How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A suspect has been arrested in what is reported to be the worst case of gang graffiti that has taken place at Kelseyville High School.
Bulmaro Mendez Flores, 18, of Finley was arrested on Saturday evening by Deputy Jay Vanoven on suspicion of having tagged the high school last Friday night, according to Principal Matt Cockerton.
Flores was not a student at the high school or any school in the district, according to Cockerton.
Cockerton said a second suspect, whose name was not divulged, also is being sought.
Damages to the school are estimated at about $2,500 for removal and repainting, Cockerton said.
“This is the worst tagging that we’ve ever had,” Cockerton said.
Using white and blue paint, the suspects painted gang graffiti and obscenities on windows, doorways, lockers and the sides of buildings at the school.
“We tried to get some of it off this morning with our best stuff and we couldn’t get it off,” Cockerton said Monday.
He said the school has hired a local painter who on Tuesday will begin the work of removing the tagging.
Cockerton credited the sheriff’s office for doing “an outstanding job,” with Vanoven handling the case, assisted by Deputy Cynthia Radoumis, the school’s resource officer.
He said there are aspects of the case that are still being put together, with surveillance footage from the school’s cameras being used as evidence. Cockerton said there is some additional footage the school will be sharing with authorities.
As for the possibility that the school may get some restitution fees, Cockerton said there is a long process ahead, but he expects there will be funds at some point.
Flores, listed as a student on his booking sheet, is charged with two felony counts of criminal street gang participation, four felony criminal street gang enhancements, two charges of felony vandalism, a misdemeanor vandalism charge, as well as misdemeanors of fighting or challenging to a fight in a public place and obstructing or resisting an officer.
Bail was set at $25,000, and he remained in custody early Tuesday, with a court appearance scheduled for later in the day, according to jail records.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Latinos United of Lake County and Bruno’s Shop Smart will sponsor the 16th annual Cinco de Mayo cultural celebration on Sunday, May 5, in the back parking lot area of Bruno’s Shop Smart, located at 355 Lakeshore Blvd in Lakeport.
The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a blessing, to be followed by the celebration from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Musical entertainment will include DJ Super Laser 2000 de Chuy Tapia, local singer Irma Lopez and the musical group, Grupo XMG.
Youth from ages 9 to 15 can go to free Zumba classes at Pulse dance studio located next to the Lakeport Bowling Alley on Saturday, April 27, from noon to 2 p.m. to learn some Zumba dances to perform at the Cinco de Mayo event. You will get a free t-shirt to decorate and wear.
There will be dance performances by Ukiah Folklore Dancers and SSU Aztec dancers, plus karaoke, folklore dress contest, Zumba dancing for everyone, tasty food, family activities, games and informational booths from local service agencies.
This is an alcohol and tobacco free event.
For more information or for vendor and agency booth applications please call Shushan at 707-279-4152 or Ana at 707-994-6447, Extension 2915.
State Senate unanimously passes rape by fraud bill; overturned rape conviction exposed legal anomaly
SACRAMENTO – A bill to close a loophole in California’s rape law that caused an appellate court to overturn a sexual assault conviction has passed off the Senate Floor today with a 37-0 vote on urgency.
The bill now moves to the Assembly and will be heard in their public safety committee this summer.
The bill seeks to close the legal loophole specific to rape under false pretenses or rape by fraud by updating the penal code.
If passed, the legislation would go into effect immediately.
Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) introduced SB 59 at the beginning of the 2013 legislative session following the outcome of the overturned rape conviction in People v. Morales.
“Rape is a violent crime that should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Sen. Evans. “Justice cannot be conditioned on the victim’s marital status.”
Under an 1870s provision that upheld the rights of a married victim, but not those of others, the Second District Court of Appeal in January overturned the rape conviction of Julio Morales.
In 2009 Morales was alleged to have impersonated his female victim’s boyfriend in order to have sex with her while she was sleeping.
Because jury instruction was unclear and the current law only allows someone to be convicted of rape for impersonating a spouse, but is silent about the impersonation of other intimate partners, the conviction was overturned on the technicality.
