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NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Potter Valley man convicted by plea of shooting his neighbor's two dogs while the dogs were inside of a fenced pen was placed on supervised felony probation Friday in Mendocino County Superior Court.

Defendant Benjamin Hanna Meyer, age 67, a local Ukiah physician, was convicted by plea in April of two counts of felony animal abuse. He also admitted his personal use of a firearm in the commission of those felonies.

As part of his probation, Meyer on Friday was ordered to serve 180 days in the county jail, with a surrender date of Aug. 29. He will also be prohibited for the remainder of his life from possessing firearms and ammunition.

The prosecutor who has been handling the Meyer case is Assistant District Attorney Dale P. Trigg.

The law enforcement agencies responsible for gathering the evidence in support of the prosecution were the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, including the Sheriff's Animal Control Division, and the District Attorney's own investigators.

The sentencing judge was Mendocino County Superior Court Judge John Behnke.
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Hammond Park final draft conceptual design plan. Courtesy of the county of Lake.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Community members are invited to take part in reviewing draft plans for three county parks in preparation for the county’s application for state grant funds.

The Lake County Parks and Recreation Department will hold three upcoming meetings in which it will present the final draft conceptual design plans prepared for Hammond Park in Nice, Kelseyville Community Park in Kelseyville and Trailside Park in Middletown for a potential state grant funding opportunity through Proposition 68.

The upcoming meetings are scheduled as follows:

– Hammond Park, 2490 Lakeshore Blvd., Nice: Monday, July 1, 10 to 11 a.m.
– Trailside Park, 21044 Dry Creek Cutoff, Middletown: Tuesday, July 2, 10 to 11 a.m.
– Kelseyville Community Park, 5270 State St.: Wednesday, July 3, 10 to 11 a.m.

The county began holding meetings on the park plans in March, as Lake County News has reported.

Trailside Park final draft conceptual design plan. Courtesy of the county of Lake.


Lake County Parks and Recreation is proposing to submit grant applications to the state this summer for funding through Proposition 68, the Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018, passed by California voters last year.

Proposition 68 authorizes $4 billion in general obligation bonds meant for a variety of projects, including local and state parks.

The county’s deadline to apply is Aug. 5.

For more information, call the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department at 707-262-1618.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Kelseyville Community Park final draft conceptual design plan. Courtesy of the county of Lake.
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The California Department of Public Health urges all Californians to protect themselves from mosquito bites during West Nile virus season, which extends from now through early fall.

“West Nile virus activity in the state is increasing, so it is important to take every possible precaution to protect against mosquito bites,” said State Public Health Officer and CDPH Director Dr. Karen Smith.

So far this year, no West Nile virus activity has been reported in Lake County.

West Nile virus spreads to humans and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Late-spring rains have contributed to standing water, which serves as a breeding source for mosquitoes that can spread West Nile virus.

Hot temperatures also contribute to increasing numbers of breeding mosquitoes and an increased risk of virus transmission to humans.

Currently, West Nile virus activity is within expected levels and is similar to activity at this time last year.

The risk of disease due to West Nile virus increases as the summer progresses, and declines in early fall as the weather cools.

In 2018, there were 217 reported West Nile virus cases in California, including 11 deaths.

Since West Nile virus was first introduced into California in 2003, there have been more than 6,000 human cases and 303 West Nile virus-related deaths across the state.

West Nile virus is influenced by many factors, including climate, the number and types of birds and mosquitoes in an area, and the level of WNV immunity in birds.

For most people, the risk of developing serious illness is low. However, some individuals – less than 1 percent – can develop serious neurologic illnesses such as encephalitis or meningitis.

People 50 years of age and older, and individuals with diabetes or hypertension, have a higher chance of getting sick and are more likely to develop complications from WNV infection.

