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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A judge on Tuesday denied bail to a Clearlake Oaks woman charged with killing her boyfriend in July, finding her to be a flight risk and a danger to the community.
Tammy Sue Grogan-Robinson, 56, made an in-person appearance in Lake County Superior Court before Judge J. David Markham on Tuesday afternoon.
She is accused of the killing of her on-again, off-again boyfriend, 56-year-old Charles Vernon McClelland of Rohnert Park, whose body was found by deputies on the morning of July 7 in the Clearlake Oaks residence where she was living.
Authorities said Grogan-Robinson shot McClelland several times with a handgun.
Grogan-Robinson later left the state for Missouri, where she has family. She was arrested in Missouri in mid-August, less than a week after the District Attorney’s Office charged her with McClelland’s murder.
In an appearance last week via Zoom, Grogan-Robinson told Judge Markham she wanted to hire an attorney after previously having said she wanted to represent herself, as Lake County News has reported.
On Tuesday, attorney Mitch Hauptman, who has made special appearances to act as her defense attorney, asked Markham to lower Grogan-Robinson’s bail from $2 million to an amount she could afford.
Hauptman told the court that Dr. Chris Lombardo, a surgeon who has worked with Grogan-Robinson at a local hospital — she’s a surgical tech — was vouching for her character and willing to provide her with housing should she be released on lowered bail.
During the brief hearing, Hauptman put Grogan-Robinson on the stand for a few minutes to ask her about her assets to determine if she could afford to hire her own attorney. He concluded she had the ability to post bail as high as $75,000 to $100,000 based on a small 401(k) and limited cash she had on hand.
He emphasized that she had no previous criminal record.
Deputy District Attorney Rich Watson argued that Grogan-Robinson should be held without bail, telling the court McClelland’s murder was premeditated.
Watson said that at 8:40 p.m. the night before the murder, Grogan-Robinson texted a friend to say she was going to shoot McClelland in the face. Ten minutes later, she wrote to ask the friend to erase the texts.
Two hours after that, Grogan-Robinson sent another text saying she was going to shoot McClelland because of the way he treated her, Watson said.
Watson argued that Grogan-Robinson was both a flight risk — citing her going to Missouri — and a substantial risk to the community. Even if she was released with an ankle monitor, he said it wouldn’t stop her from going into a jealous rage and harming someone.
In reply, Hauptman said he had a text about a return flight to Lake County that Grogan-Robinson had planned, and which was scheduled for the day after she ended up being arrested.
He said she was planning to return to Lake County but had simply gone to Missouri to be with her family, as she was freaked out because it was her perception that she was the victim of a rape.
Early on in the investigation, Grogan-Robinson told authorities she had killed McClelland after a sexual assault, but sheriff’s detectives later concluded the shooting had not been justified.
In reviewing the case, Markham said he believed Grogan-Robinson had committed the murder and that she had planned it.
“She told people she was going to do it. She did it and then she left the area afterwards,” Markham said.
Markham said he found there is clear and convincing evidence that no conditions of release can protect the public or ensure Grogan-Robinson’s attendance at her trial.
He then ordered her to be held without bail.
Markham set Grogan-Robinson’s next court appearance for 11 a.m. Oct. 13 in his courtroom, at which time her hired attorney is to make a first appearance and she will enter her plea to the charges.
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.
Tammy Sue Grogan-Robinson, 56, made an in-person appearance in Lake County Superior Court before Judge J. David Markham on Tuesday afternoon.
She is accused of the killing of her on-again, off-again boyfriend, 56-year-old Charles Vernon McClelland of Rohnert Park, whose body was found by deputies on the morning of July 7 in the Clearlake Oaks residence where she was living.
Authorities said Grogan-Robinson shot McClelland several times with a handgun.
Grogan-Robinson later left the state for Missouri, where she has family. She was arrested in Missouri in mid-August, less than a week after the District Attorney’s Office charged her with McClelland’s murder.
In an appearance last week via Zoom, Grogan-Robinson told Judge Markham she wanted to hire an attorney after previously having said she wanted to represent herself, as Lake County News has reported.
