News

As many big game hunting seasons progress into the fall, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers have a new tool to deter poaching and punish violators for serious poaching crimes.

Legislation sponsored by the wildlife conservation community approved enhancements of penalties for the illegal take of trophy-class animals.

Under Fish and Game Code section 12013.3 penalties are significantly enhanced for any person convicted of poaching deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and wild turkey with certain characteristics that would define them as trophy game animal.

In addition to the legislation that enhanced poaching penalties, the California Fish and Game Commission developed regulations to define those trophy characteristics.

Commissioners worked with the CDFW and several outdoors, conservation and hunting organizations to define the characteristics in California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 748.6. The legislation and regulation package went into full effect on July 1, 2017.

In summary, “…the punishment for a person who knowingly violated and has been convicted of [take out of season, spotlighting, baiting, waste of meat, or take without a tag]… where the violation involved a trophy… deer, elk, antelope, or bighorn sheep shall be a fine of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) nor more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000), and where the violation involved a wild turkey, a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both that fine and imprisonment.”

“The first case adjudicated after the trophy law took effect exemplifies the potential benefits this enhancement law could have on wildlife protection,” said David Bess, CDFW Deputy Director and Chief of the Law Enforcement Division.

On July 5, 2017, Garrett Thomas Peacock, 22, of Yuba City, was sentenced to two years’ probation with a restriction from hunting during that time and ordered to pay $5,150 in fines and penalties. The case began months prior when wildlife officers, acting upon an anonymous CalTIP (Californians Turn in Poacher and Polluters), contacted Peacock during a followup investigation.

The investigation revealed that Peacock unlawfully killed a trophy class “buck” deer without permission in an orchard on private property in Maxwell in Colusa County.

Peacock did not possess the required deer tag at the time of the killing. Officers recovered photographic evidence, deer antlers, numerous packages of meat and a deer tag purchased after the fact from Peacock.

“Unlawfully targeting animals for their trophy qualities is an egregious violation,” said Chief Bess. “Under the enhanced penalties of this law, the punishment will more closely match the severity of these types of poaching crimes.”

Anyone with information about unlawful fishing, hunting or pollution is encouraged to contact CalTIP, CDFW’s confidential secret witness program that encourages the public to provide wildlife officers with factual information leading to the arrest of poachers and polluters.

The CalTIP number, 888-334-2258, is printed on the back of every hunting and fishing license. Tips can also be relayed by text to 847411 (tip411).

Text messages allow for a two-way conversation with wildlife officers, while preserving the anonymity of the tipster. Texts should begin with the word “CALTIP,” followed by a space and the message.

There is also an app for smartphones that works similarly. For more information on the program and the CalTIP app, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/enforcement/caltip.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department said it is investigating a rolling gun battle involving two vehicles that had taken place throughout the city and into the unincorporated county late Tuesday.

Sgt. Rodd Joseph said so far one person of interest, 36-year-old Clearlake resident Robert Bradley, has been identified in the case, with more subjects being sought.

At 10:30 p.m. Tuesday Clearlake Police officers responded to a report of a shooting which had just occurred at Flyers gas station, located at 15010 Lakeshore Drive, according to Joseph.

As the first officer was arriving on scene, Joseph said witnesses reported that the two involved vehicles had just fled north on Old Highway 53 from Flyers.

He said witnesses described the vehicles as a brand new white Jeep Cherokee being chased by a gray Ford Taurus.

Joseph said the witnesses on scene also reported that the Jeep Cherokee had either one or two occupants and had fired several shots at a group of four Hispanic male adults who were standing near the parked Taurus.

The rounds appeared to have missed the group and instead stuck the Travelodge building, located several hundred yards south of Flyers at 4775 Old Highway 53, Joseph said.

One of the group of four Hispanic male adults then retrieved an object from the trunk of the Taurus and two of the four males fled in the Taurus, chasing after the Cherokee north on Old Highway 53 at a high rate of speed, Joseph reported.

Joseph said officers left Flyers and began trying to locate the vehicles.

During this time the Clearlake Police Department dispatch center began receiving numerous emergency calls reporting the two vehicles were exchanging gunfire, according to Joseph.

