Lake County >> Those arrested in the aftermath of the Valley Fire for alleged looting or trespassing activities in closed areas have pled no contest or await court appearances in December — for the most part. At least one had potential charges dismissed entirely.
One of these is Steven Worley. Despite allegedly being found impersonating a police officer, along with several other serious offenses, at the time of his arrest on Sept. 14, authorities decided to clear him from any possible charges.
The Whispering Pines resident was taken into custody at about 4:45 p.m. on that day in the area of Highway 175 and Maple Shadows Drive, which at the time was under mandatory evacuation. Worley reportedly told the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) deputy who stopped him that he was trying to find something at his mother’s house — a statement later verified by court documents that prove his mother’s home address was on Maple Shadows Drive. But several items found in his vehicle spurred the suspicions of the arresting officer and Worley, 36, was taken into custody and booked into the Lake County jail.
By the time he had his court appearance on Oct. 9 in front of judge Robert Crone, however, only three possible charges of petty theft during state of emergency, lost property-effort to locate owner and entering a closed disaster area remained. Those were all dismissed because of insufficient evidence, according to court documents.
Another alleged trespasser, Royce Sterling Moore, entered a plea of no contest to misdemeanor entering a closed disaster area in exchange for the dismissal of one count of possession of burglary tools.
Moore, 26, was detained in the morning hours of Sept. 15 by officers policing a road barrier at a closed intersection at Bottle Rock Road and Highway 29 in Kelseyville, according to an LCSO report released later that same day. He was nervous, officers claimed, sitting in the back seat of a vehicle, dressed in all black and without a seat belt on.
Once central dispatch advised the officers Moore had two warrants for his arrest, he was immediately detained. Upon searching the backseat, officers reportedly found gloves, a black bandana and a backpack with multiple tools commonly used in thefts. Moore allegedly admitted the backpack was his. Officers also found a broken BB gun that appeared to look like a semiautomatic handgun, Brooks said, as well as a methamphetamine smoking pipe.
At his settlement conference presided by judge Richard Martin on Oct. 6, Moore was sentenced to serve 75 days of jail time at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility. He was also fined $630 and placed on three years of probation.
Still awaiting further court appearances are three Bay Area men arrested on Sept. 17 all either wearing camouflage or black clothing, according to initial reports by LCSO Lt. Steve Brooks.
Dyami Gene Connell and Michael James Jimenez, both of Brisbane, and David Michael Cesari of San Francisco were detained by an officer conducting enforcement stops near Jerusalem Grade and Spruce Grove Road.
They reportedly told the deputy they were going out to Jerusalem Grade to get fuel, but the deputy’s inquisition into the men’s story only raised more concern, Brooks stated. The officer also claimed he smelled marijuana and conducted a search. He allegedly found a loaded .40-caliber magazine in Cesari’s front-right jacket pocket and a loaded semi automatic 40-caliber pistol tucked in the small of his back underneath a heavy jacket.
As he continued to search the vehicle, the deputy reportedly discovered a full face concealing mask, three pairs of gloves, tools, duct tape, zip ties, numerous key rings with keys, acetone, lighter, headlamps, flashlights, binoculars, empty plastic bags, empty garbage bags, backpack and large knives. All three men face charges of conspiracy to commit crime, possession of burglary tools and entering a closed disaster area. Cesari also received additional charges of carrying a firearm capable of being concealed, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and carrying a loaded firearm in a public place. All three men entered pleas of not guilty on Sept. 22 and have court dates scheduled for Nov. 20 and Dec. 2 at the Lake County Superior Courthouse.
