LAKEPORT— Paul John Mendez, 29, of Clearlake, was in custody and recently appeared at the Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport for a preliminary hearing. Mendez has been charged with battery with serious bodily injury, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon with likely gross bodily injury.
Earlier this year, the defendant entered a plea of not guilty on all counts.
The charges stem from an incident last December when Mendez was arrested by the Clearlake Police Department’s Investigations Bureau on probable cause for the attack of Nicholas Vining.
During the preliminary hearing Ryan Peterson was designated as the investigating officer, taking the stand and testifying under oath.
Deputy District Attorney Trang Jensen and Defense Attorney Komnith Moth provided closing arguments.
It appeared to the Court that the felony violations and special allegations have been committed and that there is sufficient cause to believe that the defendant is guilty of the charge(s). It was then ordered that Paul Mendez be held to answer to the charges.
During the recent settlement conference Defense counsel, Komnith Moth, requested and was granted trial dates during the first or second week in September.
Another settlement conference/trial readiness is scheduled for August 27 with a master calendar call set for September 6 – before the scheduled jury trial of September 11 at 8:15 a.m. in a department to be announced.
Due to the victim’s severe injuries, Vining had been transported to UCSF Medical Center where he was placed into a medically induced coma. Vining’s condition has since improved and a detective was able to interview him.
Through the investigation, Paul Mendez was identified as one of the subjects who assaulted Vining. According to the CPD, Mendez is a known subject to law enforcement, is on active California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation parole for sexual battery and is a registered sex offender with ankle monitoring.
Mendez’s parole officer was contacted by investigators and she provided them with Mendez’s location. He was located walking along Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks, where he was placed under arrest, according to booking information from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Mendez was interviewed by investigators and admitted to the assault of Vining. Mendez was booked into the Lake County Jail on probable cause for the violations of assault with a deadly weapon, felony battery, robbery and a parole violation.
Mendez remains in custody with his bail set at $225,000.
In January Clearlake Police had arrested a second suspect, Charles Kenneth Drake , 26, of Clearlake in connection to the assault of 29-year-old Nicholas Vining. He remains in custody with bail set at $75,000.
During Drake’s settlement conference – with Defense Attorney Kevin Davenport also present – Drake entered a guilty plea to assault with a deadly weapon (not a firearm) with likely gross bodily injury (Count 2).
The Court accepted the defendant’s guilty plea to Count 2and the parties entered into a sentencing agreement. On the motion of the People, the Court orders the balance of the charges dismissed in the interest of justice.
The matter is referred to the Lake County Probation Department for the preparation of a sentencing report and recommendation.
Drake is advised that he is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition and is provided with the notice packet to complete with Probation.
This matter is scheduled for sentencing on July 1 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 4.
Both defendants are ordered to be present for their upcoming court dates.