Joseph said Clearlake Police dispatch center also received emergency calls reporting gunfire between the two involved vehicles from the following general areas of the city; the color named streets off of Olympic Drive, the area around the Clearlake Community Senior Center, the area around Pomo School., the 5800 block of Old Highway 53, 18th Avenue and 33rd Avenue.

A short while later Clearlake Police Department dispatch center was notified of a similar call made to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center, placing the vehicles on northbound Highway 29 near Bell Park Avenue in Lower Lake, and that they were still shooting at each other, Joseph said.

Clearlake Police officers began checking the areas where the shots fired calls had been reported between the two vehicles. Joseph said the officers were able to find and collect evidence and speak with witnesses at some of these locations.

Just after midnight on Wednesday, Joseph said a woman called the Clearlake Police Department and stated she was driving the white Jeep which was being sought by law enforcement.

She claimed her vehicle was heavily damaged by gunfire and she had been chased to the area near the Clear Lake State Park in the Kelseyville area of unincorporated Lake County, Joseph said.

Joseph said the woman agreed to return to the Clearlake Police Department to speak with officers.

She later met with investigating officers at the Clearlake Police Department. Her brand new white Jeep Patriot, which resembles a Jeep Cherokee, had extensive gunfire damage to the rear portion of the vehicle, Joseph said.

The woman was interviewed and subsequently released without charges at this time, according to Joseph.

Later in the morning a person of interest in this case, identified as Robert Bradley, was arrested on a parole violation hold. He was later booked into the Lake County Jail, Joseph said.

Joseph said Bradley has not yet been charged with any of the offenses in this crime spree.

This case is still under investigation and some facts of this case are being withheld for investigatory purposes, Joseph said.

He said the Ford Taurus and its two occupants have not yet been identified or located. The Ford Taurus may have gunfire damage to it as well.

It is not believed that anyone was injured in this incident; however, involved suspects are still being sought, Joseph said.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact investigating Officer Michael Perreault at 707-994-8251, Extension 519.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Clearlake Oaks man who authorities say killed his own father and a friend, wounded a woman and a California Highway Patrol officer and attempted to shoot several others in a Monday rampage made his first appearance in court on Wednesday.

Alan Leroy Ashmore, 61, was arraigned on Wednesday afternoon before Judge Andrew Blum in Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport.

Ashmore is facing 21 felony counts, one misdemeanor charge and 24 special allegations for the shootings and crime spree, which in addition to the two dead and two wounded targeted eight other individuals, according to court documents.

In a rampage in Clearlake Oaks that lasted less than an hour beginning on Monday morning, Ashmore fatally shot his father, 85-year-old Douglas Ashmore, with a handgun in front of the home they shared on Anchor Village in the Clearlake Keys.

He went on to shoot and kill his longtime friend, 64-year-old Richard Eugene Braden, with a shotgun while Braden sat in his vehicle on Anchor Village.

Those who survived the shootings include Cantra Hoeck, who Ashmore shot with a handgun, and CHP Officer Steven Patrick. Ashmore discharged a shotgun an unknown number of times at Patrick, who was involved in the pursuit that eventually resulted in Ashmore’s capture.

One of the shotgun slugs struck Patrick’s bulletproof vest in the area of his abdomen, which helped him escape serious injury, authorities said.

The 11-page complaint the District Attorney’s Office filed against Ashmore ahead of Wednesday’s arraignment said Ashmore had numerous other victims during the day, including Harold Noell, Betsy Cheeks and Rodney Thomas, Brockman Krelss, Bob Higgins, Mauro Lopez and two John Does.

The felony charges include two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, four counts of assault with a firearm, two counts of arson, two counts of malicious and willful discharge of a firearm at an inhabited dwelling, two counts of negligent discharge of a firearm in a grossly negligent manner at and in a residence, and one count each of burglary, robbery, evading a peace officer, unlawful possession of a short-barreled shotgun, felon in possession of a shotgun and a semiautomatic handgun, and felon in possession of ammunition, and misdemeanor hit and run.

The two counts of arson filed against Ashmore are for having set two small wildland fires – which Cal Fire said totaled less than two and a half acres – on High Valley Road as he attempted to escape from law enforcement.

A key special allegation filed against Ashmore is for multiple homicides, which Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said will make Ashmore eligible for the death penalty or life without the possibility of parole if he is convicted.

The other special allegations are for possession, use and discharge of firearms.

