LAKEPORT— A Clearlake Oaks man charged with hit-and-run that killed a Nice woman was not present at the Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport for a recent sentencing hearing.
During that hearing there was a request for the matter to be continued by Angela Carter, appearing on behalf of the defendant, William Len, pursuant to PC977 (penal code allowing the defendant to waive his required presence in court).
There was no objection to the request for a continuance.
The matter has been set for a sentencing hearing on August 28 and the defendant is ordered to appear.
In April the defendant entered a not guilty plea.
At that time the master calendar call was set for June with the jury trial set for July 2023.
During the preliminary hearing in April the People called two witnesses to testify and the matter was argued and submitted.
It appeared to the Honorable Judge Thomas M Maddock that the felony violations had been committed and that there is sufficient cause to believe that the defendant, William Len, is guilty thereof. It was ordered that the defendant be held to answer to the charges.
In March the Court took up the motion to recall the bench warrant that was filed by defense counsel, Thomas G. Feimer, The matter was argued and submitted.
The failure to appear bench warrant was ordered recalled.
It was ordered that the bail forfeiture be set aside and the bond was reinstated.
In February the Court found no good cause for William Len’s non-appearance and ordered the issuance of a bench warrant for his failure to appear with bail set in the amount of $20,000.
In November of last year the defendant, William Len, 48, was present and not in custody for an arraignment hearing, entering a not guilty plea to all counts, denying the special allegations.
During that hearing the Court appointed Thomas G. Feimer as counsel for the defendant.
The defendant has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit and run with permanent injury or death.
The charges stem from an incident in June of last year after Amanda Arney was struck and killed by a vehicle after midnight while she walking east on Highway 20, west of Sayre Avenue.
According to CHP, the victim was cast down an embankment, resting near a fence – partially concealed by vegetation.
The victim’s body was located hours later that same morning, where she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The defendant was arrested by California Highway Patrol after a thorough investigation and the execution of search warrants with aid from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
He was booked into the Lake County Jail and has since bailed out and has been released.
The defendant’s outstanding warrant has been recalled.
Bench warrant issued for defendant in DUI case that caused serious injuries
In July of 2021 – a four-vehicle collision in Clearlake Oaks that sent several people to the hospital left a Pacifica man to face numerous DUI charges.
The defendant, Stephen Robert Williams, was not present for a recent arraignment on an information hearing.
During that hearing the Court ordered an issuance of the previously held bench warrant.
In July the defendant was present and not in custody, waiving his rights to a preliminary hearing. The Court and the People consented to the defendant’s waiver.
At that time it was ordered that the defendant be held to answer to the charges.
In June the defendant was not present as his defense counsel, Attorney Jonathan B. Steele was present through California Penal Code 977. This Penal Code allows an attorney to appear on the client’s behalf without the defendant/client present.
At that time the Court confirmed this case for a preliminary hearing.
There is another case trailing this matter in which the defendant is charged with a hit and run with property damage. Last month Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson stated she will be moving to amend the complaint in this case to modify the charges to a felony.
Earlier this year the defendant was not present for a preliminary hearing.
Defense Counsel, Jonathan B Steele, informed the Court that the defendant contacted him the day prior to the hearing to inform him that he was having medical issues.
At that time the matter was trailed to see if defense counsel had medical records.
When the matter was recalled, defense counsel stated he did not have medical records and he had not been able to have contact with the defendant,
The Court found no good cause for the defendant’s non-appearance. The Court ordered the issuance of a Bench Warrant – Failure to Appear with bail set in the amount of $70,000.
Last year the defendant was not present at a recent hearing while his attorney, Jonathan B. Steele, was again present by remote appearance through California Penal Code 977.
During the hearing there was a discussion as to the subpoenaed records that should have been received. There was also concern to the necessity of having these documents for the preliminary hearing.
Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson stated that she would look in to the matter of the records as Defense Attorney Steele requested the matter be continued in order to allow for the subpoenaed record issue to be resolved.
The Court, pursuant to the request of the defendant, ordered this matter be continued.
During a hearing in Sept. of last year there was a stipulation to continue the preliminary hearing due to both counsel missing information on some alleged victims.
The matter had been continued at that time as well.
The parties stipulated that the subpoenaed medical records in the clerk’s file may be released to Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson for copying and then returned to the clerk’s file. There was no chain of custody objections.
In April the defendant was present by remote appearance and not in custody at the Lake County Superior Court for a recall of his warrant.
In Feb. the defendant was not present as his retained defense attorney, Jonathan B. Steele, stated his client was still having medical issues from the vehicle accident and requested the matter be continued.
There was a felony warrant issued for the defendant on Feb. 15, 2022 and he requested the warrant be cleared.
The Court did not make any orders at that time but the Court did recall the arrest warrant.
The Court left the bail as set in order for the following conditions to be imposed:
- Will not drive a motor vehicle unless validly licensed and insured
- Obey all laws
- Will not possess or have under his control any alcoholic beverage and will not enter any public place where the primary item sold or dispensed is an alcoholic beverage. The defendant will abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages.
The defendant has been charged with seven counts of DUI – Alcohol while causing injury and three counts of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The charges stem from an incident in July of 2021 when Williams was driving west on Highway 20 near Sulphur Bank Drive at an alleged high rate of speed when he collided with the vehicle in front of him.
According to CHP, both vehicles crossed over into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with other vehicles.
As a result of the collision, the defendant suffered major injuries and was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Clear Lake CHP officers observed symptoms and an indication of alcohol intoxication and was arrested.
Three other people were flown to UC Davis Medical Center, one with serious injuries, and three others suffered minor injuries.