CDPH recommends that people protect against mosquito bites and WNV by practicing the “Three Ds”:

1. DEET – Apply U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 according to label instructions. EPA-registered repellents are recommended for use because they have been tested for safety and efficacy in preventing mosquito bites. Insect repellents should not be used on children under two months of age. For more information, visit CDPH’s insect repellent toolkit.

2. DAWN AND DUSK – Mosquitoes that transmit WNV usually bite in the early morning and evening, so it is important to wear proper clothing and repellent if outside during these times. Make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.

3. DRAIN – Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water. Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property by emptying flower pots, old car tires, buckets, and other containers. If you know of a swimming pool that is not being properly maintained, please contact your local mosquito and vector control agency.

California’s West Nile virus Web site includes the latest information on West Nile virus activity in the state. Californians are encouraged to report dead birds on the website or by calling toll-free 1-877-WNV-BIRD (968-2473).
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This photo was taken during the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017. Credits: NASA/Gopalswamy.

NASA has partnered with the Exploratorium in San Francisco to bring live views to people across the world of a total solar eclipse, occurring Tuesday, July 2, over South America.

The eclipse will only be visible directly to observers within the path of totality, which stretches across parts of Chile and Argentina.

NASA will livestream three Exploratorium views via separate players on the agency’s Web site (all times EDT):

– Live views from telescopes in Vicuna, Chile, presented without audio, from 3 to 6 p.m.
– A one-hour program with live commentary in English, from 4 to 5 p.m.
– A one-hour program with live commentary in Spanish, from 4 to 5 p.m.

NASA Television will also carry the English-language program on its public channel.

Both programs will feature updates from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and Magnetospheric Multiscale missions.

Studying the Sun during total solar eclipses helps scientists understand the source and behavior of solar radiation that drives space weather near Earth, which can affect the health of astronauts in space and the durability of materials used to build spacecraft.

Similar data will be important in planning NASA’s return of astronauts to the Moon in 2024 and eventual crewed missions to Mars.
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On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed his first state budget, which his office said is a balanced, on-time state budget that builds a strong fiscal foundation and makes significant progress toward combatting the affordability crisis that impacts too many Californians.

“The driving idea behind this budget – and my first year in office – is to combat the cost crisis and maintain fiscal discipline,” said Newsom. “This is a responsible budget that saves for challenging times ahead while investing in the present-day needs of working Californians.”

The $214.8 billion budget, of which $147.8 billion is general fund, creates the biggest reserve in state history – all while helping Californians tackle affordability challenges.

Significant details of the 2019-20 budget include the following.

Building a strong fiscal foundation

The budget will end the year with total reserves of $19.2 billion, of which $16.5 billion is in the Rainy Day Fund, $1.4 billion in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties, $900 million in the Safety Net Reserve, and nearly $400 million in the Public School System Stabilization Account.

It makes an extra payment of $9 billion over the next four years to pay down unfunded pension liabilities. This includes $3 billion to CalPERS and $2.9 billion to CalSTRS on behalf of the state, and $3.15 billion to CalSTRS and CalPERS on behalf of schools.

The budget invests $4.5 billion to eliminate the Wall of Debt and reverses the decade old deferral undertaken during the last recession.

In addition, the budget prioritizes one-time investments, with 88 percent of new expenditures being temporary rather than ongoing. This addresses the affordability crisis facing Californians while minimizing ongoing commitments to avoid putting the state at fiscal disadvantage in the future.

Confronting the cost crisis

The budget tackles affordability challenges and expands opportunity for all Californians. It supports Californians facing the cost crisis by expanding health care access, increasing housing production, making historic investments in education, expanding the Cal-EITC Working Families Tax Credit and investing in early childhood education and development.

Health care

The budget preserves health coverage protections for Californians and includes a series of proposals that leads the nation in reducing health care costs and increasing access for families.