On Tuesday, attorney Mitch Hauptman, who has made special appearances to act as her defense attorney, asked Markham to lower Grogan-Robinson’s bail from $2 million to an amount she could afford.
Hauptman told the court that Dr. Chris Lombardo, a surgeon who has worked with Grogan-Robinson at a local hospital — she’s a surgical tech — was vouching for her character and willing to provide her with housing should she be released on lowered bail.
During the brief hearing, Hauptman put Grogan-Robinson on the stand for a few minutes to ask her about her assets to determine if she could afford to hire her own attorney. He concluded she had the ability to post bail as high as $75,000 to $100,000 based on a small 401(k) and limited cash she had on hand.
He emphasized that she had no previous criminal record.
Deputy District Attorney Rich Watson argued that Grogan-Robinson should be held without bail, telling the court McClelland’s murder was premeditated.
Watson said that at 8:40 p.m. the night before the murder, Grogan-Robinson texted a friend to say she was going to shoot McClelland in the face. Ten minutes later, she wrote to ask the friend to erase the texts.
Two hours after that, Grogan-Robinson sent another text saying she was going to shoot McClelland because of the way he treated her, Watson said.
Watson argued that Grogan-Robinson was both a flight risk — citing her going to Missouri — and a substantial risk to the community. Even if she was released with an ankle monitor, he said it wouldn’t stop her from going into a jealous rage and harming someone.
In reply, Hauptman said he had a text about a return flight to Lake County that Grogan-Robinson had planned, and which was scheduled for the day after she ended up being arrested.
He said she was planning to return to Lake County but had simply gone to Missouri to be with her family, as she was freaked out because it was her perception that she was the victim of a rape.
Early on in the investigation, Grogan-Robinson told authorities she had killed McClelland after a sexual assault, but sheriff’s detectives later concluded the shooting had not been justified.
In reviewing the case, Markham said he believed Grogan-Robinson had committed the murder and that she had planned it.
“She told people she was going to do it. She did it and then she left the area afterwards,” Markham said.
Markham said he found there is clear and convincing evidence that no conditions of release can protect the public or ensure Grogan-Robinson’s attendance at her trial.
He then ordered her to be held without bail.
Markham set Grogan-Robinson’s next court appearance for 11 a.m. Oct. 13 in his courtroom, at which time her hired attorney is to make a first appearance and she will enter her plea to the charges.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors is planning a series of upcoming public hearings as part of the 2021 redistricting process.
All hearings will be held in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.
Participation will also be available via Zoom.
The meeting room is wheelchair accessible. Requests for a disability-related modification, language accessibility or other accommodation necessary to participate in the Board of Supervisors meeting should be made in writing to the Clerk of the Board at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Public input received may inform redistricting proposals. County-level 2020 U.S. Census data was released Sept. 16.
Additional information, and draft maps, once available will be posted http://www.lakecountyca.gov/redistricting2021/.
A video overview of Lake County’s redistricting process can be viewed above.
The schedule of hearings is as follows.
10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2
Public hearing No. 2, Communities of interest
Special Board of Supervisors meeting
Zoom link: https://lakecounty.zoom.us/j/94948700750?pwd=WW9IQk54dVg4ZTJ2RWRlVGdmN290Zz09
Webinar ID: 949 4870 0750
Passcode: 948720
6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2
Public hearing No. 3, Draft maps presented
Regular Board of Supervisors meeting
Zoom link: https://lakecounty.zoom.us/j/94684965839?pwd=NEJnQXgxclN0aHRNWGFjb0cyZXJUQT09
Webinar ID: 946 8496 5839
Passcode: 310792
10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30
Public hearing No. 4, Adoption of final map
Special Board of Supervisors meeting
Zoom link: https://lakecounty.zoom.us/j/92460090973?pwd=TUk3bEpTYXh5aXpvVWN1TkdLNlBvUT09
Webinar ID: 924 6009 0973
Passcode: 597249
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The trees in downtown Lakeport will glow red this week in honor of firefighters who died in the line of duty during the previous year.
Every October, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation sponsors the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, the official national tribute to those firefighters.
In 2017, the foundation created “Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters” to recognize the 25th anniversary of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.
