Willy Tujays Timmons, 37 of Upper Lake, entered a plea of not guilty to murder and other charges related to the death of Vanessa Yvette Nike.
Judge Stephen Hedstrom presided over the hearing at the Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport, as District Attorney Don Anderson and Defense Attorney Thomas Quinn were present in court as well.
According to reports from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies witnessed physically assaulting the victim during an altercation on June 30 of this year.
The incident took place in the 7800 block of Bridge Arbor Road in Upper Lake
the deputy was able to make contact with Timmons through an open window and through verbal commands — he was able to convince Timmons to stop.
Despite desperate attempts to provide first aid and revive the victim, Niko succumbed to her injuries suffered during the altercation.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.Niko was 35 and a Habematolel Pomo citizen.
The Disposition/Setting of Preliminary Examination Hearing is set for August 22 at 8:15 a.m. in Department 4 and the defendant is ordered to be present.
The Vanessa Niko Memorial Fund has been set up by the tribe and donations can be made at the Mendo Lake Credit Union.
Donations will be used to help Niko’s three children.
Ambulance thief pleads no contest
As Derrick Kyle Schuleter was recently declared competent to appear in court for trial proceedings, he was in custody for his Preliminary Examination at the Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport.
Schuleter entered a plea of no contest in the theft of an ambulance in 2016. The parties entered into a sentencing agreement and the matter was referred to the Probation Department for the preparation of a sentencing report and recommendation.
On motion of the People, the Court ordered that Counts 2-6 (one count of vandalism and four counts of buying/receiving/selling stolen property) be dismissed in the interest of justice.
Schuleter was sent to Porterville Development Center last December after being found mentally incapable of continuing with court hearings and he has recently been transported back to the Lake County Jail.
The defendant faced charges related to the theft of an ambulance in Clearlake. The incident occurred last July as firefighters quelled a morning blaze off 18th Avenue in Clearlake.
According to reports at the time, an unauthorized man was using the emergency radio in the medic unit. Firefighters then discovered an ambulance parked near the scene of the fire was missing.
Officers traced the ambulance using a cell phone left inside the vehicle by one of the firefighters.
Schuleter was picked up near the ambulance with items from the ambulance in his possession, and he allegedly admitted to the theft.
The Sentencing Hearing is set for August 21 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 3 and the defendant is ordered to be present.