The budget:

– Invests $1.45 billion over three years to increase Covered California health insurance premium support for low-income Californians – and provides premium support for the first time to qualified middle-income individuals earning up to $72,000 and families of four earning up to $150,000, partially funded by restoration of an enforceable individual mandate.
– Expands Medi-Cal coverage to all income-eligible undocumented young adults ages 19 through 25.
– Includes an increase of $1 billion, using Prop 56 funding, to support increased rates to Medi-Cal providers, expanded family planning services, and value-based payments that encourage more effective treatment of patients with chronic conditions.
– Invests in and supports California’s seniors by expanding health and other vital state services to this fast-growing part of California’s population.
– Ends the “senior penalty” in Medi-Cal by raising the income eligibility limit for older Californians.
– Expands eligibility to 138 percent of the federal poverty level for the Medi-Cal Aged, Blind and Disabled program, estimated to help 22,000 Californians.
– Invests boldly in responding to Alzheimer’s disease including $3 million for research grants with a focus on women and communities of color, and $5 million for Alzheimer’s disease local infrastructure.
– Establishes a pathway to transition Medi-Cal's drug benefit to a model where the state is directly bargaining for the lowest drug prices.
– Restores the 7 percent across the board reduction to IHSS service hours.

Housing affordability

The high cost of housing is a defining quality-of-life concern for people across California. In order to increase housing supply, the budget makes a historic investment to accelerate the production of new housing, and supports local governments to meet their required housing goals.

– The budget invests $1.75 billion in the production and planning of new housing. It includes support to local governments to increase housing production.
– The governor has taken measures to hold local jurisdictions accountable to meet housing demand.
– To assist renters, the budget includes $20 million to provide legal aid for renters and assist with landlord-tenant disputes, including legal assistance for counseling, renter education programs, and preventing evictions.

Working families tax cut

The Cal-EITC has helped put money back into the pockets of California’s working families, lifting some out of poverty.

The budget more than doubles the investment in the Cal-EITC to $1 billion, which will increase the number of participating households from 2 million to 3 million and:

– Help low-income families with young children through a new $1,000 credit for families with children under the age of 6;
– Significantly increase the average yearly amount individuals receive through the tax credit
Expand eligibility to include full-time workers making the 2022 minimum wage of $15/hour.

Parents agenda

The budget includes a parents agenda that addresses specific cost-of-living issues faced by young parents and parents of small children. The budget:

– Expands paid family leave from six to eight weeks for each parent or caretaker of a newborn child, potentially allowing a child to benefit from as much as four months of paid family leave. This will bring California closer to the goal of six months of paid family leave, helping more workers, especially lower-wage workers, who pay into the system take the benefits
– Puts California on the path to provide universal access to preschool for all four-year olds and full-day kindergarten, including funding for childcare workers, expanding state-subsidized facilities and increasing slots
– Provides resources for lower-income parents, including: home-visiting services, black infant health programs, developmental and trauma screenings, temporary cash assistance to families with children to meet basic needs, child savings accounts to support future higher education expenses and a sales tax exemption on diapers and menstrual products.
– Establishes or increases Cal Grant Access Awards for student parents attending the University of California, California State University, or California Community Colleges. This two-generation approach will help students complete their education, increase their future earning potential, and provide additional support to their children.

Education

The budget makes an historic investment in education for Californians, paving the path towards universal preschool, recruiting and retaining qualified educators and facilitating tuition freezes at the UC and CSU.

K-14

– Makes highest-ever investment in K-14 education, including approximately $5,000 more per K-12 pupil than eight years ago.
– Invests $90 million to recruit and retain qualified educators to teach in a high-need field at priority schools and address California’s teacher shortage, and invests $43.8 million to provide training and resources for classroom teachers and paraprofessionals to build capacity around key state priorities.
– Supports students with specialized needs by providing a 19.3-percent increase in funding for special education.

