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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — An Upper Lake man has entered a plea in a 2020 homicide as part of an agreement with the Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
On Friday, Christopher Jon McDonald, 45, pleaded no contest to first-degree murder for the killing of 48-year-old John Turner Dickerson of Nice, said Deputy District Attorney Daniel Flesch.
Flesch said McDonald is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 26.
McDonald is facing a stipulated 25 years to life when sentenced. Andrea Sullivan, McDonald’s defense attorney, told Lake County News that McDonald will be eligible for parole.
The plea came ahead of McDonald’s trial, which was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Flesch said.
“Had Mr. McDonald gone to trial and lost, he could’ve faced 50 years to life, because of California’s 25 year to life enhancement for great bodily injury events or deaths resulting from a firearm,” Sullivan told Lake County News in an email.
“Additionally, a prosecutor can add a special circumstance allegation at any time prior to trial. If that were to occur, and Mr. McDonald was convicted, he would have been sentenced to life In the state prison without the possibility of parole,” Sullivan said.
Dickerson reportedly came to Lake County from the East Coast. His badly decomposed remains were found in the Mendocino National Forest on Aug. 9, 2020, as Lake County News has reported.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the remains were believed to have been in the forest for several weeks by the time they were discovered.
An autopsy that took place the same week that the remains were recovered determined they were those of Dickerson, and that he had died from a gunshot wound.
The investigation led to a search warrant service at McDonald’s property and, in early May 2021, the sheriff’s office obtained an arrest warrant for McDonald, who was taken into custody shortly after the warrant was issued.
At the time of McDonald’s arrest, authorities did not disclose a possible motive for the killing.
However, Flesch told Lake County News that it was “likely a drug deal gone bad.”
Flesch said Dickerson had allegedly “lost” 30 pounds of marijuana that belonged to McDonald.
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The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
On Tuesday, City Manager Kevin Ingram will ask the council to award a construction contract to Builder Solutions Inc. for the Lakefront Park Project in the amount of $4,399,381, and authorize Ingram to execute the construction contract subject to legal review.
The contract originally had been on the council’s July 19 agenda, but it had been pulled due to a bid protest filed by the other bidder, Granite Construction Co., on July 18 over Builder Solutions’ failure to provide the Public Works Contractor Registration number for themselves and all the subcontractors, Ingram wrote in his staff report.
Ingram said staff has determined this fact was immaterial because they were able to confirm the numbers through the California Department of Industrial Relations’ online registration portal.
He said the city researched all the claims made by Granite as well as those in a letter from the Construction Industry Force Account Council and a bid “advisory” from the Foundation for Fair Contracting.
Staff is recommending awarding the bid in the amount of $4,499,381 to Builder Solutions, Ingram said.
Builder Solutions has a business model that utilizes a professional employment organization, which leases employees to the company as a form of “co-employment,” so Building Solutions itself claims no employees.
As a result, Ingram said staff is recommending the city hire a labor compliance consultant using the city’s consultant procurement policy to mitigate potential for violations and claims. That will cost an estimated $100,000.
Also on Tuesday, Public Works Superintendent Ron Ladd will ask the council to adopt the resolution approving the Forbes Creek Neighborhood Improvement Project Study and authorize the city manager or designee to implement this plan.
The council also will hold a public hearing to introduce proposed text amendments to the city’s sign ordinance, which Community Development Director Jenni Byers said will allow signs to be seen from State Route 29 for Major Centers, as well as clarify the maximum height requirements for signage.
Utilities Superintendent Paul Harris also will give an update on current drought conditions and review existing water conservation measures and seek council direction to begin the development of a comprehensive drought response plan.
In other business, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will present the 2022 police after action report on the Independence Day fireworks operations and the council will consider approving the purchase of a utility truck for the Park Department.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Aug. 2; warrants; adoption of a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the Lakeport City Council and its legislative bodies pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e); approval of event application 2022-023, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 Climb Out of the Darkness event; approval of event application 2022-022, with staff recommendations, for the City Wide Sidewalk Sale; authorize the city manager to sign a three-year purchase agreement with Cartegraph Systems LLC; cancellation of the regular City Council meeting on Oct. 4 and approve the participation of the city of Lakeport in the National Night Out event, with street closures and the Gazebo reserved for the event.
