LAKEPORT >> After failing in an attempt to fire his court appointed attorney, Anthony Robert Hammond entered a plea of not guilty to charges including assault with a deadly weapon.
The 35 year old Clearlake man appeared at the Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport for his arraignment, but had filed a motion to have attorney Komnith Moth dismissed from the case. Judge Stephen Hedstrom ordered the courtroom be cleared of all parties except for the defendant, counsel for defendant and jail and court staff.
The judge denied the request without prejudice as the proceeding was ordered to be sealed.
The courtroom was reopened and the court appointed Moth to represent the defendant. The matter to the opening phases of a jury trial on September 19.
Hammond is charged with causing permanent disability, mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of threats to commit crime, resisting an executive officer, battery and possessing controlled substance paraphernalia.
The charges are a result of an incident in May when Clearlake Officers responded to reports of a stabbing at the Beach Front Apartments on Lakeshore Drive, locating a victim with a serious wound to his shoulder.
According to a report issued by CPD Sgt. Travis Lenz, the black male victim told officers Hammond had been yelling racial slurs at a number of people in the apartment parking lot before the alleged machete attack.
Officers established a perimeter around the apartment to prevent Hammond’s escape and proceeded to evacuate all nearby residences.
Hammond would not exit the residence.
After a standoff lasting several hours, Hammond surrendered to police and was placed under arrest.
Suspect in Deputy Rumfelt’s last arrest appears in court
Alex Michael Castillo, 21, recently appeared in court with his retained private Defense Attorney Justin Petersen.
Castillo has been charged with two counts of resisting an executive officer, inflicting corporal injury on spouse, battery, assault with a deadly weapon (other than a firearm) and resisting a peace officer, along with numerous violations of probation.
It was a fight Castillo was involved in on the evening of August 22 that Deputy Rob Rumfelt and other officers responded to. Castillo reportedly ran from the scene covered in blood. Deputies pursued and attempted to take Castillo into custody. He resisted and they were forced to deploy a Taser.
Following the arrest, Rumfelt died in an accident, apparently after suffering a medical emergency.
Judge Stephen Hedstrom presided over the Appearance of Counsel Hearing and the court clerk was directed to provide a copy of the application for increased bail of Castillo to Defense Attorney Petersen.
The matter of increased bail has been referred to the Probation Department for a bail study.
Castillo will next appear in court for an Entry of Plea/Bail Review Hearing on September 19 at 8:15 a.m. in Department 4.
The defendant is ordered to be present.
For those wanting to make a donation to assist the Rumfelt family, a “Deputy Rob Rumfelt Memorial Fund” account has been opened at Umpqua Bank located at 805 11th Street in Lakeport.
Outen ordered to pay over $48k to youth football league
Former Middletown Youth Football League (MYFL) treasurer, Carol Ann Outen, 42, was not in custody and appeared in court for her restitution hearing.
While Outen had pled guilty in January of 2015 to a felony grand theft charge, the court’s ruling of Outen’s restitution had been taken under submission.
Outen allegedly admitted in 2011 she was having financial problems, personally and with her business. The LCSO investigation reported that she was using the MYFL checking account as though it was her personal account in order to float outstanding checks.
The Court ordered restitution in the amount of $48,006 be made payable by the defendant to the MYFL..
Sandoval pleads no contest
During a recent Further Proceeding Hearing, Elysia Raylene Sandoval pled no contest to an assault with a deadly weapon charge, also admitting to the great bodily injury allegation.
Sandoval is being charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon (great bodily injury likely) as the charges stem from an incident last December when a Lakeport police investigation revealed her alleged involvement in a stabbing incident near Library Park.
Judge David Herrick presided over the hearing as the matter is referred to the Probation Department for the preparation of a sentencing report and recommendation.
The Sentencing Hearing has been set for October 16 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 3.
Veterans Court defendant completes Phase 2 of program
Jeffrey Scott Brain appeared in the Department of Veterans Affairs Treatment Court, a program designed to help veterans struggling with criminal difficulties.
In July Brain was back at the Ukiah Recovery Center, a drug rehab facility located in Ukiah and was doing well in the program as he is also attending a new PTSD group — encouraging words from Defense Attorney Angela Cater reminded him to work on taking it easy on himself and to forgive for past mistakes.
During a hearing last month, the court received a copy of the Veterans Court Progress Report, which showed Mr. Brain is making good progress and he is going to his assigned groups and meetings.
The Treatment Team presented Mr. Brain with a Certificate of Completion of Phase 2 of the Veterans Court Program as he was given his black phase 3 dog tag silencers as well.
The course, which involves a social worker and court appearances takes approximately 18 months to complete with various stages throughout the program. The grant supporting Lake County’s Veterans Affairs Treatment Court has been extended to April of 2018.
Perjury suspects enter not guilty pleas
Shannon M. Mick and Michael Paul Alexander entered not guilty pleas to perjury charges at a recent master calendar call hearing as both defendants waived their rights to a preliminary hearing.
While Mick has retained Defense Attorney William Conwell, Alexander has retained Defense Attorney John Hinely.
Neither defendant is in custody, but both are facing multiple charges.
Mick is charged with four counts of Perjury and Alexander is charges with two counts of Perjury.
According to Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson, Mick, 33, and Alexander, 46, both from Live Oak, were taken into custody in late September after the DA’s office Perjury Investigation Unit alleged the two lied to the court in both written documents and oral testimony in a family law case..
The matter is set for a Settlement Conference on November 17 at 9 a.m. in Department 2 and both defendants are ordered to be present.