Higher ed

– Significantly increases funding for higher education, facilitating tuition freezes and increased enrollment slots at both the University of California and California State University systems for the 2019-20 school year.
– Provides support for community college students by funding two years of free community college tuition for first-time, full-time students.
– Provides $41.8 million to increase the number of competitive Cal Grant scholarships from 25,750 to 41,000 for income-eligible Californians.
– Provides $96.7 million to support the living expenses of student parents with dependent children to increase degree completion.
– Qualifying new or renewal Cal Grant A recipients will receive an access award of up to $6,000, qualifying new or renewal Cal Grant B recipients will see their access award increase from $1,648 to $6,000, and qualifying Cal Grant C recipients will see their book and supply award increase from $1,094 to $4,000.
– Provides $50 million for child savings accounts that aid families in managing future higher education expenses.

Preparing for emergencies

Climate change has created a new reality that impacts every Californian, in urban, suburban and rural communities. Gov. Newsom is taking aggressive actions to build resiliency, increase response and tackle recovery.

The budget invests nearly $1 billion:

– Includes $225.8 million to implement forest health and wildfire prevention efforts.
– Builds resilience to ensure every community is prepared in the face of a disaster with investments in community emergency preparedness, 9-1-1 system upgrades and earthquake warning system development.
– Funds new firefighting resources and technology so Cal FIRE has state-of-the-art tools at its disposal when responding to disasters, including $127.2 million for C-130 Air Tankers and 21st century firefighting helicopters; $130.3 million for better communication equipment for first responders.
– Supporting communities so they can get back on their feet after a disaster, including investment in local property tax backfill, Camp Fire Recovery and the California Disaster Assistance Act.

Advancing justice for all

Homelessness

California is facing a homelessness epidemic across the state. Recognizing the importance of mental health supports in the fight against homelessness, the budget includes an historic $1 billion investment, which will:

– Provide homelessness emergency aid to local governments for emergency housing vouchers, rapid rehousing programs and emergency shelter construction.
– Increase mental health supports, which includes expanding Whole Person Care services that provide wrap-around health, behavioral health and housing services, and building strategies to address the shortage of mental health professionals in the public mental health system.
– Fund rapid rehousing and basic needs initiatives for students in the University of California, California State University and California Community College systems.

Safe drinking water

The budget provides stable ongoing funding to assist disadvantaged communities in paying for the costs of obtaining access to safe and affordable drinking water. The proposal will:

– Initiate the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund program one year earlier than previously planned by investing $100 million Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds and $30 million General Fund in 2019-20; with $130 million continuously appropriated on an ongoing basis until 2030;
– Use the GGRF for safe drinking water to advance the state’s climate resiliency goals by helping to secure water resources statewide and advance the state’s climate change priorities by supporting and providing benefits to disadvantaged communities most impacted by climate change.

Criminal justice

The budget prioritizes public safety, while helping to make the state’s criminal system more humane and just – focusing on rehabilitation and successful reentry.

– Moves youth correctional facilities from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to a new department under the Health and Human Services Agency to enable the state to better provide youth offenders with services and support reentry.
– Provides local law enforcement training on use of force and de-escalation, while restoring funding to maintain training and improve competency for local correctional and law enforcement personnel.
– Overhauls the substance use disorder programs in prison, including integrating medically assisted treatment and reentry services as appropriate.

The budget and related acts signed by the governor today include the following.

AB 74 by Assemblymember Philip Ting – Budget Act of 2019. Line-item vetoes can be found here.
SB 78 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Health.
SB 79 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Mental health.
SB 80 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Human services omnibus.
SB 81 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Developmental services.
SB 82 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – State Government.
SB 83 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Employment.
SB 84 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Political Reform Act of 1974: online filing system.
SB 85 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Public resources: omnibus trailer bill.
SB 87 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Transportation.
SB 90 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Public employees’ retirement.
SB 92 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Taxation.
SB 93 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Budget Act of 2018: augmentation.
SB 94 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Public Safety: omnibus.
SB 95 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Courts.
SB 105 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Corrections facilities: financing.

