The California Highway Patrol is looking for the person or persons responsible for dumping this Chevrolet Suburban on Cobb Mountain sometime before the evening of Monday, December 21, 2009. Photo courtesy of the CHP.

COBB – The California Highway Patrol is looking for assistance in finding the person responsible for dumping a vehicle in a wooded area on Cobb Mountain.

The vehicle, a silver and blue 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, was dumped sometime before Monday evening off of Highway 175, just north of Western Pine Road near the community of Loch Lomond, said CHP Officer Steve Tanguay.

He said the Suburban was located approximately 40 feet off of the road, near a pull out. The vehicle was missing a front axle and its engine.

Tanguay said it appeared that the Suburban was towed to the location by another vehicle, and then left behind some trees. In the process of dumping the vehicle, several trees were destroyed.

The action of abandoning a vehicle is illegal, but in this case it is much more serious because of the damage to trees and plans, Tanguay said. If the vehicle were to leak any fluids, it could be even more damaging to the environment.

If you have seen this vehicle before on someone’s property, or if you have any information on this vehicle or on the illegal dumping of this vehicle, please contact Officer Erich Paarsch at the CHP's Kelseyville office, 707-279-0103.

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The Lake County Sheriff's Office received three separate calls and responded each time to the rancheria on Monday, according to Capt. James Bauman.

Batsulwin Brown, Elem Colony's vice chair, said the conflict had arisen over the Nov. 14 recall of Tribal Chair Geraldine Johnson.

He said Johnson is contesting the recall.

Elem Colony has about 100 members. Johnson told Lake County News earlier this year that about 40 of the tribe's members live at the colony.

Brown said a faction of tribal members who oppose Johnson and who don't live on the rancheria were trying to take over Elem's new community center, which was dedicated in April, as Lake County News has reported.

“They actually tried to force their way in,” said Brown, which resulted in a call to the sheriff's office.

Bauman said the calls from Elem started coming in at about 8:30 a.m. Monday.

On that first call, the reporting party said there was a meeting at the tribal community center “and things were getting heated up,” with yelling reported inside the community center.

Bauman said a deputy responded to the situation, in which tribal members allegedly were threatening to jump others in the building's parking lot.

At about 9:15 a.m., a second call came in, reporting that a tribal elder had been shoved down the building's stairs, according to Bauman.

A deputy went back and took a report, spending about half an hour at the rancheria, Bauman said. The elder wasn't injured and no arrest was made.

The last call came in around 12:30 p.m. At that time, tribal members were reportedly taking equipment from the community center office. Bauman said the caller asked that a report be filed.

Brown said the tribe has provided information about the disputed recall to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and is awaiting a decision, which is expected in the first or second week of January.

Troy Burdick, superintendent of the BIA's Central California office, did not return a Monday call from Lake County News seeking comment.

The BIA's time lines for decisions in tribal disputes are hard to predict.

Late last year, Robinson Rancheria disenrolled 67 members. Forty-six tribal members appealed the decision to the agency, according to BIA official Fred Doka.

Doka told Lake County News last week that the BIA is still working on the Robinson case, and that they're trying to get to it as soon as possible, but they have no time frame for completion.

In late 1995 and into 1996, intertribal factions at the Elem Indian Colony were responsible for a series of shootings and violent crimes as part of a larger struggle over the tribe's casino, which was closed in October of 1995. The tribe's leadership even issued a emergency declaration.

More recently, the rancheria was the site of a large cleanup effort by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2006, during which the houses were rebuilt and contaminated fill from the nearly Sulphur Bank mercury mine was removed. The cleanup has sparked controversy, with some tribal members alleging that the EPA did significant archaeological damage during the operation.

The following year, the tribe disenrolled 25 members, including the last native speaker of the Elem language, as Lake County News has reported.

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Napa County Fire Marshal Pete Muñoa reported that the fire was reported at 3:30 a.m. Monday at 445 Sky Oaks in Angwin.

Units and firefighters from Angwin and Pope Valley from the Napa County Fire Department and Cal Fire responded to the incident, which Muñoa said caused moderate damage to the second story family room.

He said smoke detectors were not installed in the home.

Three family members safely evacuated the residence while the tenant from the first floor used a garden hose to knock down the fire, Muñoa said.

The fire was reported extinguished at 4:14 a.m., but units remained at scene until 9 a.m. Muñoa said no injuries were reported.