Defendant hears charges, plea entry date set

On Wednesday, Ashmore was seated in the back row of the jury box, wearing a green and white jumpsuit. He appeared wan and largely impassive.

Among those sitting in the audience were Patrick and his commander, Lt. Hector Paredes of the Clear Lake Area CHP Office, along with other law enforcement officers and District Attorney’s Office staffers.

Judge Blum read through all 22 charges and two dozen special allegations in the complaint.

The complaint revealed that Ashmore was convicted of felony burglary in Kings County in 1980 and served a two-year prison sentence. As a result, he was prohibited from possessing the firearms he used in the shootings.

Blum explained to Ashmore his rights and asked if Ashmore understood them. Ashmore answered in a quiet voice that he did.

When Blum asked Ashmore if he wished to be represented by an attorney, Ashmore said yes, and Blum appointed attorney Andrea Sullivan, who along with David Markham administers the county’s indigent defense contract.

District Attorney Don Anderson, who is personally handling Ashmore’s prosecution, asked Blum to keep Ashmore in custody without bail due to the severity of the crimes he’s accused of committing.

Blum agreed to do so, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the need to protect the public.

Sullivan asked for two weeks before Ashmore would be required to enter a plea. In response, Blum set the plea entry for Nov. 7, with Ashmore ordered to appear in court at that time.

After the court appearance, Sullivan told Lake County News that she had anticipated getting the case, for which she said she doesn’t yet have any reports. She said that may change by the Nov. 7 court appearance.

“The DA and I need to discuss how they are going to handle the case,” she said.

While Ashmore has been charged with the special circumstance that could make this a death penalty case, Sullivan pointed out that the county sees special circumstances in its homicide cases all the time.

The California penal code includes numerous special circumstances that can make a person eligible for the death penalty.

In addition to multiple murders, some of the other special circumstances listed in the penal code include murder carried out for financial gain; murdering a peace officer, federal agent, firefighter, prosecutor, judge, government official, juror or witness; murder involving torture; drive-by shootings; murder by a gang member; murder in commission of a felony; and lying in wait.

In Ashmore’s case, “I’m hoping this one can be dealt with in the normal course,” Sullivan said.

Authorities are continuing a complicated investigation, but Anderson told Lake County News that the various agencies involved are working together well and the work is moving along.

While a motive in the case hasn’t so far been revealed, Anderson said that on Monday morning, before the crimes occurred, Ashmore had been using drugs.

Charges against Alan Ashmore

Count one: Murder of Doug Ashmore. Special allegations: Personally and intentionally discharging a firearm, which proximately caused great bodily injury and death to Doug Ashmore; personally and intentionally discharging a firearm; personally using a firearm; personally using a firearm in the commission and attempted commission of murder.

Count two: Murder of Richard Braden. Special allegations: Personally and intentionally discharging a firearm, which proximately caused great bodily injury and death to Richard Braden; personally and intentionally discharging a firearm; personally using a firearm; personally using a firearm in the commission and attempted commission of murder.

Special allegation for multiple murder: The murders of Doug Ashmore and Richard Braden are a special circumstance.

Count three: Attempted murder of CHP Officer Steven Patrick. Special allegations: Personally and intentionally discharging a shotgun, which proximately caused great bodily injury to Patrick; personally and intentionally discharging a shotgun; personally using a shotgun; personally using a shotgun in the commission and attempted commission of the attempted murder.

Count four: Assault with a firearm on a peace officer, Officer Patrick. Special allegation: Use of a firearm.

Count five: Attempted murder of Harold Noell. Special allegations: Personally used a firearm; personally using a firearm in the commission and attempted commission of the attempted murder.

Count six: Assault with a firearm on Harold Noell. Special allegation: Personally used a firearm.

Count seven: Assault with a firearm on Cantra Hoeck. Special allegations: Personally used a firearm; personally inflicted great bodily injury.

Count eight: Burglary of home occupied by Betsy Cheeks and Rodney Thomas. Special allegation: Personally used a firearm, a shotgun.

Count nine: Malicious and willful discharge of a firearm at an inhabited dwelling, the home of Cheeks and Thomas.

Count 10: Negligent discharge of a firearm in a grossly negligent manner at and in the residence of Cheeks and Thomas.

Count 11: Malicious and willful discharge of a firearm at an inhabited dwelling, the home of Brockman Krelss.

