LAKEPORT — What was originally alleged to be an armed robbery and kidnapping is now being charged as child endangerment and various firearm-related charges, according to the Lake County District Attorney”s Office.
Susan Krones, prosecuting deputy D.A., said the change is due in part to the D.A.”s ability to prove certain elements of the original charges. “Sometimes we elect to charge something different than what is referred by law enforcement. Sometimes we believe it”s more appropriate to charge child endangerment rather than kidnapping because sometimes we may not be able to prove a specific element,” said Krones.
She went on to explain that child endangerment is on the same keel with kidnapping, and not a lesser charge.
In this case, Lakeport residents Justin Beebe, 23, and Robert Russell McDarment, 24, face felony charges of conspiracy to commit child endangerment and withholding a child from the parent.
Beebe allegedly took his four-month-old baby from its mother, Heather Gerber, who now has custody of the child. He is also charged with assault with a deadly weapon on Gerber and Daniel Reeder, felony counts of domestic violence and disobeying a protective order, said Krones.
McDarment is accused of willful discharge of a firearm in a negligent manner, possession of a firearm with a prior felony conviction and possession of ammunition, all felony charges.
A third suspect, 31-year-old Lakeport resident Jaqualine Coffey, was released. When and for what reason could not be confirmed, either by Krones or through court records. Krones said Coffey has pending charges, but had no information regarding her next court date or the nature of her charges.
Coffey was arrested by CHP officers along with McDarment the evening of Wednesday, March 9 after a search lead to a turnout on Highway 175 0.3 miles east of the Lake-Mendocino county line.
A discussion Monday in court indicated that the next court date should be for either a disposition, or entry into a plea bargain, or for the setting of a trial date.
Beebe and McDarment will appear in court April 23 in Dept. 3 for either a disposition or the setting of a trial date. “There is a reasonable likelihood that we might be able to come up with some kind of disposition,” said Krones.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
