LAKEPORT — A man believed to be linked to a string of burglaries in Lakeport had his bail reviewed and preliminary hearing scheduled during a court appearance on Tuesday morning at the Lake County Courthouse.
Jeffrey William Stokes, 25, of Boulder Creek, appeared in court after being captured by Lakeport Police Department (LPD) officers as a result of an investigation into a series of burglaries.
Judge Andrew S. Blum appointed attorney Mitchell Hauptman as Stokes” attorney.
During the hearing, Hauptman asked the court to reduce Stokes” bail, which was set at $200,000, arguing that he had little or no criminal record. Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson said that Stokes was living in a motel at the time of the alleged burglaries and that he could be a flight risk.
Judge Blum said that the burglaries Stokes was allegedly involved with were numerous and decided to keep bail at the amount previously set. He scheduled a preliminary hearing for Wednesday.
Stokes was arrested by Capitola Police on Jan. 17 after a warrant for his arrest was put out the day before, in connection with at least two burglaries and two attempted burglaries between Jan. 7 and Jan. 8, according to a press release issued by the LPD.
He is charged with eight counts of felony burglary, five counts of felony possession of stolen property, four counts of misdemeanor theft and one count each of misdemeanor possession of burglary tools and vandalism, according to LPD Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Stokes is believed to be connected to an alleged burglary at a building that houses Angie”s Lake County Cleaners and Veronica”s Jewelry, which was “ransacked and more than $500 in cash was stolen,” the LPD stated. A travel trailer parked behind the building was also allegedly entered by force.
LPD investigators also believe Stokes was involved in the forced entry into a home, basement and detached garage on a property in the area of the 600 block of 11th street, where unknown items were stolen.
Attempted burglaries at Strings and Things on Main Street and Round Table Pizza on 11th Street are also believed to be linked to Stokes.
Based on evidence gathered at all crime scenes, including tools and signs of techniques believed to have been used to force entry into the different properties, investigators believe the four incidents were connected.
Kimberly Warren Harvey, 46, of Nice, who investigators believe was Stokes” accomplice, was arrested in connection to the alleged burglaries on similar charges as Stokes. She did not appear in court with Stokes on Tuesday.
Stokes and Harvey await court proceedings in custody at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Isaac Brambila is an associate editor for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636 ext. 37 or at ibrambila@record-bee.com.