Count 12: Negligent discharge of a firearm in a grossly negligent manner at the residence of Bob Higgins. Special allegation: Personally used a firearm.

Count 13: Assault with a firearm on Mauro Lopez. Special allegation: Personally used a firearm.

Count 14: Robbery of John Doe at Power Mart. Special allegations: Personally used a shotgun; personally used a shotgun in the commission and attempted commission of the robbery.

Count 15: Misdemeanor hit and run.

Count 16: Assault with a firearm on John Doe. Special allegation: Personally used a firearm.

Count 17: Evading a peace officer. Special allegation: Being armed in the commission and attempted commission of evading.

Count 18: Arson to forest land.

Count 19: Arson to forest land.

Count 20: Unlawful possession of a short-barrelled shotgun.

Count 21: Felon in possession of a shotgun and a semiautomatic handgun.

Count 22: Felon in possession of ammunition.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man died on Tuesday when his vehicle went off Highway 53 and hit a tree.

Lawrence Gene Kerr, 71, was identified by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office as the victim of the crash.

The California Highway Patrol said the crash that claimed Kerr’s life occurred just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday on Highway 53 north of Anderson Ranch Parkway in Lower Lake.

The CHP report explained that 48-year-old Juan Ramirez of Clearlake was driving a 1994 Ford pickup northbound on Highway 53, having just turned onto the highway from south of Anderson Marsh.

Kerr was driving his 2009 Toyota northbound behind Ramirez, the CHP said.

For reasons that the CHP said still remain under investigation, the two vehicles ended up side by side, both driving northbound when Kerr lost control of his car and traveled off the east roadway edge.

After Kerr’s vehicle went off the highway it overturned and hit a tree, the CHP said.

Lake County Fire Protection District units that responded pronounced Kerr dead at the scene, based on radio reports.

CHP Officer Kory Reynolds said investigators have several witnesses offering information on the crash.

Melody Hartnett of Middletown told Lake County News that the CHP called her on Wednesday to get her account of the crash.

She said Ramirez pulled out into traffic in the highway’s lefthand lane near Anderson Marsh, immediately in front of Kerr, cutting him off.

She said Kerr hit his brakes to avoid hitting Ramirez’s pickup, adding that she also had to slam on her brakes to avoid a crash.

“I was directly behind them,” she said.

She said Ramirez couldn’t merge to the right because of her car, so he went around Kerr’s car to the left. She said they appeared to be trying to pass each other, both of them in the lefthand lane.

Hartnett said the two vehicles then started hitting each other.

“This all happened in the span of less than 500 feet,” she said.

Hartnett said Kerr appeared to lose control of his car, which went off the right side of the road and started flipping over. It came to rest with the undercarriage of the car against a tree. The pickup stopped a short distance away.

She said she believed she was the first one to dial 911. Once ambulances started showing up at the scene, she said she left.

Hartnett said that, from her vantage point, it appeared to have resulted from a road rage incident.

“It started because of the truck pulling out in front of the car,” Hartnett said.

Ramirez was uninjured, the CHP said.

The CHP said both drivers were wearing their seat belts and driving under the influence is not suspected to have contributed to the wreck.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Saturday, Oct. 28, is a nationwide day of volunteering, known as Make A Difference Day.

For the 18th year in a row, here in Lake County, there will be a collection of nonperishable food for our local communities.

The total amount of food collected in the first 17 years is 62,964 pounds.

Several years ago, Lake Transit Authority joined the effort and we turned it into the Stuff-A-Bus event.

They will once again park two buses that will be stuffed with the food collected.

North Coast Opportunities, Community Action and the Lake County Hunger Task Force will be staffing the two collection sites, along with volunteers from the Kelseyville High School Interact club and AmeriCorps, both from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that Saturday.

One bus will be parked at the Clearlake Grocery Outlet store in Clearlake, and the other at Lakeport Grocery Outlet.

All of the food collected will stay in Lake County.

Local pantries and senior centers are greatly in need of donations to fill their shelves. These pantries operate year round, and are invaluable to their local communities.

This collection will be split evenly between the Live Oak Senior Center, Highlands Senior Center, Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, Catholic Charities Rural Food Project in Kelseyville, Helping Hand, Clear Lake Gleaners, CCHAP, Snake Lady Yvonne Cox, Lake Family Resource Center, One Step Away, Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, United Christian Parish, United Methodist Church Middletown and North Coast Opportunities.

