LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Superior Court refused a request to exclude evidence and dismiss a charge in the case of a man charged with vehicular manslaughter.
During a recent hearing, the lawyer for Robert Wade Hitchcock, 48, filed a suppression motion, asking the court to exclude evidence obtained by an allegedly illegal search. Defense attorney Mitchell Hauptman also filed a motion asking Judge Andrew Blum to dismiss one or more of the charges in this felony case
Hitchcock is accused of several counts, including vehicular manslaughter, in the death of a Clearlake woman.
In September of 2016, according to a report by CHP officer Kyle Zerber, Hitchcock was allegedly driving westbound on Main Street in Lower Lake when he struck the victim’s car, pinning her between two vehicles.
Nichole Marie Welborn, 40, was trying to get into her car parked in front of Barreda’s Lower Lake Feed Store when she was struck. Hitchcock was determined to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Judge Blum denied both motions and the case has been continued for a Settlement Conference on January 19, 2018 at 9 a.m. in Department 3.
Hitchcock is charged with the following nine counts: Murder, two Counts of Gross Vehicular Manslaughter, Vehicular Manslaughter, DUI (Influence Of Drug While Causing Injury), Possession of A Controlled Substance, Possess Controlled Substance Paraphernalia, Driving with Suspended License and Under the Influence of Controlled Substance.
