LAKEPORT — The Lake County Grand Jury notified the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in a letter that it cannot address any of the issues stated in a complaint filed by the organization.
According to the letter, the Lake County Grand Jury cites that the release of the complaint to the media and public has made it impossible to investigate these matters. Also, the letter reads that complaints are to be confidential to the Grand Jury and such a breach in this matter released the jury from taking any further action.
“The complaint must be filed in complete confidentiality,” said Jim Mackey of the Grand Jury. “When they released the complaint to the media, public and DA”s office, they sealed their own fate.”
A formal complaint challenging the integrity of the Clearlake Police Department, the Lake County Sheriff”s Department and the District Attorney”s Office was hand-delivered to the Grand Jury Jan. 18.
“The Ella Baker Center is puzzled and outraged that the Lake County Grand Jury is refusing to investigate the complaint about police misconduct in the Renato Hughes case,” said Jakada Imani of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. “Several local and national organizations, including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, the NAACP and the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice have expressed concerns about this case.”
The complaint filed by the center alleged that racism may be tainting the actions of these agencies in the murder prosecution of Renato Hughes.
That complaint read, “We would like to emphasize to the Grand Jury that the documentation supports a pattern of police misconduct and racism.”
The defense has requested a change of venue and expert witnesses are scheduled to testify in support of the claim that Hughes cannot receive a fair trial in Lake County on Feb 27.
Bruff s preliminary hearing delayed
LAKEPORT Charlton Bruff, who faces charges of arson causing great bodily injury and homicide was back in court Friday, but his case was continued until Feb. 23. A preliminary hearing will be set at that time.
Bruff, 52, of Lucerne faces charges stemming from the March 1, 2006 house fire that resulted in the death of his ex-girlfriend, Julie Gilbertson, 46.
According to the Northshore Fire Protection District (NFPD), the fire accelerated at a very rapid rate. Units arrived less than five minutes after the call came in. The extent of the fire was also unusual because there were no open doors or windows to feed oxygen to the fire. The NFPD findings support that an accelerant had been used.
Gilbertson died March 3 due to carbon monoxide poisoning and inhalation injuries she suffered during the fire.
Because the fire was ruled an arson, Gilbertson”s death was charged as a homicide.
Alleged burglars” case continued
LAKEPORT Burglary suspect Robert Wenning”s felony case went before judge Richard C. Mann Friday but was continued until March 9. Wenning”s case was combined with Hank William Beck”s case, also charged in the burglaries of Scully Packing and L&L Vineyards, making them codefendants in the upcoming court proceedings.
Wenning, 18, and Beck, 19, pleaded not guilty on all counts and are currently out on bail. Both suspects are scheduled to return to court March 9 in Dept. 3.
Contact Rene Morales at rmorales@record-bee.com.