Volunteers will be collecting donations at both Grocery Outlet stores, Bruno's Shop Smart, Marval Sentry, Foods, Etc. and Woodland College harvest festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. That food will be delivered to the buses that afternoon.

There are barrels out now at several locations to collect food before the actual event. They are located at the Lakeport Library, People Services office and Lakeport thrift store, Community First Bank in Clearlake, Lake County Office of Education, Konocti Christian Academy, Lake County Headstart, Woodland Community College’s Lake County Campus in Clearlake, Riviera Foods, Clearlake Grocery Outlet, Lake County Social Services, Mendocino College, Lake Transit office, Lake Family Resource Center, Foods, Etc., Hardester's in Middletown, and Marval Sentry.

If you would like to make a donation and are unable to bring it on Saturday, please take it to one of the above location. Please, no expired or past dated food.

Additional volunteers will be welcome at either site.

Please call Tammy Alakszay at 707-994-4647, Extension 123, or Lorrie Gray at 707-277-9227 to see where you might be best utilized. They are counting on the generosity of local people to once again help each other.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clearlake Oaks man who on Monday killed two people and wounded two others, including a California Highway Patrol officer, will face charges that will make him eligible for the death penalty, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Alan Leroy Ashmore, 61, was arrested Monday for a shooting rampage that occurred across numerous locations in Clearlake Oaks.

The shootings claimed the life of his 85-year-old father, Douglas Ashmore, as well as his longtime friend, 64-year-old Richard Eugene Braden, and wounded California Highway Patrol Officer Steven Patrick and a 22-year-old Middletown woman whose name has not been released.

Ashmore is expected to make his first appearance in the case in Lake County Superior Court when he’s arraigned on Wednesday, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

Hinchcliff said he is charging Ashmore with two counts of first-degree murder, along with a special allegation of committing multiple murders.

It’s that special allegation that Hinchcliff said will make Ashmore eligible for the death penalty or for a sentence of life without the possibility of parole if he is convicted of the charges.

Ashmore also will be charged with the attempted murder of a peace officer for shooting Officer Patrick, assault with a firearm with great bodily injury for shooting the Middletown woman, arson and burglary, and more minor charges including negligent discharge of a firearm, Hinchcliff said.

Officer Patrick, an 11-year CHP veteran, was involved in the pursuit to capture Ashmore, the CHP said.

The CHP said Patrick was struck in the abdomen but escaped serious injury thanks to his bulletproof vest taking the force of the shotgun slug Ashmore fired at him.

Ashmore’s shooting spree took place at numerous locations in and around Clearlake Oaks, including Anchor Village in the Clearlake Keys and the Chevron gas station. He also robbed the Power Mart gas station and brandished a firearm at an individual at Brassfield Winery.

Ashmore also set two small fires – which Cal Fire Battalion Chief Sean O’Hara said totaled less than two and a half acres – along High Valley Road as he attempted to flee.

On Tuesday, Hinchcliff estimated the number of crime scenes had grown to 11, based on each location around Clearlake Oaks where Ashmore committed the numerous crimes.

Authorities captured him shortly after noon on Monday following a four-mile chase that ended when he encountered a roadblock set up at the intersection of Bartlett Springs Road and High Valley Road, the sheriff’s office said.

On Tuesday, officials with the sheriff’s office and the District Attorney’s Office indicated that the investigation was still in its early stages, with a great deal of work ahead.

Hinchcliff said all of the investigators involved in the case met for a Tuesday briefing.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done, a lot of investigation to be done,” said Hinchcliff.

Many different agencies are involved and they’re working well together, he said.

Hinchcliff said that they had accomplished a lot so far, considering the shooting had only happened the previous day.

“Everything has gone really good so far,” he said.

Hinchcliff on Tuesday didn’t yet have reports from the sheriff’s office on the incident. However, he had enough information to begin the process of filing charges against Ashmore, explaining that additional charges could be added as more aspects of the investigation are completed.

He said District Attorney Don Anderson plans to handle prosecuting the case himself.

For a small county, “It’s a big project,” Hinchcliff said of the case. “It’s just going to take a little bit of time.”

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.