For full text of these bills, visit www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
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Yareli Diaz, 24, of Ukiah, Calif., was arrested on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, for murder in the death of her newborn daughter in April 2018. Photo courtesy of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Authorities say a Ukiah woman has been arrested for homicide after an investigation concluded that she killed her newborn baby in April 2018.

Yareli Diaz, 24, was taken into custody on Tuesday evening, according to Lt. Shannon Barney of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

Diaz is charged with killing her daughter, Mia Cielo Diaz, on April 3, 2018.

On that day just after 10 p.m., the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office was called to the Ukiah Valley Medical Center on the report of a suspicious death of an infant who was less than one day old, Barney said.

Barney said deputies learned the infant had been delivered by Diaz earlier that day. In Diaz's initial statement she claimed that she was unaware that she was pregnant but delivered the baby while in the bathroom at her home.

The death of the child was determined to be suspicious, as Barney said it appeared to be a health baby with no obvious cause of death, and Diaz’s statements were inconsistent. Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives were assigned to continue the investigation.

During the investigation, Barney said detectives learned Diaz delivered the child around 2:45 p.m. on April 3, 2018, but failed to render any aid or care to the child. Diaz cleaned up the bathroom in what appeared to be an attempt to conceal the child's birth from her parents.

Barney said Diaz wrapped the child in a towel, carried her to a parked vehicle and placed the child in the rear seat area and left her there before going back in the house. The outdoor temperature on that afternoon was 77 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service.

Diaz later went to work shortly before 6 p.m. and worked until approximately 8:45 p.m. when she left to meet a friend. Barney said Diaz then told the friend what had happened and the friend convinced her to immediately take the baby to the hospital for care.

Detectives believed between the birth and the arrival at the hospital the infant had received no care from Diaz. Barney said life-saving measures were attempted by hospital staff but they were not successful.

A post mortem examination was later conducted by a forensic pathologist and the infant was found to be a full-term, healthy female, Barney said.

In August, the Mendocino County Coroner's Office received the final cause of death from the pathologist. Barney said the cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to the baby's mouth and nose being covered by towels and the placenta.

Detectives learned Diaz did in fact know she had been pregnant and that she had delivered a child several years before that her parents were helping her raise, Barney said.

At the conclusion of the investigation, detectives submitted the case to the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office for review and consideration of a charge of murder. Barney said the DA's Office then filed a case in the Mendocino County Superior Court and requested an arrest warrant charging Diaz with murder.

At 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to the 2400 block of North State Street in Ukiah and took Diaz into custody on the warrant, Barney said.

She was later booked into the Mendocino County Jail on one count of murder. Her bail was set at $500,000.
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From left, Miguel Becerra, 37, was arrested on Thursday, June 27, 2019, for the shooting death 10 days earlier of Steven Stone in Clearlake, Calif. At right, his brother, 26-year-old Christian Becerra, is still being sought by police. Photos courtesy of the Clearlake Police Department.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police have arrested one man and are seeking his brother in connection to a June 17 drive-by shooting that killed a Clearlake man.

On Thursday evening, officers arrested 37-year-old Miguel Becerra, who has ties to both Clearlake and Southern California, for the shooting of Steven Stone, according to Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White.

White said they’re still seeking Becerra’s younger brother, Christian Becerra, 26, who also has ties to Clearlake and the Indio area.

On Thursday night, White said the case was continuing to develop, as detectives served a search warrant at the scene of Becerra’s arrest on Sonoma Way.

Police say the men were responsible for the fatal shooting of Stone, 40, early on the morning of June 17 at Trombetta’s Resort, located at 5865 Old Highway 53.

Officers who arrived at the scene shortly after 12:30 a.m. that day found Stone on the ground with a gunshot wound.

Despite efforts to resuscitate him at the scene and the hospital, Stone was declared dead.

During the subsequent investigation, detectives determined that shots were fired at Stone from a vehicle that drove on the main driveway of the resort. The vehicle then fled in an unknown direction on Old Highway 53.

