LAKEPORT — A judge ordered to forfeit a Clearlake man”s $50,000 bail and put out a $100,000 warrant for his arrest Monday as the man accused of having sex with a minor didn”t appear in court.
Manuel Vega 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.
On Sept. 3, Deputy district attorney Ed Borg offered a settlement but Garcia denied it and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Garcia decided not to plea to one count of lewd and lascivious acts with a child younger than 14.
Borg left the settlement offer open for Garcia to take, he said.
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.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