Since then, Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters has expanded to include fire departments and families lighting their homes in red.
As dusk turns to dark, landmarks, homes, fire service organizations and businesses across the country will again glow in respect from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3 to honor the fallen and their families.
City Manager Kevin Ingram said the city of Lakeport is joining this opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice of America’s fallen heroes.
Learn more here.
Every October, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation sponsors the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, the official national tribute to those firefighters.
In 2017, the foundation created “Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters” to recognize the 25th anniversary of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.
Since then, Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters has expanded to include fire departments and families lighting their homes in red.
As dusk turns to dark, landmarks, homes, fire service organizations and businesses across the country will again glow in respect from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3 to honor the fallen and their families.
City Manager Kevin Ingram said the city of Lakeport is joining this opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice of America’s fallen heroes.
Learn more here.
To provide additional protections against COVID-19 for vulnerable individuals across the state, the California Department of Public Health on Tuesday issued a public health order requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for workers in adult and senior care facilities and those employed in in-home direct care settings.
The order applies to all adult and senior care facilities, certain persons who provide In-Home Supportive Services, certified home care aides, and Waiver Personal Care Services providers, hospice workers who provide services in the home or a licensed facility, and all employees, as well as service provider workers, who provide services through the state’s regional centers that serve individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
“We can and must continue to protect our most vulnerable communities from the ongoing threat of COVID-19,” said Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, CDPH director and state Public Health officer. “These care settings are home to Californians with complex medical conditions, all of whom are at high risk of having severe but preventable outcomes including hospitalization, severe illness, and death. Increasing vaccination rates among those who are providing care will help curb the spread of COVID-19 in these high-risk settings.”
California has reported 19,830 confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the pandemic, and nearly 50% of those were reported in health care, congregate care, and direct care settings.
Of these outbreaks, the most — 22% — have occurred in adult and senior care facilities and in-home direct care settings and cases and outbreaks often include workers and unvaccinated individuals.
The new vaccine requirement mirrors the state’s vaccine requirement for health care workers announced on Aug. 5.
Workers covered by Tuesday’s order must have their first dose of a one-dose regimen or their second dose of a two-dose regimen by Nov. 30, 2021.
California is leading the nation in vaccinations according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with more than 50.4 million doses administered and 83.8% of the eligible population having received at least one dose.
However, in recent months the state has seen increasing numbers of individuals – overwhelmingly unvaccinated – contracting COVID-19 and being admitted to the hospital and ICU.
State officials said California remains committed to increasing vaccination rates and urges businesses and local communities to encourage individuals to get vaccinated, as COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and free.
Unvaccinated Californians age 12 and up and individuals who are eligible for boosters can go to http://myturn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255 to schedule an appointment or go to http://myturn.ca.gov/clinic to find a walk-in clinic in their county.
The order applies to all adult and senior care facilities, certain persons who provide In-Home Supportive Services, certified home care aides, and Waiver Personal Care Services providers, hospice workers who provide services in the home or a licensed facility, and all employees, as well as service provider workers, who provide services through the state’s regional centers that serve individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
“We can and must continue to protect our most vulnerable communities from the ongoing threat of COVID-19,” said Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, CDPH director and state Public Health officer. “These care settings are home to Californians with complex medical conditions, all of whom are at high risk of having severe but preventable outcomes including hospitalization, severe illness, and death. Increasing vaccination rates among those who are providing care will help curb the spread of COVID-19 in these high-risk settings.”
California has reported 19,830 confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the pandemic, and nearly 50% of those were reported in health care, congregate care, and direct care settings.
Of these outbreaks, the most — 22% — have occurred in adult and senior care facilities and in-home direct care settings and cases and outbreaks often include workers and unvaccinated individuals.
The new vaccine requirement mirrors the state’s vaccine requirement for health care workers announced on Aug. 5.
Workers covered by Tuesday’s order must have their first dose of a one-dose regimen or their second dose of a two-dose regimen by Nov. 30, 2021.
California is leading the nation in vaccinations according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with more than 50.4 million doses administered and 83.8% of the eligible population having received at least one dose.
