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COBB, Calif. – Two local men have been arrested on multiple felony charges in connection to a Tuesday morning fight that injured a third man.
Sheriff's Lt. Steve Brooks said deputies arrested Seth Henry Lawrence, 36, of Cobb and 33-year-old Casey Ellis Snow in the case.
Brooks said patrol deputies responded to the report of a fight involving several subjects at an address in the 16000 block of Golf Road in Cobb shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday.
All of the involved subjects had left the residence prior to the deputies arriving, said Brooks.
When they arrived on scene the deputies learned that the victim, a 20-year-old male, had suffered significant injuries and was been taken to the hospital by a family member. Brooks said the deputies also were also told that one of the two suspects was named “Seth,” and was reported to live at the Pine Grove Resort.
Deputies responded to the Pine Grove Resort in an attempt to contact Seth, who was later identified as Seth Lawrence. Brooks said they were unable to locate Lawrence, but noticed the door to his residence had been forced open with visible damage to the door frame and lock.
Brooks said a deputy was able to contact the victim, who was receiving medical treatment at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.
The victim said Lawrence and another suspect, later identified as Snow, arrived at his residence in a vehicle. As both suspects stepped out of the vehicle, the victim noticed Snow was holding a handgun. He said Snow rushed towards him while pointing the handgun at him and Lawrence followed behind, Brooks reported.
The victim said both Lawrence and Snow proceeded to punch and kick the victim repeatedly, according to Brooks. Lawrence accused him of breaking into his residence and stealing a laptop computer, $300 and some smoking paraphernalia.
The victim said Snow struck him on the head several times with the butt of the handgun, which knocked him unconscious. Brooks reported that the victim also said that Snow grabbed him by the throat and dragged him into his own house, demanding to look for the stolen property.
The victim told them they could look for the items, fearing he would be shot. Snow then shoved the barrel of the handgun into the victim’s mouth, chipping his front tooth, Brooks said.
The victim said he fought back and tried to remove the handgun from his mouth, but could not. Snow said this was not over with and they would be back. Snow and Lawrence were unable to locate any of the property and left, according to Brooks.
Brooks said the victim was treated for multiple contusions and lacerations to his face, head, hands and back. He also required several staples in his head for one of the lacerations.
The deputy responded back to the Pine Grove Resort in an attempt to contact Lawrence again. As the deputy pulled into the resort, he saw Lawrence driving towards him in a white pickup. He said Lawrence turned onto a dirt road and then drove onto Bottle Rock Road, heading westbound in an attempt to get away, Brooks reported.
The deputy said he temporarily lost site of Lawrence, due to him driving at a high rate of speed. As the deputy was going around a corner he noticed Lawrence had parked his vehicle behind a large pile of dirt, attempting to hide, Brooks said.
The deputy detained Lawrence without further incident. Brooks said Lawrence told the deputy that his home was broken into and he knew the victim had done it, although he did not report it to law enforcement. Lawrence said he received information that the victim was responsible for several recent burglaries in the area and went to confront him at his residence.
Lawrence admitted to punching the victim several times in the face, but denied possessing a firearm at any point during the incident. He told the deputy that he was unable to locate any of his stolen property inside the residence, Brooks said.
Lawrence was arrested for burglary, battery with serious bodily injury, assault with a firearm on a person, exhibiting a firearm and being an accessory. Brooks said Lawrence was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
On Wednesday at approximately 12:08 a.m., deputies contacted Snow at his residence, which is located in the 9000 block of Hoopa Drive in Kelseyville, Brooks said.
Snow was arrested for burglary, battery with serious bodily injury, assault with a firearm, brandishing a firearm and for being an accessory. Brooks said Snow was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
Bail for both was set at $50,000, with jail records indicating Lawrence and Snow had posted the required percentage of bail and were released.
Memorial Day weekend is often considered to be the kick-off for summer vacations and outdoor activities, but Cal Fire officials are asking the public to use caution as fire danger remains higher than normal.
As the weekend approaches, temperatures are forecast to increase leading to a higher fire threat in California.
“We are asking the public to be extra vigilant and take steps to prevent sparking a wildfire,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “All it takes is a single spark to start a fire and with the dry conditions caused by drought, we are seeing fires burn with unseasonable intensity.”