SB 59 updates the arcane language contained in various sections of the California Penal Code by substituting and defining the new term of “sexual partner” in the place of the term “spouse.” Doing so would expand the definition to include single individuals, domestic partners and individuals currently excluded by the narrow use of the term “spouse.”
“This is about equality in the law,” said Evans. “This is about justice for all. And it’s past time this legislative body correct an arcane law that could let a rapist go free on an outdated statute that provides neither.”
Evans’ SCR 22, Sexual Assault Awareness Month/Denim Day, also passed off the Senate floor on Monday with a unanimous vote.
Denim Day will be held on April 24 this year and people are encouraged to wear denim in symbolism for sexual assault awareness.
Evans represents the Second Senatorial District, including all or portions of the counties of Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Marin (caretaker) and Sonoma. Senator Evans Chairs the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A woman who won $500,000 in a Saturday multistate Powerball drawing on a ticket she purchased in Lakeport came forward to claim her prize on Monday, but she has decided not to reveal her identity.
Although there wasn’t a jackpot winner in the Saturday night drawing for $95.6 million, two tickets sold in California matched five winning numbers – 6, 8, 30, 39 and 48 – but not the Powerball number of 20, state lottery officials reported.
The tickets were sold at the Rotten Robbie gas station at 2725 S. Main St. in Lakeport and an Arco gas station in Los Angeles. Each ticket won $501,893.
Chad Carter, manager of the Lakeport Rotten Robbie, said lottery officials came to the station’s store on Monday to verify the woman’s ticket and ensure that the ticket sale had been a valid transaction.
Carter said the woman wished to remain anonymous, and he would not disclose if she was a Lake County resident.
However, he did say that she was a hardworking person, and that he thought it was “pretty cool” that she had won.
Carter said he has been managing stores for 20 years and has never had something like this lottery win happen before.
He said customers have been very curious about the news, and have been coming in to check their own lottery tickets.
The California Lottery reported that Powerball is a multistate game, played in California and 42 other states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Players pick five numbers from 1 to 59 plus a Powerball number from 1 to 35. Draw times are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7:59 p.m. Pacific Time, according to the Powerball Web site.
The estimated cash value for Wednesday night’s draw is $75.6 million, lottery officials reported.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport man was arrested on Sunday night after he allegedly threatened two people with a hammer-type weapon.
David Derrick Veronie, 51, was taken into custody by Lakeport Police after the incident, according to Lt. Jason Ferguson.
Ferguson said that just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday Lakeport Police officers responded to 555 First St.
regarding a report of Veronie bashing in the front door of the residence. Upon their arrival, officers located and detained Veronie in the backyard.
During the investigation officers learned that Veronie lives at the residence. When he showed up he allegedly threatened two people in the house – one of them a roommate – with a hammer-type weapon with a hatchet head, Ferguson said.
Witnesses reported Veronie threatened to kill the two people as he was repeatedly striking the door with the weapon, according to Ferguson’s report.
Ferguson said the officers located damage to the door which was consistent with what the witnesses
reported. A search of the area for the weapon was conducted with no weapon being located.
As a result of their investigation, officers arrested Veronie for brandishing a weapon other than
a firearm, criminal threats and vandalism, Ferguson said.
Veronie was booked at the Hill Road Jail early Monday morning. Jail records indicated his bail was set at $5,000. He’s due to appear in court on Tuesday.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Fire Safe Council will hold the fourth annual Wildfire Safety Expo on Saturday, May 18.
Local, state and federal fire agencies are partnering to present information on protecting life and property from wildfire from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kelseyville Lumber Home Improvement Center, 3555 N. Main St.
Admission is free for this family friendly event.
The day will provide “one-stop shopping” for fire prevention and mitigation information.
Events will include firefighting demonstrations, a vendor fair and activities for children, including a bounce house.
Antique and modern fire equipment will be on display, and Smokey Bear and Sparky the Fire Dog will be there, too.
The vendor fair will provide information on fuel reduction services, landscaping tips, fire resistant building materials, large animal evacuation, and an array of fire-related safety information and products. There also will be a drawing for prizes throughout the event.
Visit the Wildfire Safety Expo and learn what you can do to help protect your home in a wildfire.
For more information call 707-263-4180, Extension 106.