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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Sebastopol man on charges that he had sex with a minor and investigators are attempting to determine if there are other possible victims.
On Monday deputies took Casey Connaway, 43, into custody for the alleged sexual assault of a minor, according to Misti Wood of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
Wood said the victim and Connaway met several years ago when she was 15 years old. Connaway was a tennis coach and the victim met him through coaching lessons at Ragle Park in Sebastopol.
During the coaching sessions, Connaway began establishing an unsolicited emotional relationship with the victim. Eventually, he convinced her to have a sexual relationship with him. This illegal relationship continued for two years while the victim was a minor, Wood reported.
On Oct. 26, Wood said the victim gathered the courage to call the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and disclose what had happened to her.
Wood said the victim feared there may be other young women who have been victimized by Connaway because he has continued to be a tennis coach in Sebastopol.
A deputy talked to the victim, now an adult and living in Ventura County, and referred her case to the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault unit, Wood said.
Detectives have since been working with the victim and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office detectives, Wood said.
During the investigation, Wood said detectives learned of a related incident with Connaway in 2017.
On July 25, 2017, two minors from out of the area were taking lessons from Connaway at a tennis camp. One student, a 16 year old, told her family she was uncomfortable with some of Connaway’s statements. Deputies determined that no crime had occurred at that time and took an informational report, Wood said.
On Monday, deputies found Connaway driving near Ragle Ranch Park and arrested him at approximately 2 p.m., Wood said.
After arresting Connaway, Wood said domestic violence/sexual assault detectives served a search warrant on Connaway’s car and home to gather more potential evidence.
Connaway was booked into jail on felony charges of sex with a minor who is three or more years younger, oral copulation with a minor, and sexual penetration with an object. He was released on $120,000 bail the same day, Wood said.
“We know it’s difficult to report a sexual assault and we appreciate the victim’s bravery and cooperation,” Wood said in her report.
As part of the investigation, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office is evaluating whether there are any more people who may have been victimized by Connaway.
If you have information about additional victims or any information about this investigation, please contact Detective Salyers at 707-565-8290.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Cobb woman sustained major injuries on Sunday in a wreck on Highway 175.
Angelina Guillen, 31, was flown to a regional trauma center following the crash, which occurred at approximately 3:13 p.m. Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.
The CHP said Guillen was driving her 2009 Jeep Liberty eastbound on Highway 175 in Cobb, just west of Highway 29 when, for reasons still under investigation, she allowed her vehicle to run off the roadway.
Guillen’s Jeep hit a power pole and two trees, with her Jeep sustaining extensive damage, the CHP said.
After being removed from the vehicle by medical personnel, Guillen was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment, according to the CHP report.
Guillen was wearing her seat belt when the crash occurred, the CHP said.
The CHP said neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected of being factors in this crash.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Angelina Guillen, 31, was flown to a regional trauma center following the crash, which occurred at approximately 3:13 p.m. Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.
The CHP said Guillen was driving her 2009 Jeep Liberty eastbound on Highway 175 in Cobb, just west of Highway 29 when, for reasons still under investigation, she allowed her vehicle to run off the roadway.
Guillen’s Jeep hit a power pole and two trees, with her Jeep sustaining extensive damage, the CHP said.
After being removed from the vehicle by medical personnel, Guillen was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment, according to the CHP report.
Guillen was wearing her seat belt when the crash occurred, the CHP said.
The CHP said neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected of being factors in this crash.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Two young Lake County men started the police academy this week as they work to become Lakeport Police officers.
The Lakeport Police Department said Juan Altamirano and Aaron Hodges are the newest recruits in the agency’s police recruits program.
Altamirano and Hodges started work at the police department on Dec. 30 and began their studies at the police academy on Monday, the agency reported.
The two young men were selected during the city’s most recent police trainee recruitment process in the fall.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen introduced the officer trainee program in 2015 in an attempt to retain officers and solve his department’s ongoing short staffing challenges.
Under the auspices of the program, the department pays for the trainees’ academy training, expected to last about 20 weeks.
Lakeport Police Officer Andrew Welter completed the program in 2016 and has remained with the department.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall will elect two new board members for 2020 when it meets this week.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.
Meetings are open to the community, and offer the opportunity for additional public input on items not included on the agenda.
One of the main items on the agenda is the MATH board election.
Three candidates are running for two seats on the MATH Board – Claude Brown, David Thurber and Rosemary Cordova.
All three are set to address the group before the board election.
The meeting also will include a report from District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon, a presentation on the homeless in the community park, committee updates and reports, and public input.