Since the beginning of the year, wildfires have already caused major destruction. Most recently Southern California endured wildfires fanned by Santa Ana winds, burning nearly 27,000 acres and destroying dozens of homes.
California is in the midst of a severe drought, creating conditions that are ripe for devastating and extremely dangerous wildfires.
Everyone is encouraged to be vigilant and remember that one less spark is one less wildfire.
Camping:
- Obtain a campfire permit ( www.PreventWildfireCA.org );
- Check for local rire restrictions;
- Clear away grass, leaves and other debris within a 10-foot perimeter of any campfire;
- Have a responsible person in attendance at all times;
- Ensure all campfires are completely extinguished before leaving;
- When barbecuing, never leave the grill unattended.
Fire is not the only danger that can occur in the outdoors, as water drownings also increase dramatically during the holiday weekend.
Warm temperatures make the cool waters of California’s beautiful rivers and lakes very enticing, yet very dangerous.
In recent weeks, Cal Fire crews have responded to water rescues across the state, many of which have tragically led to fatalities.
In the water:
- Always wear a life jacket!
- Children should always be supervised by a responsible adult.
- Never swim alone.
- Drinking and swimming is just as dangerous and drinking and driving.
For more ways to be safe this holiday, visit www.ReadyforWildfire.org or www.fire.ca.gov .
As the public prepares for Memorial Day weekend, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reminding motorists to buckle up, drive the speed limit, and designate a non-drinking driver.
These friendly reminders are part of the upcoming CHP Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) that begins Friday, May 23, at 6:01 p.m. and continues through Monday, May 26, at 11:59 p.m.
“We encourage the public to put measures in place ahead of time to help make their road trip safe and enjoyable,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Leave early and allow for additional traffic delays, eliminate distractions behind the wheel, buckle up, and always designate a sober driver.”
Last year, the 40 people killed in collisions in California during Memorial Day weekend represented a 60 percent increase from the same period in 2012.
Among those who died within CHP jurisdiction, 40 percent were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.
The MEP coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ongoing “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which continues through June 1, 2014.
“Seat belts and child safety seats increase a person’s chance of surviving a collision,” added Commissioner Farrow. “Protect yourself and those that you love every trip, every time, and insist they buckle up.”
Keeping the roadways free from impaired drivers is another key component to increasing travel safety this holiday weekend. During the 2013 Memorial Day MEP, the CHP made more than 1,200 arrests for driving under the influence.
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security to the people of California.
Three pieces of legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) on Tuesday passed the House as part of the Conference Report on H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA).
The WRRDA legislation originally passed the House on Oct. 23, 2013, while the Senate passed separate WRRDA legislation, S.601, on May 15, 2013.
Leaders from both the House and Senate have been in negotiations since the legislation passed both chambers.
The negotiations produced an agreement on legislation, or Conference Report, which passed the House today and is expected to pass the Senate as early as next week.
The president is expected to sign the legislation into law.
The legislation authored by Thompson that passed the House and will soon be signed into law includes:
The requirement of a study on the impacts of invasive species;
A provision allowing the Contra Costa Flood Control and Water Conservation Districts to directly perform flood control and habitat restoration on the Walnut Creek Project;
Legislative language to speed up Russian River Habitat Restoration and prevent the construction of an unnecessary $300 million pipeline in Sonoma County.
“These important provisions will help counties in our district save money, restore habitats, decrease localized flooding, and prevent the spread of invasive species,” said Thompson. “I am proud to have worked to pass this legislation and look forward to seeing it passed by the Senate and signed into law soon.”
Invasive species provision
The first provision authored by Thompson and passed as part of the Conference Report requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the impacts of aquatic invasive species on federal assets and current federal spending on aquatic invasive species prevention.
Aquatic invasive species pose a costly challenge to water infrastructure, fisheries, and the environment in local communities across the United States.
However, this problem often only receives attention after an invasive species has become established in a new area and has begun clogging water pipes, infecting plants and animals with dangerous diseases, and outcompeting native species.
These impacts can damage fisheries, pose health hazards, irreparably damage natural environments, and take a severe toll on local, state, and federal budgets. For example, aquatic mussels such as quagga and zebra mussels have cost U.S. communities more than $5 billion since their introduction in the 1980's.
