LAKEPORT>> The suspect in the murder of a 2-year-old boy was in custody and present at the Lake County Superior Court for a recent hearing.
During the motion hearing an amended complaint was filed in open court.
The complaint has been amended in which the count one of murder has been amended to involuntary manslaughter and the count two of an assault with a firearm on person has been removed.
The defendant entered a not guilty plea to the amended complaint and he denied the special allegations.
The preliminary hearing has been continued to January of next year.
Last month defense counsel, Peter L. Kuykendall, requested a continuance in which there was no opposition.
At that time the matter was set for a preliminary hearing.
During a hearing earlier this year the defendant, Fernando Lugo-Garcia, 31, entered a not guilty plea to all counts and he denied the special allegations.
At that time Kuykendall requested a continuance, which was denied by the Court.
Earlier this year the Court relieved the Lake County Public Defender as counsel.
The defendant retained Peter L. Kuykendall as his counsel.
The Court, pursuant to the request of the defendant, ordered this matter to be continued for an appearance of counsel/plea entry/setting of bail hearing.
During a hearing earlier this year, criminal defense attorney William Conwell informed the Court that the family of defendant was attempting to hire private counsel.
The Court had appointed The Lake County Public Defenders’ Office as counsel for the defendant.
Bail remained as previously set, which was no bail.
The defendant was originally charged with murder, assault with firearm on person, discharging a firearm in negligent manner, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, person prohibited in possession of ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm in a public place.
The charges stem from an incident in March when a two-year-old Clearlake boy was shot during a party on the 14000 block of Uhl Ave. in Clearlake.
According to authorities the suspect fled the scene after the shooting.
Lugo-Garcia was known to reside in the Santa Rosa area.
The Sonoma County Violent Crime Investigations (VCI) coordinated with intelligence from the Clearlake Police, which implemented an overnight search resulting in the arrest of the suspect.
The defendant was transferred and booked into the Lake County Jail in May.
His bail remains set at no bail.
