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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Authorities have arrested a Kelseyville man for the sexual abuse of children over the course of several years, with investigators reporting that they believe there are still more victims that have not come forward.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies arrested Kyle Joseph Beck, 34, on Dec. 29.
The agency said its Major Crimes Unit is actively investigating reports of sexual abuse involving juveniles.
That led to the service of a search warrant and, ultimately, Beck’s arrest last week.
On Dec. 31, the Lake County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony forcible rape case against Beck, who appeared in Lake County Superior Court the same day for arraignment.
Court filings show that the felony charges against Beck stretch back to sexual abuse that is alleged to occurred beginning 10 years ago.
Beck is so far facing four felony counts: recurring sexual conduct with a victim under age 14, dated to Jan. 1, 2016; lewd and lascivious conduct on a victim under age 14 from June 1, 2021; and two counts of oral copulation on a victim under 10 years old, both from Jan. 1, 2023.
Beck is being held in the Lake County Jail on $1.2 million bail.
He’s scheduled to return to Lake County Superior Court on Tuesday morning, at which time a bail review hearing is planned, along with the appearance of his public defender and plea entry, according to court records.
Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office said the case remains under active investigation.
“As the investigation continues, detectives believe there may be additional victims,” the sheriff’s office said in a Monday report.
The sheriff’s office statement continued, “The Major Crimes Unit understands how difficult it can be to come forward and wants victims and families to know that support resources are available, and information can be shared confidentially.”
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 707-262-4088 or Sgt. Jeff Mora at 707-262-4224.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The Middletown Area Town Hall, or MATH, will hold its board election when it meets this week.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, in the Middletown Community Meeting Room/Library at 21256 Washington St., Middletown. The meeting is open to the public.
Zoom will not be available. Viewers can participate via PEG TV at www.youtube.com/LakeCountyPegTV.
On Thursday, MATH will hold board elections for two-year terms.
Candidates will be invited to address the MATH assembly before an election by ballot. The Board of Supervisors later will vote to confirm the election.
In other business, artist Diego Harris will offer a presentation on a proposal for a sculpture at Trailside Park.
District 1 Supervisor Helen Owen also is scheduled to give the group a report.
Other items on the agenda include approval of the December meeting minutes, reports and correspondence and discussion of future agenda items.
MATH — established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 — is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
On Monday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit unanimously affirmed a lower court’s decision, which permanently barred the Trump Administration from decimating funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country — including at the University of California and at the California State University.
The funds at issue — known as “indirect cost” reimbursements — cover expenses to facilitate biomedical research, such as lab, faculty, infrastructure and utility costs.
As part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, on Feb. 10, 2025 to block the attempted funding cuts from taking effect.
“The Trump Administration wanted to eviscerate funding for medical research that helps develop new cures and treatments for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. Let that sink in: Life-saving research — proudly happening at UCs and CSUs across our state — was under attack,” said Bonta. “My fellow attorneys general and I stepped in to stop these illegal actions. The district court sided with us, and now, the First Circuit has, too. We’re starting the new year by building on our previous successes and securing yet another important victory against the Trump Administration.”
On Friday, Feb. 7, the NIH announced in supplemental guidance that it would abruptly slash indirect cost rates to an across-the-board 15% rate, which is significantly less than the cost required to perform critical medical research.
The NIH purported to make this cut effective the very next business day, Monday, Feb. 10, giving universities and institutions no time to plan for the enormous budget gaps they would be facing.
Less than six hours after Attorney General Bonta filed suit against the Trump Administration on Feb. 10, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order against NIH, barring its attempts to cut the critical research funding.
The court subsequently issued a nationwide preliminary injunction, which was converted into a permanent injunction at the parties’ request. The Trump Administration appealed that ruling to the First Circuit.
In Monday’s decision, the First Circuit wrote that “the public-health benefits of NIH-funded research are enormous” and concluded that: “[T]he district court properly exercised subject-matter jurisdiction over the plaintiffs' claims,” and “NIH’s attempt, through its Supplemental Guidance, to impose a 15% indirect cost reimbursement rate violates the congressionally enacted appropriations rider and HHS’s duly adopted regulations.”
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With more heavy rain arriving as the week starts, the National Weather Service has issued a new flood watch for Lake County that will be in effect throughout Monday.
The flood watch remains active until 10 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service reported.
On Monday, more than an inch and a quarter of rain is forecast to fall.
Forecasters are concerned that, after several days of rain, the anticipated rainfall on Monday will lead to an increased risk of small stream flooding, as well as excessive runoff in low-lying and flood-prone locations.
There also is increased risk in rock and land slides along roadways, the National Weather Service said.
Along with the rainfall on Monday, forecasters are predicting gusting winds of up to 20 miles per hour. Temperatures during the day are forecast to the high 40s, dropping into the low 40s at night.
There also are chances of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, with sunnier conditions arriving on Thursday and continuing into the weekend.
With water continuing to flow into Clear Lake, the US Geological Survey’s gauge on the lake showed its overall level at nearly 5.60 feet Rumsey, the special measure for Clear Lake. That’s close to its level at this time last year.
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