The MATH Board includes Chair Sally Peterson, Vice Chair Claude Brown, Secretary Paul Baker, and at-large members Tom Darms and Marlene Elder.
MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
Meetings are subject to videotaping.
For more information emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.
Meetings are open to the community, and offer the opportunity for additional public input on items not included on the agenda.
One of the main items on the agenda is the MATH board election.
Three candidates are running for two seats on the MATH Board – Claude Brown, David Thurber and Rosemary Cordova.
All three are set to address the group before the board election.
The meeting also will include a report from District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon, a presentation on the homeless in the community park, committee updates and reports, and public input.
The MATH Board includes Chair Sally Peterson, Vice Chair Claude Brown, Secretary Paul Baker, and at-large members Tom Darms and Marlene Elder.
MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
Meetings are subject to videotaping.
For more information email
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – More than 130 people visited Anderson Marsh State Historic Park on New Year’s Day to participate in the “First Day Hike” held at the park.
For the third consecutive year, this was the largest number of hikers for any Jan. 1 hike in the entire California State Parks system.
Every year, state parks in all 50 states offer First Day Hikes as a way to promote healthy lifestyles and year-round recreation at America’s State Parks.
“We’ve been doing these Jan. 1 hikes at Anderson Marsh for seven years and have had over 100 hikers join us each year,” said Henry Bornstein, California State Parks volunteer hike leader and a board member of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association. “This is the third consecutive year that the Anderson Marsh hike has had the largest number of New Year’s Day hikers in the state.”
Hikers covered a 3-mile loop over the Cache Creek Nature Trail and Ridge Trail, traveling over a boardwalk to the creek and through oak woodlands.
“The large number of Lake County residents who decided to start the year off right with this family-friendly event is a credit to our county and to the connection its residents have with the nature that surrounds them,” added Bornstein.
Monthly guided nature walks are held on the second Saturday of each month at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, located off of Highway 53 between Lower Lake and Clearlake.
Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association is a nonprofit association cooperating with the California Department of Parks and Recreation to promote educational and interpretive activities at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
For more information about guided walks and other events at the park, contact the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors will start off the new year by considering participation in a good faith negotiating process with the city of Lakeport relating to the city’s proposed annexation of the South Main Street corridor.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
The meeting will include the election of the board chair and vice chair for the new year.
On the agenda is the board’s consideration of approving the county’s good faith participation in the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission’s proposed process outlined in its letter dated Dec. 4, 2019, with respect to the city of Lakeport’s application for the South Main Annexation Project.
The Lakeport City Council approved its participation in the process at its Dec. 17 meeting, as Lake County News has reported.
On the consent agenda, the board is due to consider and approve the Code Enforcement officer safety personnel protective equipment policies and procedures for body armor and pepper spray.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT ITEMS
5.1: Approve additional leave of absence request for Probation Department, Deputy Probation Officer III Claudia Acosta from Jan. 11, 2020, to March 9, 2020, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.2: Approve additional leave of absence request for Department of Social Services, Eligibility Specialist III Gary Pepper from Dec. 18, 2019, to Jan. 5, 2020, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.3: Approve first amendment to second amended second agreement with Golden State Finance Authority for Residence Emergency Disaster Assistance and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.4: Approve Code Enforcement officer safety personnel protective equipment policies and procedures for body armor and pepper spray.
5.5: Approve acceptance of $10,000 donation for the Middletown Branch of the Lake County Library.
5.6: Approve agreement between Lake County Probation Department and the California Franchise Tax Board from the date of approval through Nov. 30, 2022. The state will receive a maximum of 15 percent of collected fines and fees referred to them by Lake County Probation; and authorize the chief probation officer to sign.
5.7: Approve Amendment One between the County of Lake and Lake County Community Radio, Inc. for the Facility Space License Agreement located at 9289 Konocti Road, Kelseyville, CA (Buckingham Peak) in the reduced amount of $500 per month and authorize the Chair to sign.
5.8: Approve amendment one between the county of Lake and Bennet Omalu Pathology for a five-year cost plan and fee schedule for pathology services at an estimated cost increase of $68,400 and authorize the chairman to sign.
5.9: Approve memorandum of agreement between the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office for mutual aid provided during the Kincade fire and authorize the sheriff/coroner to sign.
5.10: Approve contract between the county of Lake and Brain Learning Psychological Corp. for learning disability testing and evaluation services in the amount of $67,500 from Jan. 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Election of chair of the Board of Supervisors and vice chair of the Board of Supervisors for 2020 (outgoing Chair conducts election).