However, in recent months the state has seen increasing numbers of individuals – overwhelmingly unvaccinated – contracting COVID-19 and being admitted to the hospital and ICU.
State officials said California remains committed to increasing vaccination rates and urges businesses and local communities to encourage individuals to get vaccinated, as COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and free.
Unvaccinated Californians age 12 and up and individuals who are eligible for boosters can go to http://myturn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255 to schedule an appointment or go to http://myturn.ca.gov/clinic to find a walk-in clinic in their county.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — As the state of California is preparing to implement new food and yard waste collection and recycling rules in January, the Lakeport City Council last week voted to seek a waiver to those rules.
During a brief discussion at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 21, the council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution opting to affirm an exemption from the mandatory organics collection requirements of SB 1383.
Compliance Officer Andrew Britton told the council that the law has “significant implications and requirements for governments” that provide disposal services.
HIs written report explained that in 2015 the Lakeport City Council approved Resolution 2540 which was needed to allow an exemption from all requirements of AB 1826, which required jurisdictions to implement an organics recycling program for businesses by Jan. 1, 2016.
He said Lakeport, the city of Clearlake and the county of Lake all received exemption waivers from the state for AB 1826. Those waivers initially expired in early 2020 but were extended by CalRecycle until Dec. 31, 2026.
Britton explained that in September 2016, the state adopted SB 1383, which expanded the scope of AB 1826 and established methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants in various sectors of California's economy.
CalRecycle reported that the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction law, or SB 1383, is part of a comprehensive strategy to fight climate change, calling for a 75% reduction in organic waste disposal by 2025, as well as actions to ensure 20% of currently disposed edible food is redirected to Californians in need.
The law goes into effect on Jan. 1.
CalRecycle reported that food, yard and other organic waste rotting in landfills is a top source of climate super pollutants in the state, and recycling those items is one of the fastest and easiest ways Californians can fight climate change right now.
The agency said 56% of what Californians throw in landfills is food, yard scraps and other organic waste, 1.8 billion still edible meals are thrown away in California every year and 20% of California’s methane comes from landfilled food and other organic waste.
The agency told Lake County News that SB 1383 requires cities and counties to have programs to collect organic waste like food scraps, yard trimmings, cardboard and paper and turn them into compost, biofuel and energy, and grocery stores and other large, food-generating businesses to send still fresh, surplus food to feed people without enough to eat.
By Jan. 1, jurisdictions must provide mandatory organics collection services to all residents and businesses, conduct education and outreach to the community, procure recycled organics products, establish food recovery programs, secure access to recycling and food recovery capacity and monitor compliance and conduct enforcement, CalRecycle reported.
However, the agency said it has included in the regulations waivers and exemptions from certain requirements for low population, high elevation and rural areas, which either delay or exclude implementation of some of the requirements.
CalRecycle told Lake County News that for a county to be considered a rural jurisdiction, it must have a population of less than 70,000 people. Lake County’s last population estimate by the state put it at just under 64,000.
A rural county exemption is common in California solid waste regulations due to the unusually high cost of providing service to generators in these areas, CalRecycle reported.
Action needed to take advantage of exemption
Britton told the council that it needed to accept the resolution regarding the waiver in order to take advantage of the rural jurisdiction exemption CalRecycle offered for SB 1383.
He said CalRecycle’s Local Assistance liaison had received, edited and approved the resolution.
The new exemption waiver will be valid until Dec. 31, 2026, if approved by CalRecycle, Britton said.
When this new waiver concludes in 2026, Britton said the city may qualify for a low population waiver.
Councilman Michael Green moved to approve the resolution affirming the exemption, which the council approved 5-0.
During the meeting, Britton noted that both the city of Clearlake and the county of Lake are taking similar action, having also initiated the process for applying for a waiver to SB 1383.
CalRecycle said that Lake County is eligible for a rural exemption under the SB 1383 regulations and it currently has an exemption from the mandatory commercial organics recycling law also, meaning it will not have to implement the organics recycling collection requirements until Jan. 1, 2027.