He reported than an investigator from the Napa County Fire Marshal’s Office has been assigned to the incident.

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The quake occurred at 3:40 p.m. at a depth of six miles, according to the US Geological Survey.

The epicenter was located five miles west southwest of Covelo, 11 miles northeast of Laytonville and 44 miles north of Ukiah, the agency reported.

Shake reports came in from Covelo, Laytonville and Garberville, as well as from Clearlake Oaks – located 94 miles away.

A report also was made from San Mateo, 263 miles away from Covelo, according to the US Geological Survey.

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Deputies arrested 23-year-old Christopher Andrew Puryear of Kelseyville at Gateway Ministries in Finley, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Last Friday night, sheriff's deputies responded to reports that an adult youth group leader at the church – known formerly as Big Valley Community Church, located on Big Valley Road – had been having inappropriate relations with at least one minor female youth group member.

Bauman said both a church elder and another youth group leader alleged that Puryear was spending an inordinate amount of time talking with and texting teenage girls involved in the youth group.

Deputies learned that on Nov. 25, Puryear had allegedly asked a 14-year-old female member of the youth group to come outside during a church function to talk, according to Bauman's report. When Puryear and the girl went outside, he allegedly made physical and sexual advances towards her and only stopped when he was interrupted by someone else exiting the church.

After several attempts to locate the 14-year-old girl the following day, deputies were able to interview the victim and positively identify the suspect as Puryear, Bauman said.

On Saturday evening, Puryear was located by deputies at the church where the offenses were reportedly committed and he was arrested, according to the report.

Puryear was subsequently booked at the Lake County Jail on felony charges of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child, forced oral copulation with a child, criminal threats and annoying a child under 18.

He remains in the Lake County Jail on an enhanced bail of $250,000.

The case is pending further investigation, including the identification of any other potential victims associated with the Gateway Ministries youth group, Bauman said.

The church did not return a message seeking comment.

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The quake was reported at 4:26 a.m., according to the US Geological Survey.

The agency reported that the quake was recorded two miles east southeast of The Geysers, four miles southwest of Cobb and four miles west of Anderson Springs at a depth of 2.7 miles.

The US Geological Survey received 76 shake reports from around California and one from Carson City, Nev.

Kelseyville, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake residents reported feeling the quake, as did people in Humboldt and Napa counties. The most responses came from Healdsburg, in Sonoma County.

Reports also came from the Bay Area, including San Francisco, and as far away as Turlock and McKinleyville.

The 3.8-quake was followed by 12 smaller quakes – ranging in size from 1.0 to 2.0 in magnitude – in The Geysers and Cobb areas over the rest of the day.

A 3.7-magnitude earthquake was reported in The Geysers area on Nov. 24, as Lake County News has reported.

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Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced Tuesday that Judge Sandra McKeith sustained a juvenile court petition against the Santa Rosa teenager – whose name was not released because of her age – for misdemeanor driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury, and misdemeanor driving with a blood alcohol content of .10 percent and causing injury.

The incident for which she was charged occurred on July 12 on Hall Road in unincorporated Santa Rosa, Passalacqua's office reported.

“Although this type of prosecution is rare, the law still states that whoever has control over a vehicle is accountable for their actions. Her actions created a risk of danger to herself, her boyfriend and the community,” said Assistant District Attorney Diana Gomez.

On July 12, the then 17-year-old female was in a vehicle driven by her boyfriend, Ricardo Mendoza Dominguez, 20, from Santa Rosa. As they were driving down Hall Road they began arguing.

The prosecution alleged that both had been drinking alcohol and that they were later determined to be under the influence of alcohol.

In the midst of their argument, the female passenger became angry and grabbed the steering wheel and pushed it to the left, causing Dominguez to lose control of the vehicle, go out of control, rolling over numerous times and finally hitting a tree, according to the report.

The female juvenile was found outside of the car with a broken leg and neck. Dominguez sustained soft-tissue injuries.

The female juvenile told police at the scene and at the hospital that she had grabbed the steering wheel, causing Dominguez to lose control. Her blood alcohol level was 0.10 percent; the legal limit is 0.08 percent.

Deputy District Attorney Jenica Leonard was the prosecutor assigned to the case and was assisted by District Attorney Investigator Kris Allen. The lead investigator was California Highway Patrol Officer Oates.

The female juvenile is due back in Juvenile Court on Jan. 11, 2010.