In the Fifth Congressional District, Clear Lake, Lake Sonoma and Lake Berryessa are all rated at the highest possible risk level for quagga invasion.
Currently none of these lakes have been invaded by quagga mussels.
However, if quaggas invade one of these lakes, control and treatment would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and negatively impact the water supply for residents of Sonoma, Lake, and Solano counties.
If quagga mussels invade the state water infrastructure it could cost millions every year to keep the pipes clear.
Walnut Creek project provision
The second provision authored by Thompson and passed as part of the Conference Report de-authorizes a four-mile segment of the existing Walnut Creek Project, taking it out of Army Corps control.
Deauthorizing this four-mile segment eliminates unnecessary U.S. Army Corps bureaucracy and allows the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to directly perform flood control and habitat restoration on the remaining 18 miles of the Walnut Creek Project.
The Walnut Creek Project is a 22-mile flood control project that was previously authorized by Congress in 1960.
During a recent evaluation of the project, the U.S. Army Corps determined that the entire 22-mile project does not meet their standards because four miles of the project, near the mouth of the creek, were of concern.
To bring the entire 22-mile project up to standard, work would need to be done on the four miles identified by the Corps' evaluation. However, this work would likely be significantly delayed due to numerous Corps requirements to consult with various federal agencies.
Because of these bureaucratic barriers in place due to Army Corps regulations, local partners cannot complete the necessary work to prevent localized flooding, restore habitats, and maintain channel depth.
By removing the four-mile portion that is of concern to the Corps, Thompson's provision will allow local partners at the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to complete their necessary work in a timely manner.
Russian River restoration provision
The third provision authored by Thompson and passed as part of the Conference Report allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue working with the Sonoma County Water Agency to enhance six miles of endangered coho salmon habitat along Dry Creek, located between Warm Springs Dam and the Russian River near Healdsburg.
This restoration work is required under the Russian River Biological Opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service in 2008 to protect coho salmon, Chinook salmon and steelhead trout; all listed as endangered or threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
Without this provision, it is unclear if the Army Corps would carry out their responsibilities as required by the Russian River Biological Opinion, leaving the Sonoma County Water Agency solely responsible for fulfilling this work by 2016.
However, the amount of work required under the biological opinion can only be achieved with the cooperation of the Army Corps.
If the requirements made under the biological opinion are not met, Sonoma County would be required to build a $300 million pipeline to mitigate habit impacts.
The Conference Report passed the House by a vote of 412-4.
Congressman Mike Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
State Controller John Chiang on Tuesday announced his office's auditing efforts have now identified more than $8 billion in wasteful, unlawful spending and cost savings throughout the state and local government.
“Audits protect Californians by highlighting problems and restoring accountability,” said Chiang. “The audits have served as a catalyst for greater transparency and improved management of taxpayer dollars, allowing us to transform an accounting office into an accountability office.”
The state controller's audit authority is independent of both the governor and the Legislature.
The $8 billion in total audit findings identified by Controller Chiang is three times as much as any other State Controller (the closest is Kathleen Connell, who identified $2.5 billion between the years of 1995 and 2002).
Some of Controller Chiang's more notable audits have included:
– A top-down audit of the city of Bell, which found rampant mismanagement, unlawful use of state and federal dollars, and illegal property taxes. The controller also investigated Bell's privately-contracted audit firm, finding that the firm had essentially rubber-stamped the city's poor accounting practices for years.
As a result of these audits, the state was able to return approximately $3 million in property taxes to Bell residents.
The controller then successfully sponsored legislation (AB 1248) to create a set of financial internal control guidelines, which could prevent future Bell-like scandals at the local level.
The controller performed similar city-wide audits in Montebello, Stockton, Hercules and Cudahy. He also launched a new website, www.publicpay.ca.gov , to help local taxpayers better track salaries and compensation in their hometowns.
– Finding more than $339 million in overpayments to a Medi-Cal senior care provider in Southern California, which billed at rates that generated an amazing 80 percent profit margin.
The results included a complete renegotiation of the state's contracts that slashed rates with that company and saved the State $352 million, along with the largest settlement in Medi-Cal history.
– Exposing life insurance companies that routinely failed to pay beneficiaries and eventually canceled policies.
Companies would often draw down the cash value of the life insurance policy to continue paying premiums, even when they knew or should have known that the policy holder had died and the beneficiaries should be paid.