“This exemption means they will be waived from some of the other requirements related to organic waste collection, such as education on collection, capacity planning for organic waste collection, organic waste product procurement, and some of the reporting, inspections, and enforcement requirements,” CalRecycle told Lake County News.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — In response to the Cache fire that devastated nearly 60 homes on Aug. 18, the city of Clearlake in partnership with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and North Coast Opportunities are providing a workshop on Oct. 4 to support free lot cleanup and hazardous waste removal.
Individuals who own a mobile home, residential home, or a property destroyed by the Cache fire are eligible for free hazardous waste removal by Cal OES, regardless of insurance status.
The city of Clearlake and North Coast Opportunities, or NCO, are urgently seeking property owners whose homes were severely damaged by the Cache fire. Please share this information with applicable property owners.
In order to be eligible, impacted residents must either attend the workshop on Oct. 4 or contact NCO to complete the “right of entry,” or ROE, form.
The ROE form requires homeowners’ insurance information (if applicable), automobile insurance information (if applicable), and a list of any lost vehicles, boats or trailers, septic, propane, water tanks or construction equipment.
This form is due by Oct. 6.
Property owners are legally responsible for debris cleanup; therefore the city of Clearlake and NCO encourage all Cache fire survivors whose property was severely burned to take advantage of this free cleanup opportunity.
Property owners who do not take advantage are responsible for debris removal and all associated costs.
Residents who lived in the areas impacted but whose homes were not severely damaged, or those who were renting, are not required to attend or submit an ROE.
A workshop to answer questions and assist with completion of the form will be held at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, on Monday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 6 p.m. Food and snacks will be provided by NCO’s Community Kitchen Project.
NCO and City staff will be available to help fire survivors complete the form, answer questions, and offer other forms of assistance.
“We are grateful to Cal OES for offering this service to our impacted residents,” said Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora. “We strongly encourage anyone who owns a lot within the Cache fire area to apply.”
In addition, NCO is continuing to provide immediate needs support and interim housing support to Cache fire survivors.
If you lost your home during the Cache fire and have not yet applied, please do so here.
You may be eligible for cash assistance and/or temporary housing if you are homeless as a direct result from the Cache fire.
Forms are also available at the city of Clearlake’s website or on NCO’s website.
For more information, please contact the city of Clearlake at 707-994-8201 or NCO at 707-994-2910.
Individuals who own a mobile home, residential home, or a property destroyed by the Cache fire are eligible for free hazardous waste removal by Cal OES, regardless of insurance status.
The city of Clearlake and North Coast Opportunities, or NCO, are urgently seeking property owners whose homes were severely damaged by the Cache fire. Please share this information with applicable property owners.
In order to be eligible, impacted residents must either attend the workshop on Oct. 4 or contact NCO to complete the “right of entry,” or ROE, form.
The ROE form requires homeowners’ insurance information (if applicable), automobile insurance information (if applicable), and a list of any lost vehicles, boats or trailers, septic, propane, water tanks or construction equipment.
This form is due by Oct. 6.
Property owners are legally responsible for debris cleanup; therefore the city of Clearlake and NCO encourage all Cache fire survivors whose property was severely burned to take advantage of this free cleanup opportunity.
Property owners who do not take advantage are responsible for debris removal and all associated costs.
Residents who lived in the areas impacted but whose homes were not severely damaged, or those who were renting, are not required to attend or submit an ROE.
A workshop to answer questions and assist with completion of the form will be held at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, on Monday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 6 p.m. Food and snacks will be provided by NCO’s Community Kitchen Project.
NCO and City staff will be available to help fire survivors complete the form, answer questions, and offer other forms of assistance.
“We are grateful to Cal OES for offering this service to our impacted residents,” said Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora. “We strongly encourage anyone who owns a lot within the Cache fire area to apply.”
In addition, NCO is continuing to provide immediate needs support and interim housing support to Cache fire survivors.
If you lost your home during the Cache fire and have not yet applied, please do so here.
You may be eligible for cash assistance and/or temporary housing if you are homeless as a direct result from the Cache fire.
Forms are also available at the city of Clearlake’s website or on NCO’s website.
For more information, please contact the city of Clearlake at 707-994-8201 or NCO at 707-994-2910.