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The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 916 4540 5320, pass code 931427. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,91645405320#,,,,*931427#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
In timed items, at 9:15 a.m. the board will hear the annual report from the Lake County Resource Conservation District.
At 9:30 a.m., the board will consider a notice of nuisance and order to abate for 5145 W. State Highway 20 in Upper Lake.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve amendment to the participation agreement between county of Lake and the California Mental Health Services Authority for the Superior Regional Partnership - HCAI WET Grant for FYs 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 in the Amount of $54,479.27 and authorize the Behavioral Health Services director and board chair to sign.
5.2: Adopt resolution authorizing the standard agreement between the county of Lake and the Department of Health Care Services for the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2027, and authorizing the Behavioral Health director to sign the standard agreement and the contractor certification clause for the County Mental Health Plan.
5.4: Approve lease agreement for office space at 14092 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake in the amount of $3,170.20 per month and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.5: Approve purchase of 2023 Ford Explorer from Downtown Ford Sales for the Building & Safety Division in the amount of $33,298.15 and authorize the Community Development director or their designee to sign the purchase order.
5.6: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes for Aug. 2, 2022.
5.7: Approve and authorize the chair to sign the following agreements: a) between the county of Lake and Leonard’s Hauling and Tractor, for nuisance abatement and nuisance abatement within the Road Map Task Force area, in an amount not to exceed $150,000; and b) between the county of Lake and Cook Construction and Engineering Partners for nuisance abatement and nuisance abatement within the Road Map Task Force area, in an amount not to exceed $150,000; and c) between the county of Lake and 360 Junk Removal and Hauling, for nuisance abatement and nuisance abatement within the Road Map Task Force area, in an amount not to exceed $150,000.
5.8: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County’s Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services and (b) authorize the Lake County Watershed Protection District to sign and enter into Amendment No. 1 of Agreement with CivicWell for independent contractor services through the AmeriCorps CivicSpark Fellowship in the amount of $29,000 for one (1) CivicSpark Fellow to develop an Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Assessment and Improvement Plan.
5.9: Adopt resolution of intent to conduct a public hearing for the consideration of the vacation of a portion of a roadway known as Forest Lake Drive (CR#128) in the Cobb area.
5.10: (a) Approve agreement between the Lake County Sheriff's Department and U.S. Forest Service for FY 22/23 annual operating and financial plan, in the amount of $20,000 for Pillsbury Patrol; and (b) approve agreement between the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Forest Service for FY22/23 annual operating and financial plan, in the amount of $10,000 for controlled substance operations, and (c) authorize the sheriff and the chairman to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.3, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of an annual report on the activities of Lake County Resource Conservation District.
6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Continued from July 12, hearing on notice of nuisance and order to abate for 5145 W. State Highway 20, Upper Lake (APN 003-023-12).
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of the following Advisory Board Appointments: Emergency Medical Care Committee and Lakeport Fire Protection District.
7.3: Consideration of proposed agreement for the Spring Valley CSA #2 Quail Trail Project, Bid No. SD 22-24.
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Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm for information on visiting or adopting.
The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.
‘Simon’
“Simon” is a big 2-year-old gray tabby with white markings.
He is in cat room kennel No. A10, ID No. LCAC-A-3814.
‘Olive’
“Olive” is a female domestic medium hair kitten with a black coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. A117, ID No. LCAC-A-3742.
‘Willow’
“Willow” is a female domestic shorthair cat with a gray and white coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 47, ID No. LCAC-A-3762.
Male domestic shorthair kitten
This male domestic shorthair kitten has a gray tabby coat with white markings.
He is in cat room kennel No. A1b, ID No. LCAC-A-3663.
Female gray tabby
This 2-year-old female gray tabby has a short coat with white markings.
She is in cat room kennel No. 28, ID No. LCAC-A-3661.
Domestic shorthair kitten
This male domestic shorthair kitten has an all-black coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 84c, ID No. LCAC-A-3616.
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