LAKEPORT>> 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.
During a recent hearing the defendant, Stephen Robert Williams, entered a no contest plea to DUI- Alcohol while causing injury. A no contest plea is the acceptance of a conviction without admitting factual guilt. Williams also admitted to a prior strike of robbery in Sonoma County from 2015. On the motion of the People, the Court ordered the remaining charges dismissed in the interest of justice.
The Court advised the defendant that he is prohibited from owning, purchasing, receiving, possessing, or having under his custody/control any firearms, ammunition/feeding devices, including but not limited to magazines.
This matter has been referred to the Lake County Probation Department in order to investigate and prepare a presentencing report. The jury trial has been vacated and the sentencing hearing is scheduled for next month.
Last month the defendant entered a not guilty plea to all counts, and he denied the special allegations. The issue of bail was argued with consideration of safety of the public and/or victims, ability to pay and his record of past allegations. The Court had decided that bail remains as previously set. At that time the matter had been scheduled for a settlement conference and jury trial, which have both been vacated.
Being the defendant was not present for a hearing last year, the Court found no good cause for his non-appearance and issued a bench warrant for failure to appear. On March 22, 2024 the defendant was arrested on that felony bench warrant by the Clearlake Police Dept. and booked at the Lake County Jail in Lakeport. During a hearing last year, the defendant’s bail was exonerated.
During a hearing in 2023 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.
