LAKEPORT — A Clearlake man declined a plea bargain Friday and will return to court on charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child younger than 14 years old.
Manuel Vega Garcia will have the chance to plead to one count of the charge until deputy district attorney Ed Borg calls his first witness in the preliminary hearing, Borg said. Garcia will return to court 9 a.m. May 21 for his preliminary hearing and May 14 for a pre-preliminary hearing.
Garcia, 24, is charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor in 2004, with special allegations that the girl was younger than 14 years old, and two counts of unlawful intercourse with a minor. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
A warrant had been out for Garcia”s arrest since 2006 but he wasn”t arrested until March 31. Garcia pleaded not guilty April 2.
Garcia remains in custody at the Lake County Jail with a $50,000 bail.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