Dominguez also was charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and misdemeanor driving with a blood alcohol content of more than .08 percent, and is due in court on Jan. 7, 2010.

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The Board of Parole Hearings denied parole for convicted attempted murderer and kidnapper William Clark Elwood on Dec. 9, according to District Attorney Jon Hopkins.

Hopkins said Elwood is serving a life sentence for a kidnapping for robbery and assault with intent to commit murder conviction in Lake County that occurred in November 1979. Elwood’s crime partner was Thomas J. Botkins.

The Life Parole Consideration Hearing was held at Corcoran State Prison where Elwood is incarcerated, Hopkins said. Elwood will not be eligible to have a subsequent parole consideration hearing for five more years.

The board denied Elwood for parole, finding that he poses an unreasonable risk of danger to society if released at this time, Hopkins reported. The commissioner and deputy commissioner based their decision on the brutality of the crime, which was carried out against a vulnerable victim with whom Elwood had a relationship of trust.

Elwood and Botkins repeatedly stabbed the victim with two pronged forks and beat him in his house and outside his house, taking his wallet and money, according to Hopkins. Then they took the victim in his own car to the Lower Lake Cemetery where they beat and stabbed him further.

After that they drove him out Morgan Valley Road about four miles and dragged him out of his car to beat him in the head with large rocks, leaving him for dead. However, Hopkins said a motorist happened by around 4 a.m. and picked the victim up and took him to the hospital.

Elwood and Botkins were arrested later that day by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Hopkins said.

He said that the victim was so badly beaten that the surgeon attempting to do reconstructive surgery asked for a photo of the victim in order to determine what he looked like before the attack.

In making its decision, the board also noted that Elwood has collected over 100 disciplinary writeups while in prison, many of them for violence, including a felony conviction for possession of a weapon in San Quentin. Elwood has had no serious disciplinary problems since 2005, for which Elwood credits his involvement in the Buddhist faith and teachings.

Hopkins represented Lake County at the Lifer Hearing. He told the board, “Mr. Elwood is not suitable for parole as he presents an unreasonable risk of danger to the public if released. His crime was extremely brutal, and committed with a crime partner where they ganged up on a vulnerable victim. It is a miracle that the victim lived after the senseless beating and being left for dead in an extremely deserted area of our county in the middle of the night.”

He also underlined Elwood’s performance in prison, which has resulted in numerous disciplinary incidents, and said Elwood is not doing enough to gain insight into his behavior to prevent future violent conduct.

In addition, Hopkins said Elwood's future plans are to get into a halfway house, and beyond that are unspecific and vague, which he said demonstrates a lack of an understanding of what he needs to do to not slip back into substance abuse and re-offend.

Hopkins also maintained that Elwood's future plans also do nothing to assure the public that he would not commit future violent acts.

“The crime Mr. Elwood committed could not have been any more cold and calloused than it was, leaving this victim with permanent physical and mental injuries,” Hopkins said this week. “The victim will never fully recover, and to protect the community from suffering future victims, I am gratified that the Board of Parole Hearings found Mr. Elwood unsuitable for parole.”

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Lakeport Fire Protection District's truck 5011's ladder was used in a rooftop rescue on Monday, December 14, 2009, at Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport. Photo courtesy of Lakeport Fire Protection District.

LAKEPORT – Local firefighters put to work a ladder truck last week as they worked to help a man who suffered a seizure.

A Sunday report from Lakeport Fire Protection District explained that the rescue occurred on Monday, Dec. 14.

Shortly before noon on that day, Lakeport Fire Protection District responded to a reported diabetic emergency on the roof of the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Administration building, according to firefighter Brian Hajik of Lakeport Fire.

Lake County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Willie Sapeta, who already was inside the building when the emergency occurred, reportedly made initial contact with the patient.

The man had been servicing the building's HVAC units when he experienced a full body seizure. Sapeta found the patient unresponsive but breathing, and began assessing the patient before transferring care to ambulance staff, according to the report.

Advanced Life Support (ALS) interventions were begun in the event the man experienced additional seizures, and extrication options were discussed between paramedics and the incident commander, Hajik said.

Access to the patient was only possible via a scuttle hatch, and with roof being nearly 40 feet above the street, the decision was made to utilize truck 5011’s 75-foot aerial ladder to safely lower the patient to the ground.

