LAKEPORT — An ex-Lake County Sheriff”s deputy accused of selling prescription pills was arraigned Tuesday morning at the Lake County Courthouse.
Eric Van Mendonca is set to appear in court on Oct. 23 for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence for him to face a jury trial.
Mendonca was arrested on June 12 after allegations that he was selling his prescription pills, which he allegedly obtained from as many as six doctors. He pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts.
Pharmacy records stated Mendonca allegedly obtained 17,500 pills – the vast majority of which were hydrocodone – between March 2009 and last February, with nearly 7,000 pills alone coming in 2012, according to an FBI Safe Streets Task Force representative whose report is included in the Lake County court file.
Authorities claim witnesses came forward and released information on the alleged prescription pills issue during an investigation involving the alleged robbery of a home in which Mendonca and three other individuals posed as police officers. Mendonca was arrested last December in connection to the robbery but charges were later dismissed.
Mendonca worked as a Lake County sheriffs” deputy for seven years until he retired in 2003 because of medical reasons.
Mendonca awaits his preliminary hearing on the prescription pills case out of custody.
Isaac Brambila is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636 ext. 37 or at ibrambila@record-bee.com.
