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Home to more than 1.2 million licensed motorcyclists, California has seen a decade-long increase in the number of victims killed or injured in motorcycle-involved collisions; according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), a record 586 victims were
killed and another 13,252 people were injured in motorcycle-involved crashes throughout the state in 2008.
“Although the statistics are grim, California appears to be on course to see a potential decrease for 2009 in the number of motorcycle fatalities and collisions for the first time in several years,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “While it’s encouraging, there’s still much more work ahead and challenges to overcome.”
Helping CHP get the word out to the motoring public, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is set to display an important traffic safety message, statewide on Caltrans’ Changeable Message Signs for the next week: “Save a life, look twice for motorcyclists.”
"Awareness of motorcycle safety issues is making a difference, both with riders and vehicle drivers," said Christopher J. Murphy, director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. "The Office of Traffic Safety, California Highway Patrol and many others are working together to save lives and prevent injuries of riders throughout the state."
Whether traveling by two, three, four or even 18 wheels it’s up to all motorists to help create a safer highway environment by using common sense and courtesy while on the road.
“As a motorcyclist myself, I know the importance of always wearing the right safety gear, especially a helmet, as well as being properly trained,” said Robert Gladden, general manager of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. "Whether you've never ridden or are returning to the road after taking a few years, off training is beneficial.”
The CHP strongly encourages all riders to sign up for the California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) before beginning to ride. CMSP offers the Basic RiderCourse for beginning motorcyclists and Experienced RiderCourses for riders who are interested in improving their skills.
CMSP expects to train 65,000 motorcyclists per year and operates more than 120 training sites throughout California. To find a location nearest you go to www.ca-msp.org/.
Hoping to get everyone thinking motorcycle safety awareness, especially in Southern California, the CHP will be running a public service announcement in movie theaters and on cable channels in the four identified high-risk counties for motorcycle-involved collisions. According to SWITRS these counties include Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange and San Bernardino.
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COBB – A Kelseyville man whose mother had reported him missing after he hadn't returned home earlier in the week was identified as the victim of a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred Wednesday morning.
Justin Karsten Molini, 32, was found dead by his mother and a family friend who went searching for him Thursday morning along Seigler Canyon Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Based on the CHP investigation, Molini was riding his 2007 Yamaha R1 1000 sport bike at around 3:10 a.m. Wednesday westbound on Seigler Canyon Road west of Perini Road at approximately 50 miles per hour through a sharp curve.
For unknown reasons, Molini ran off the roadway and onto the shoulder and lost control of the motorcycle. The CHP said both Molini and the motorcycle went down an embankment and hit a rock creek bed.
Molini was ejected from the bike and sustained fatal injuries. The CHP report said he later was pronounced dead at the scene by fire personnel.
Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said Molini's mother – who lived at the same address – had reported him missing and overdue on Wednesday evening.
The CHP reported that Molini's mother and a family friend went out looking for Molini Thursday morning, and that's when they came upon the collision scene.
The CHP said the crash is still under investigation.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said the two men were involved in a physical fight but no arrests were made.
The US Census Bureau reported last week that its enumerators were beginning to go door to door in order to count people who hadn't responded by mailing back their census forms, as Lake County News has reported.
Bauman said that the census worker went to the home and asked to get the resident's information. The resident, in turn, told the census worker to go away, that he was too busy to talk to him.
The census worker reportedly said no, and asked to get the man's name and information, Bauman said.
When the worker took down the resident's name, the resident demanded the paper, saying his information was confidential. When the census worker refused, the other man tried to grab the papers and the two men began to struggle, tearing up the papers, Bauman said.
The census worker claimed that the man he was visiting pushed him down, while Bauman said the other man claimed the census worker hit him.
In the end, neither wanted to press charges against the other, which Bauman said ended in no arrests.
According to federal law, anyone failing to respond to the census either by mail or the followup visits can face a $100 fine.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
Mitchell Hughes Lewis, 54, of Lower Lake was the inmate whose alleged escape attempt was foiled, according to a report from Capt. James Bauman.
At about 8 p.m. Thursday night, an on-duty patrol deputy and an off-duty deputy, who had just completed an arrest and control training class, were talking outside of the jail when one of them spotted a man in denim jail clothing running up an embankment from the facility towards Highway 29, Bauman said.
The fleeing inmate, who Bauman said later was identified as Lewis, turned and looked at the deputies but continued running the approximately 50-yard distance to the freeway, ignoring their orders over a patrol car public address system to stop.
The off-duty deputy immediately pursued Lewis on foot while the uniformed deputy raced to get on the freeway in his patrol car and intercept the fleeing inmate. Bauman said Lewis continually ignored commands to stop as the off-duty deputy chased him onto the freeway and eventually caught up with him in the center median near the Hill Road overpass.
