On Friday, July 7, Superior Court Judge Richard C. Martin sentenced Autumn Marie Cole, 23, of Clearlake to the upper term of 11 years in state prison. Cole pleaded guilty to first degree burglary and elder abuse and admitted inflicting great bodily injury and use of a dangerous weapon on the victim.
According to investigation reports by the Clearlake Police Department, on Thursday, Feb. 23, officers responded to a 911 call at an address on Clement Drive. When they arrived, they found a 65-year-old female victim who had been beaten in her home. The victim had been sleeping when three individuals, including Cole, entered her bedroom after prying the door of the mobile home open. They turned off her oxygen machine that she used while sleeping, tied her legs with a phone cord and electrical cord, put a pillow over her face and began beating her with a flashlight.
The victim was transported to Redbud Hospital where she was diagnosed with a laceration to her head, numerous bruises and four broken ribs. The victim subsequently contracted pneumonia as a result of the assault.
Cole and her two accomplices were subsequently located and arrested as a result of investigation by officers, as well as her bloody clothes that she disposed of after fleeing the scene. Cole initially denied being involved but later admitted to officers that she participated in the crimes and stated that they went to the residence to steal items to sell for drugs.
Judge Martin, after hearing sentencing arguments from Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff, who argued for the upper term; and defense attorney Stephen C. Carter, who asked the court to impose the middle term; sentenced Cole to the upper term 9 citing as aggravating factors that the crime was planned, it was particularly brutal and serious, Cole had a criminal history going back 12 years including two prior felony drug convictions and Cole had been out of prison and on parole for nine days prior to commiting the assault.
In addition to the 11-year sentence, Cole was fined $5,000 and because the convictions were for serious felonies, she will be required to serve 85 percent of the sentence rather than the typical 50 percent. Cole will not be eligible for parole until 2015.
— Taken from a press release by Deputy District Attorney Richard F. Hinchcliff in the Office of the District Attorney
