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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A man accused of a fatal June drive-by shooting in Clearlake is scheduled to go on trial next month.
Miguel Angel Becerra, 38, of Coachella, is tentatively set for trial on March 4 after originally being scheduled for the end of January, according to District Attorney Susan Krones.
Becerra is facing a host of felony charges – among them, homicide, assault with a firearm, willful discharge of a firearm and a felon in possession of a firearm – for the shooting death of 40-year-old Steven Stone at Trombetta’s Resort on the night of June 17, as Lake County News has reported.
Clearlake Police officers who arrived at the scene found Stone on the ground with a gunshot wound. He died despite attempts to resuscitate him at the scene and Adventist Health Clear Lake hospital.
Investigators said that shots had been fired at Stone from a vehicle driven on the main driveway of the resort, with the vehicle then fleeing in an unknown direction on Old Highway 53.
Miguel Becerra and his younger brother, Christian, who have ties to Clearlake and Southern California, were identified as the suspects, police said.
The investigation found that Christian Becerra had been involved in an altercation on Jones Avenue hours before the homicide and that, at the time he was shot, Stone was with another person who had been present at that same altercation.
The Clearlake Police Department located and arrested Miguel Becerra 10 days after the murder, but investigators, working with outside agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, continued looking for Christian Becerra.
Krones said Christian Becerra has not been located since then, and a warrant remains active for his arrest.
At the time of the crime, police said Christian Becerra was believed to be driving a 2005 Legend Lime Ford Mustang, California License No. 8KCS533.
“He’s in the wind somewhere, maybe Texas, but we’re not sure,” Krones said.
If he’s apprehended, Krones said Christian Becerra would face the same charges as his brother.
Christian Becerra is a Hispanic male, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, and was 26 years old at the time of the shooting. He’s considered armed and dangerous.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The CHP said the checkpoint took place from 6 p.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday on Highway 53 south of Jessie Street.
A checkpoint had also been held at Highway 53 and Jessie Street on Dec. 27, as Lake County News has reported.
The CHP said checkpoints target roads where there is a high frequency of intoxicated or unlicensed drivers in order to ensure safety for motorists. The checkpoints have been found to be successful and are designed to augment existing patrol operations.
CHP Officer Joel Skeen said that 440 cars were screened and 12 drivers were given sobriety tests but none were found to be under the influence.
As a result of the checkpoint, one driver was arrested for two felony warrants, two drivers were given tickets for driving while suspended, one driver was cited for driving while unlicensed and one car was towed, Skeen said.
“There was one DUI arrest that was out of a traffic collision,” Skeen said. “This was not at the checkpoint but they came across it while they were en route to set up the checkpoint.”
The CHP said the funding for the checkpoint program comes from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson has issued Forest Order No. 08-20-02 for the Ranch fire area which opens more trails and campgrounds and continues the temporary closure of selected trails and campgrounds until more fire hazards can be removed.
The new closure is effective from Jan. 29, until Dec. 31, 2020.
Most of the road system and trails in the Ranch fire area have been evaluated and hazards have been removed, officials said.
Forest Order No. 08-20-02 opens the majority of OHV trails on the Grindstone Ranger District as well as Pine Mountain Lookout and Bear Creek campground on the Upper Lake Ranger District.
However, officials said numerous hazards still exist within the general forest, along many roads and trails and in campgrounds.
“Due to the hard work of Forest Service employees and volunteers there are now many fire impacted areas that are safe for the public to enjoy and I feel it is important to reopen access to public lands where we can,” Supervisor Carlson said. “We are continuing to remove hazards such as dead standing trees, exposed rebar in trail treads, and stump holes on trails in order to reopen the remaining trails and campgrounds.”
Carlson added, “Although the end date for Order 08-20-02 is Dec. 31, 2020, we are working hard to reasonably reduce risks to the public and reopen areas as soon as possible.”
Forest Order 08-20-02, including the order, map and list of closed trails and facilities is posted on the forest website.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Paul F. Richardson, 65, suffered major injuries in the wreck, which occurred on Thursday afternoon on Merritt Road near Kelseyville, according to a Monday report.
The CHP said that at 4 p.m. that day, a white 1991 Honda Accord, driven by 31-year-old William G. Wymer of Kelseyville, was stopped going eastbound on Merritt Road, east of Highway 29, with the left turn signal activated, waiting to make a left turn into a private driveway.
A red 2009 Ford Explorer driven by Daniel J. Crouch, 34, of Lakeport, approached traveling eastbound, failed to slow for Wymer’s car ahead of him and a collision occurred, the CHP.
Richardson, who was riding a 2005 Harley Davidson Dyna Low-Rider, was traveling behind Crouch’s Ford. The CHP said Richardson was unable to stop in time and collided with the rear of the Ford.
Richardson was ejected from the motorcycle and came to rest on the shoulder of Merritt Road. The CHP said Richardson was wearing a Department of Transportation-approved helmet at the time of the collision.
The CHP said Richardson was transported by an air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. He’s expected to recover, with his injuries including broken bones.
Crouch and Wymer were both wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. The CHP said Crouch had minor injuries and Wymer was uninjured.
The CHP said neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected of having been factors in this collision.
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