As the off-duty deputy struggled to subdue Lewis on the ground, an off-duty Ukiah police officer who happened to be traveling on Highway 29 stopped and assisted to restrain the escapee until the uniformed deputy arrived with handcuffs to complete the arrest, Bauman said. Lewis was returned to the facility without further incident.
Bauman said Lewis had been in custody since November and was scheduled for sentencing Friday on felon in possession of ammunition and resisting arrest charges.
He later told deputies that he expected to be sentenced for an extended term and tried to escape in order to see his elderly parents before going to prison, Bauman said. A plastic bag containing additional jail clothing and other items was recovered from the shoulder of the freeway near the area of his arrest.
Bauman said Lewis was classified as minimum security and was therefore housed in a minimum security dorm at the jail. He now will face felony escape charges, as well another misdemeanor resisting arrest charge.
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CLEARLAKE – As part of an unprecedented effort by the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, local business sponsors, a number of local car clubs and car enthusiasts, this weekend the streets of Clearlake and Lake County will take a leap back in time with the inaugural Clearlake Cruise-In.
The event will be the most elaborate classic car event that Lake County has ever seen, according to event organizers.
The festivities will include classic cars from all categories, awards, music, vendors, show and shine, poker run around Clear Lake and even a pin-up contest.
The festivities all day Saturday will be highlighted by a performance by the world famous surfer rock band The Surfaris and a classic cruise of Lakeshore Drive, which will be closed for cars older than 1973.
Spectators will be encouraged to observe the cruise between Redbud and Austin Park from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and enjoy the music on the Austin Park stage from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Clear Lake Cruise-In will be a fun and exciting event and all ages are encouraged to join the festivities.
For more info and a schedule of the weekend’s event see below or visit www.clearlakecruisein.com.
Saturday, May 8
7 a.m.: Car show check-in and set up in Austin Park
7 a.m.: Vendor set up
10 a.m.: Car show judging
11 a.m.: Enterprise Automotive open house
11 a.m.: LC Diamonds on the Austin Park Stage
1 p.m.: Maynard Albertson recognition
1 p.m.: Poker run check in Austin Park
1:30 p.m.: Pin up girl contest
2 p.m.: Bil Noteman & The Rockets on Austin Park Stage
4 p.m.: Car show awards ceremony
4:30 p.m.: Deadline for poker card submission
4:45 p.m.: Poker run prize giveaway
5 p.m.: The Legendary Surfaris on the Austin Park Stage
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Cruising Lakeshore Drive
9 p.m.: Bill Noteman & The Rockets on Austin Park Stage
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LAKEPORT – A man serving a state prison term for sex crimes against children will be heading next to a state mental hospital.
On Wednesday, Scott Merlin Bagley, 47, formerly of Nice, was determined to be a sexually violent predator by a jury after a trial before Judge Richard Martin in Department 2 in Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport.
The Lake County District Attorney’s office filed a petition alleging that Bagley was a sexually violent predator prior to his being released on parole and back into the community.
The sexually violent predator trial was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Edward Borg, who is the specially assigned child sexual assault prosecutor in the Lake County District Attorney’s Office. Bagley was represented at the trial by defense attorney Komnith Moth.
The purpose of the sexually violent predator trial was to attempt to extend Bagley’s prison commitment before he could be released from prison, in order to protect the community, the district attorney's office reported.
Sexually violent predator proceedings are a form of civil commitment codified at Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600. All persons convicted of a crime of sexual violence are evaluated by the California Department of Mental Health prior to their release on parole to determine if the inmate meets the criteria to be deemed a sexually violent predator.
At trial, to establish that a person is a sexually violent predator, the prosecutor must show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the inmate has been convicted of committing sexually violent offenses against one or more victims; the inmate has a diagnosed mental disorder; as a result of that diagnosed mental disorder, the inmate is a danger to the health and safety of others because it is likely that he will engage in sexually violent predatory criminal behavior; and that is necessary to keep him in custody in a secure facility to ensure the health and safety of others.
Evidence at the trial, which commenced April 27, established that Bagley has 11 qualifying convictions, all violations of Penal Code section 288(a), lewd and lascivious act with a child under the age of 14, the district attorney's office reported.
Bagley was initially convicted of two violations of section 288(a) with two separate victims in Sonoma County in 1984, and served a prison term for those offenses. In 1994, Bagley was convicted of nine violations of section 288(a) involving three separate victims in Lake County. Bagley’s victims ranged in age from 8 to 12 years old. All of his victims were male.
Testimony by two Department of Mental Health psychologists, Deborah Inman and Andrea Shelley, established that Bagley suffers from pedophilia, a deviant sexual interest in prepubescent children. Both doctors testified that in their opinion Bagley posed a significant threat to the community if released because of his pedophilia and his demonstrated history of recidivism.
On Friday, Judge Martin ordered Mr. Bagley committed to the State Hospital at Coalinga for an indeterminate term.
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