Under the direction of Fire Captain Bob Holbrook, the patient was secured to a stokes basket after spinal immobilization, said Hajik. Using a series of ropes and specialized lowering hardware, the patient was brought to the ground by sliding the basket along the rails of the ladder with the attending paramedic.

Lakeport Fire reported that the patient had no additional seizures during the rescue operation and had regained full consciousness during the short transport to Sutter Lakeside emergency room.

The incident was terminated at 12:47 p.m., exactly an hour after it began, Hajik reported.

Lakeport Fire Protection District responded with one ALS ambulance, one ALS engine company and one truck company.

No injuries to emergency responders were reported. Hajik said they didn't have an update on the patient's status.

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Firefighters work to bring the patient, who had suffered a seizure, to the ground on Monday, December 14, 2009, at Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport. Photo courtesy of Lakeport Fire Protection District.

Members of local law enforcement gathered in Lakeport on Monday, December 21, 2009, to begin distributing toys to children around Lake County who Victim-Witness worked with this past year. Photo by Tera deVroede

LAKEPORT – Christmas presents arrived on the doorsteps of special children around Lake County on Monday as part of an annual tradition.

Each year, the Lake County District Attorney's Office Victim-Witness Division organizes the Christmas gift giveaway, which has been going on for so long that no one asked about its origin could remember just when it started.

Victim-Witness advocates for crime victims, offering them services and support as they go through the justice system.

The holiday effort allows the relationship between the agency and the people it helps to shift to a happier theme.

Victim-Witness Supervisor Debbie Wallace said the longstanding tradition helps not just the recipients but the givers as well.

“It’s fun for us to do for the families,” she said. “It’s not the usual dark stuff.”

Local law enforcement agencies personally delivered the gifts to the homes of 91 victims of crime across Lake County on Monday.

Staff from the California Highway Patrol, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Clearlake Police Department and Lakeport Police Department and District Attorney's Office all convened outside of the Victim-Witness Division at 420 Second St. in Lakeport, ready to load the wrapped gifts into their cars despite a morning rainstorm.

Sgt. Gary Basor and Deputy Cynthia Radoumis of the Lake County Sheriff's Office got into the holiday spirit. Photo by Tera deVroede

The gifts have traveled down a long line of generosity that began with the local people who decided to purchase a gift for the selected recipients, most of them children.

Each child was assigned an ornament with their gender and age information which hung on one of two Christmas tree displays – one at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lakeport and the other at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Kelseyville, said Wallace.

Once the trees were in place it was up to parishioners to buy gifts and bring them to the Victim-Witness Division, Wallace said.

She said the District Attorney's Office and the Auditor's Office also contributed by choosing one specific family to donate to this year.

Deputy Cynthia Radoumis of the Lake County Sheriff's Office was so excited to participate for the first time this year that she decorated her patrol cruiser – complete with lights and a wreath on the grill – and wore a Santa hat.

“This morning is the best part of the day so far,” she said. “It's a nice representation of so many different agencies in the county.”

The effort nearly fell short by 13 gifts this year, but never fear – the Lake County Sheriff's Office staff joined in and provided over $1,100 in donations to buy the additional presents and make sure everyone on the list received a gift.

“The community always comes together to help us out,” said District Attorney Jon Hopkins.

Hopkins was all smiles as the gifts were loaded in the cars and made ready for delivery. Actually, everyone was smiling with the thoughts of delivering Christmas cheer and community support.

Chipper, the mascot for the California Highway Patrol, and McGruff the Crime Dog couldn’t help but smile as well, as they helped load up the gifts.

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California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Tanguay loads up toys to take to children on Monday, December 21, 2009. Photo by Tera deVroede.

A Monday morning rainstorm didn't keep the toy effort from slowing down. Photo by Tera deVroede

Joey Len Gunter, 36, was arrested for burglary, possession of stolen property, vandalism and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to a report from Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

On Sunday at 7:45 p.m. a 55-year-old woman returned to her cabin, located 13 miles out Spy Rock Road near Laytonville, in a very remote and inaccessible area of the county accessed through several locked gates, Smallcomb said. When she arrived she found a man she had never met before inside the cabin.

The woman confronted the trespasser – later identified as Gunter – and demanded he leave her house, Smallcomb said, but Gunter allegedly refused to leave and advanced aggressively toward her.

Smallcomb said the woman fired one warning shot into the air with a handgun, but the shot made no impression on Gunter, who continued to advance toward her.