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Board of Equalization, election of chair and vice chair of the Lake County Local Board of Equalization for 2020.
6.3, 9:03 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services, election of chair and vice chair of the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Board of Directors for 2020.
6.4, 9:05 a.m.: Public input.
6.5, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation by First 5 - State of Our Children Project.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of chair's recommended 2020 committee assignments for members of the Board of Supervisors.
7.3: Consideration of motion to approve the county’s good faith participation in the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission’s proposed process outlined in its letter dated Dec. 4, 2019, with respect to the city of Lakeport’s application for the South Main Annexation Project.
7.4: Consideration of the addition of special meeting to the board’s annual meeting calendar for 2020.
7.5: Consideration of the following appointments: Cobb Municipal Advisory Council, Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors, Lower Lake Waterworks District One Board of Directors, Mental Health Board, Upper Lake Cemetery District and Western Region Town Hall.
7.6: a) Consideration of amendment one to tower space license agreement between the county of Lake and Lake County Sanitation District; and b) (Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors) consideration of amendment one to tower space license agreement between the county of Lake and Lake County Sanitation District.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
The meeting will include the election of the board chair and vice chair for the new year.
On the agenda is the board’s consideration of approving the county’s good faith participation in the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission’s proposed process outlined in its letter dated Dec. 4, 2019, with respect to the city of Lakeport’s application for the South Main Annexation Project.
The Lakeport City Council approved its participation in the process at its Dec. 17 meeting, as Lake County News has reported.
On the consent agenda, the board is due to consider and approve the Code Enforcement officer safety personnel protective equipment policies and procedures for body armor and pepper spray.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT ITEMS
5.1: Approve additional leave of absence request for Probation Department, Deputy Probation Officer III Claudia Acosta from Jan. 11, 2020, to March 9, 2020, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.2: Approve additional leave of absence request for Department of Social Services, Eligibility Specialist III Gary Pepper from Dec. 18, 2019, to Jan. 5, 2020, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.3: Approve first amendment to second amended second agreement with Golden State Finance Authority for Residence Emergency Disaster Assistance and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.4: Approve Code Enforcement officer safety personnel protective equipment policies and procedures for body armor and pepper spray.
5.5: Approve acceptance of $10,000 donation for the Middletown Branch of the Lake County Library.
5.6: Approve agreement between Lake County Probation Department and the California Franchise Tax Board from the date of approval through Nov. 30, 2022. The state will receive a maximum of 15 percent of collected fines and fees referred to them by Lake County Probation; and authorize the chief probation officer to sign.
5.7: Approve Amendment One between the County of Lake and Lake County Community Radio, Inc. for the Facility Space License Agreement located at 9289 Konocti Road, Kelseyville, CA (Buckingham Peak) in the reduced amount of $500 per month and authorize the Chair to sign.
5.8: Approve amendment one between the county of Lake and Bennet Omalu Pathology for a five-year cost plan and fee schedule for pathology services at an estimated cost increase of $68,400 and authorize the chairman to sign.
5.9: Approve memorandum of agreement between the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office for mutual aid provided during the Kincade fire and authorize the sheriff/coroner to sign.
5.10: Approve contract between the county of Lake and Brain Learning Psychological Corp. for learning disability testing and evaluation services in the amount of $67,500 from Jan. 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Election of chair of the Board of Supervisors and vice chair of the Board of Supervisors for 2020 (outgoing Chair conducts election).
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Board of Equalization, election of chair and vice chair of the Lake County Local Board of Equalization for 2020.
6.3, 9:03 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services, election of chair and vice chair of the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Board of Directors for 2020.
6.4, 9:05 a.m.: Public input.
6.5, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation by First 5 - State of Our Children Project.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of chair's recommended 2020 committee assignments for members of the Board of Supervisors.
7.3: Consideration of motion to approve the county’s good faith participation in the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission’s proposed process outlined in its letter dated Dec. 4, 2019, with respect to the city of Lakeport’s application for the South Main Annexation Project.
7.4: Consideration of the addition of special meeting to the board’s annual meeting calendar for 2020.
7.5: Consideration of the following appointments: Cobb Municipal Advisory Council, Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors, Lower Lake Waterworks District One Board of Directors, Mental Health Board, Upper Lake Cemetery District and Western Region Town Hall.
7.6: a) Consideration of amendment one to tower space license agreement between the county of Lake and Lake County Sanitation District; and b) (Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors) consideration of amendment one to tower space license agreement between the county of Lake and Lake County Sanitation District.
Email Elizabeth Larson at