to have to start paying rent,” she said.

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Aaron James Bassler, 35, of Fort Bragg, Calif., is being sought for the murder of Fort Bragg City Councilman Jere Melo on Saturday, August 27, 2011. Mendocino County Sheriff's Office photo.

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that the search is for the suspect in the Aug. 27 shooting of a Fort Bragg councilman is continuing in the forst near the coastal town.

Capt. Kurt Smallcomb said the effort is continuing in an effort to apprehend 35-year-old Aaron James Bassler of Fort Bragg.

Bassler is alleged to have fatally shot 69-year-old Jere Melo last weekend as Melo was on private timber property he managed, sheriff's officials reported.

Smallcomb said the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is working with Fort Bragg Police, Cal Fire, Willits Police, California Highway Patrol, Fish and Game, Ukiah Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Guard, with support from by the California Department of Justice and the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office.

Law enforcement is conducting ground and aerial searches in an attempt to locate Bassler and obtain evidence in the case, Smallcomb said.

He said the ground search efforts are focused from the northern coast to the east toward Willits. Officials also are responding to possible sightings reported by the public.

Efforts will continue until the suspect is apprehended by law enforcement, Smallcomb said.

Cal Fire this week also closed the Jackson State Demonstration Forest out of concerns for public safety as the search takes place, as Lake County News has reported.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office thanked residents and local companies – including the Skunk Train personnel – who are supporting law enforcement's efforts to safely apprehend Bassler.

Smallcomb said all residents in the Fort Bragg area should remain vigilant and conscious of their surroundings.

Bassler is armed and dangerous, law enforcement officials reported.

He is described as a white male, 6 feet tall and weighing 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information as to Bassler's whereabouts are encouraged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office at 707-463-4086 or 707-961-2479.

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Christopher Adam Sanders, 30, of Clearlake, Calif., has hired a new attorney and may seek a new trial after being convicted this spring of five felony counts for the molestation of his stepdaughter. Lake County Jail photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The sentencing of a Clearlake man convicted this spring of five felony counts related to the alleged molestation of his stepdaughter has been delayed in the wake of his hiring a new attorney and possibly seeking a new trial.

In May a jury found Christopher Adam Sanders, 30, guilty of committing a lewd act with a child, two counts of lewd act with a child by duress, continuous sexual abuse of a child and statutory rape, as Lake County News has reported.

According to the evidence presented against Sanders, he was alleged to have begun sexually assaulting his stepdaughter in the summer of 2005, when she was 11 years old.

The molestation allegedly continued for three years, ending in December 2008. Sanders was arrested the following month, the District Attorney's Office reported.

Sanders, who the District Attorney's Office said was facing up to 35 years in prison for the convictions, was due to be sentenced on July 1, which then was delayed until Aug. 16. However, that date, too, was canceled.

Prosecutor Ed Borg said the delays resulted from Sanders dismissing his attorney, Chris Andrian of Santa Rosa, and hiring Lakeport attorney Mitch Hauptman to look at seeking a new trial under Penal Code section 1181.

That penal code section allows a new trial request based on several factors, among them several kinds of juror misconduct, including the jury reaching a verdict contrary to law or evidence, unfair deliberations and the jury receiving evidence out of court, as well as the discovery of new evidence and errors by the trial court.

Borg said a motion for a new trial is not common, although he wouldn't necessarily call it unusual, as there exists the statutory right for a defendant to make such a motion. He added that it could take Hauptman some time – several weeks – to weigh such an option.

Hauptman confirmed to Lake County News on Wednesday that he had been hired by Sanders, and that he was considering filing a motion on Sanders' behalf seeking a new trial.

Borg had said the case's next court date is Sept. 13, at which time the court would choose either a date to deal with a new trial motion or set a new sentencing date, but Hauptman said Wednesday that at this point he wasn't sure what might be up for consideration on that date.

Sanders remains in the Lake County Jail.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A man convicted of the October 1989 murder of a Cobb resident has been denied parole.

The Board of Parole Hearings denied parole for Kenneth Warren Perkins, 67, following a hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 30, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

Hinchcliff attended the lifer hearing at California State Prison Solano in Vacaville to argue against Perkins’ release.

A jury found Perkins guilty of second-degree murder for the shooting death of Edward Maher, according to a report from the District Attorney's Office.

Lake County Superior Court Judge Robert L. Crone Jr. sentenced Perkins to 17 years to life on April 30, 1990. Perkins originally was prosecuted by then-Deputy District Attorney Richard C. Martin, who is now one of Lake County’s Superior Court judges.

Perkins’ minimum eligible parole date was December 31, 2000, Hinchcliff said.

According to investigation reports, the 40-year-old Maher was temporarily living in a shack in the woods near the intersection of Golf Road and Highway 175 on Cobb.

One of Maher’s sons and some friends were visiting him on Oct. 18, 1989, when Perkins showed up with a shotgun. After they left about 7 p.m. , as they were heading out of the woods toward home, they heard a gunshot.

The next morning Perkins called the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and reported he had accidentally shot Maher after Maher attacked him and grabbed the gun, causing the gun to accidentally discharge.

However, investigators determined from evidence at the scene that Perkins had shot Maher in the neck from a distance of about 6 feet while Maher was sitting down tying or untying his boots.

Edward Maher left behind a wife and two sons. According to Maher’s family, Perkins had recently worked for Edward Maher doing construction and Perkins had recently been fired by Maher for some misconduct, and Perkins was angry at Maher for firing him.

According to reports Perkins had a serious alcohol problem for most of his life, and had been drinking at the time of the shooting. Perkins had several criminal convictions for burglary, theft, battery and DUI prior to the shooting.

Hinchcliff said prison records indicated that Perkins has remained disciplinary free while in prison, but has failed to take classes or get professional help to address personal issues that led to the shooting, and his participation in necessary substance abuse classes has been very sporadic.

Perkins has also continued to claim the shooting was accidental, Hinchcliff said.

At the two and a half hour hearing Tuesday, Hinchcliff asked the Board of Prison Hearings to deny Perkins’ parole on the ground that he still presented an unreasonable risk of danger to the public if
released, and failed to exhibit remorse or accept responsibility for his conduct.

Maher’s widow and one of his sons also attended the hearing and asked the parole commissioners to deny parole, Hinchcliff said.

The Board of Parole Hearings denied parole, agreeing that Perkins still presents an unreasonable risk to the public if released, according to Hinchcliff.

Hinchcliff said the Board of Parole Hearings' denial was for five years. Perkins next parole hearing will be in 2016.

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