After identifying the industry-wide practice, Controller Chiang led a multi-state effort to reach broad settlements with 18 different life insurers.
The settlements promise to return $265 million to surviving families in California and end the practice of draining the value and canceling policies after the insured individual has passed away.
– A comprehensive review of the California State Teachers' Retirement System's (CalSTRS) ability to detect and prevent pension spiking.
That review found several cases of potential spiking that went undetected, and that without improvements, it would take 48 years to audit all agencies in the pension fund.
In response, CalSTRS promised to increase its audit staff by 66 percent, to identify and audit high-risk agencies, and regularly report on their progress to end pension spiking within the retirement system.
This week the Assembly Appropriations Committee will hear AB 2676 (Rendon), a bill sponsored by Chiang that will extend the controller's authority to more quickly identify fiscal mismanagement, help local governments conduct their own audits and independent reviews, and create meaningful consequences for local agencies that fail to provide proper fiscal stewardship.
At any given time, the Controller's Office is conducting in excess of 100 audits. Many of the current audits focus on redevelopment dissolution, ensuring redevelopment assets and liabilities are appropriately transferred to a “successor agency” and placed under the direction of an oversight board to dispose of the assets, pay off obligations, and redistribute excess cash to fund schools, public safety, and other public services.
More on the Controller's audit program can be found on his Web site, www.sco.ca.gov .
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Bill Waite, president of the Hidden Valley Lake Association Board of Directors, denies that his board intends to ignore the rights of HVL residents to vote on a multimillion dollar construction and restoration project.
“To the best of my knowledge, no director is trying to take away any members right to vote. . . . Those rights are set out in the governing documents (for HVL) ,” said in an email to Lake County News.
“Should an event occur that triggers a vote of the members, I assure you that all steps will be taken to make sure that we comply with the governing documents of this association,” Waite added.
Waite’s comments were in response to a short series of questions Lake County News emailed to him after member-residents last month went public with their concerns that the board intended to circumvent an HVL regulation limiting how much a board of directors can allocate for improvements without membership approval.
Section 11:05 of the HVLA Property Owner and Tenant Information Manual states that association debts of more than 5 percent of regular member assessments cannot be entered into without the prior vote or written consent of two-thirds of members who have voting rights.
Originally, the cost of the HVL construction project – a new clubhouse and a new community center – was estimated to run as high as $8 million by some. But Waite said that price tag was just a rumor.
“Since we do not even have the conceptual design in place, I don’t know how that figure was derived,” he said. “What I do know is that at the last forum . . . (the cost) was stated slightly above $5 million.”
Copies of the plans that recently had been circulated in the community included an initial $7.3 million figure, with the most recent revision reducing the cost to $5.3 million, as Lake County News has reported.
The disparity in cost estimates will only be cleared up when final determination is made regarding what the construction project will include.
Among the considerations, will a new community center be built or the present one refurbished?
Waite was also asked how seriously he regarded a petition making the rounds for his recall.
“I do not believe that I can answer this question other than to say that I believe that the members are acting within the rights set forth in the governing documents,” he said.
Among associated issues that have developed between residents and the HVL board is a possible censure of director Steve Greenberg, who has raised concerns about the project. Greenberg has denied any wrongdoing in the matter.
Said Waite: “The Board of Directors (is) in the process of doing its due diligence by trying to have a meeting with Mr. Greenberg to discuss the issues in question. Therefore, at this time, there is not a censorship meeting scheduled nor has there been one. If, in fact one should happen to occur, it will be done to the utmost letter of the law and by a vote of the entire BOD.”
Waite and other board members are optimistic that the hiring of highly credentialed Cindy Spears as general manager is a move that will lead to a better understanding between the HVL board and its critics.
“I have the highest regards for the Board’s unanimous choice (of) Cindy Spears as the General Manager,” Waite said. “She has a great deal of experience in working with associations similar to ours and with others that have issues similar to the growing pains we are experiencing.”
Waite is not a member of the HVL Men’s Golf Club which some residents charge is dictating to the general membership regarding a construction project. But he did say that three of the seven directors on the board are Men’s Golf Club members.
He added that the documents governing HVL require that the board of directors “is required to maintain all of its amenities, (so) doing nothing is not an option.”
Email John Lindblom at