The woman, who was accompanied by a male cousin, fled the area and contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. Smallcomb said the woman advised deputies that the subject who had taken over her home had been strangely aggressive and that he had access to firearms and ammunition inside the home.

Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies, assisted by a California Highway Patrol officer, responded to the cabin at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday, Smallcomb said. Due to the danger of confronting the potentially armed subject inside the home, a Mendocino County Sheriff's K-9 was sent into the home to apprehend the suspect.

MCSO K-9 "Dutch" apprehended the suspect in a bedroom, pulling the armed suspect to the ground, enabling officers to take Gunter into custody without a more serious use of force, Smallcomb said.

Gunter allegedly had armed himself with a .38 caliber revolver from the home, worn in a holster. Within arm's reach were a .30-.30 rifle and short-barreled 12-gauge shotgun. Smallcomb said all three weapons were loaded.

Deputies transported Gunter to the Mendocino County Jail, where he was booked on several felonies involving theft, vandalism, possession of stolen property and weapons violations.

The 12-gauge shotgun and a Yamaha four-wheel ATV found at the scene appeared to have been the product of other recent burglaries in the Spy Rock area, Smallcomb said. The suspect allegedly admitted to stealing from seven homes and seasonal-use cabins in the Spy Rock area over the last few months.

Anyone who has been the victim of a recent theft in that area or who has additional information regarding these crimes is asked to contact Deputy Clint Wyant of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office at 707-459-7833.

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Channing Cornell is the new president of the Mendocino College Foundation Board of Directors. Courtesy photo.

UKIAH – Channing Cornell, of Redwood Valley, is the newly elected president of the Mendocino College Foundation Board of Directors.

The Mendocino College Foundation consists of 22 directors, all volunteers from throughout the Mendocino-Lake Community College District.

The foundation supports the college students by providing student scholarships and funds to enhance educational programs and staff development.

Cornell, who previously served as vice president of the foundation board, was unanimously chosen by the directors at the December meeting of the board. Rhonada Clausen, of Ukiah, was elected to serve as vice president. Mendocino College Superintendent/President Kathy Lehner, also of Ukiah, serves as secretary/treasurer of the board and was re-elected to that position for 2010.

Accepting the gavel from Tom Herman of Willits, president for the past two years, Cornell thanked the directors and gave special recognition to Herman.

“Tom has been very conscientious in guiding this board in its fiduciary responsibility,” said Cornell. “You’ve done a wonderful job,” he said, directing his comments to Herman. “We appreciate everything you’ve done (as president) over the last two years.”

Cornell then conducted the remainder of the board meeting, including the scheduling of meeting dates, times, and locations for 2010, and election of committee chairs and members.

The president heads the Foundation’s Executive Committee. Members of the committee are vice president Clausen, secretary/treasurer Lehner who is also chair of the Fundraising Committee, immediate past president Herman, and committee chairs Tommy Thornhill (Scholarship Committee), John Bogner (Land Committee), Gary Smith (Finance Committee) and Richard Cooper (Special Events Committee), all of Ukiah, and Wilda Shock (Marketing Committee) of Lakeport.

Additional foundation board members are Kristi Barrington, John Behnke, Donna Berry, Harry Bistrin, Paul Conrado, Jerilyn Harris, Neelam Salmen, Joan Schlienger, all of Ukiah; Peggy Campbell-DeBolt, Lakeport; Leroy Chase and Christy Scollin, Redwood Valley; David Geck, Kelseyville; and Tod Kong, Hopland.

Regular meetings of the foundation’s board of directors for 2010 are scheduled for Tuesdays, March 2 at the Ukiah campus, MacMillan Hall, 1000 Hensley Creek Road; June 1 at the Lake Center, 105 Parallel Drive, Lakeport; Sept. 7 at the Ukiah campus, and Dec. 7 at the Ukiah campus. Meetings start at noon and are open to the public.

Marketing Committee meetings immediately follow the board meetings on each of the scheduled dates. The Foundation’s Finance Committee will meet Thursdays, Jan. 14, April 8, July 8 and Oct. 14, starting at 3:30 p.m., at the President’s Office in MacMillan Hall. Other committee meetings are listed on the Mendocino College Foundation Web site, http://foundation.mendocino.edu .

For additional information about the Mendocino College Foundation and the efforts of the board of directors, call the Foundation Office at 707.467.1018, visit the Web site at http://foundation.mendocino.edu , or send an email to Kerry McMullen, Foundation support specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .