LAKEPORT— Morgan Matthew Jack was present and in person at the Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport for a recent felony Preliminary Hearing/Bail Review. During the hearing, Jack was held to answer to numerous charges including one count of assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, two counts, two counts of threatening a school officer/employee, and assault on a peace officer, among numerous others.
Count 1 – Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Other than a Firearm) was dismissed.
An Arraignment on an Information hearing has been scheduled for June 22, 2021 at 8:15 a.m. in Department 2 via Zoom appearance. If unable to appear remotely, parties may appear in person.
The charges stem from an incident last month when it was reported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office that Morgan Matthew Jack, 44, of Lakeport had threatened to kill his girlfriend on May 7 at approximately 3 a.m.
This incident occurred on Mission Rancheria Road, in Lakeport. The girlfriend was able to leave the home prior to Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies arriving.
When deputies attempted to make contact with Jack and place him under arrest, he refused to exit the home. Deputies entered the residence and attempted to contact Jack. While inside, the deputies heard metallic noises they recognized as a firearm being manipulated and believed Jack was armed.
Deputies saw Jack raise a rifle type firearm in the doorway at the front of the home and fire one shot in their direction. The deputies secured the area and requested additional units respond. Officers from Lakeport Police Department, Clearlake Police Department and California Highway Patrol responded to assist.
The Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response and SWAT Teams responded to the location. While trying to speak with Jack he challenged deputies several times telling them he was not coming out and they would have to kill him. After two hours, Jack exited his residence challenging one of the negotiators to approach him.
Jack was taken into custody with the assistance of a police K-9 unit from the Clearlake Police Department and SWAT Team members. Jack, as well as some of the officers, received minor injuries during the arrest. Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit served a search warrant at Jack’s residence where they found a pellet rifle that reassembled an assault type rifle.
Jack was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment and later booked at the Lake County Jail for charges of criminal threats, assault on a peace officer with an instrument not a firearm and obstruction. His bail was set at $50,000.
The Sheriff’s Office had prior contact with Jack in 2008 when he was arrested related to the death of Paul Womachka, a “Hey Taxi” driver whose body was found in a submerged taxi at the Big Valley Rancheria. Jack later plead no contest to voluntary manslaughter related to the killing.
During the recent Preliminary Hearing, the Court ordered the defendant’s bail to remain at no bail.
