CLEARLAKE ? A Clearlake business owner was arrested Thursday and charged for sex crimes committed against a minor.
Steven Wayne Mitchell, 59, of Lower Lake, faces five felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 stemming from two cases.
According to an information release prepared by Lake County Sheriff Captain James Bauman, Mitchell was released on a $250,000 bond Thursday afternoon.
Mitchell was reportedly the subject of an ongoing investigation for alleged sexual misconduct with an 11-year-old Spring Valley girl, which was reported to the Sheriff”s Department in October 2008.
The incidents in the case allegedly occurred during Summer 2008.
On May 2, family members reportedly contacted the department and reported that Mitchell had committed multiple acts of sexual abuse against his 13-year-old niece. The acts allegedly occurred at Mitchell”s Lower Lake home throughout a three to four week period during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays of 2008.
“Having ensured that victims in both cases had been removed from Mitchell”s access since reporting the allegations, sheriff”s detectives completed enough follow-up investigation in both cases to secure a warrant of arrest for Mitchell and search warrants for both his home in Lower Lake and his business (Steve”s Place) in Clearlake,” Captain Bauman reported.
The warrants, signed by Superior Court Judge Stephen Hedstrom on May 20, were served Thursday morning. Mitchell was located at El Grande Inn in Clearlake around 7:40 a.m. where he was taken into custody without incident.
Among other items of evidence reportedly located at his home and business, two firearms and a large amount of ammunition were also seized.
“Mitchell has a prior felony conviction for burglary and receiving stolen property so he will also face charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition,” Bauman said.