Since the murder, the Clearlake Police Department Investigations Bureau has been conducting extensive followup investigation, in the course of which they obtained information identifying Miguel and Christian Becerra as the suspects, White said.

Police said Christian Becerra was involved in an altercation on Jones Avenue hours before the homicide. When Stone was shot, he was accompanied by another person who had been present at the earlier altercation.

On Thursday, Clearlake Police, Code Enforcement, Animal Control and Lake County Probation conducted a citywide sweep, making arrests for drugs, weapons and people living in red-tagged homes, White said.

It was during that sweep – at about 4:40 p.m. – that White said police received information that Miguel Becerra was at a residence located in the 3500 block of Sonoma Way.

Clearlake Police and Lake County Probation personnel responded to the residence, where they located Miguel Becerra, who fought with officers as they tried to take him into custody, White said.

As officers were arresting Miguel Becerra, 37-year-old Amber Williams of Clearlake, who originally answered the door at the residence, charged towards officers and then resisted their efforts to control her, White said.

White said Miguel Becerra was arrested on probable cause for the murder of Steven Stone while Williams was arrested on probable cause for obstruction and battery on a peace officer.

In April, Clearlake Police Officer Mauricio Barreto had arrested Miguel Becerra and Williams following a traffic stop, after finding Williams – a convicted felon – in possession of a stolen handgun. At the time, Miguel Becerra gave Barreto a false name as he had a warrant for his arrest and a suspended driver’s license.

On Thursday, detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence where Miguel Becerra was located and completed executing that warrant late Thursday night, White said.

A firearm – a rifle – was located at the residence but it is not believed to be the murder weapon. White said they believe a handgun was used to kill Stone.

White said detectives are seeking to locate Christian Becerra, who is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Christian Becerra may be driving a 2005 Legend Lime Ford Mustang, California License No. 8KCS533, police said.

White said the vehicle hasn’t been seen in Clearlake since the shooting, and detectives have been reaching out to law enforcement agencies throughout the state to see if any of them have run the vehicle.

He said they’re also in contact with the Federal Bureau of Investigation as they attempt to locate Christian Becerra and the car.

Christian Becerra is considered armed and dangerous and police said neither he nor the vehicle should be approached. Rather, if he is seen, contact the nearest law enforcement agency immediately.

“The information presented as it is known to us today, but there is extensive additional investigation to be done and the information may change as new information is learned and additional evidence is gathered,” according to the statement released by the Clearlake Police Department on Thursday night.

Anyone with information is asked to call Clearlake Police Det. Leo Flores at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Police are looking for a 2005 Legend Lime Ford Mustang, California License No. 8KCS533, in connection with the fatal shooting of Steven Stone in Clearlake, Calif., on Monday, June 17, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Clearlake Police Department.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that, in accordance with new state law, it is making available to the public videos and investigative documents related to use of five force-related incidents that occurred between 2014 and 2018.

The California Public Records Act requires a state or local agency, such as the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, to make public records available for inspection, subject to certain exceptions.

Last year, the Legislature passed SB 1421, which then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed in September.

SB 1421 amends sections of the penal code relating to peace officer records.

Specifically, it requires disclosure of records involving officer-involved shootings or other use of force events, investigations into police misconduct such as lying under oath, complaints and other specified incidents under the auspices of the California Public Records Act.

In order to comply with SB 1421, Lt. Rich Ward said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has developed a way to disseminate records for public inspection for qualifying cases.

Members of the public can find a list of documents, videos, photographs and other information by navigating to a “Use of Force” page on the Lake County Sheriff’s Web site.

If any additional incidents occur that qualify for public release per SB 1421, Ward said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Use of Force page will be updated in order to make those records available for public inspection.

The records released on Wednesday cover five critical incidents, two of them involving fatal shootings.

Sheriff Brian Martin introduces each of the videos, with deputies offering additional information about the incidents.

They include the following, listed in chronological order.

Nov. 9, 2014: Christopher Keith O’Neal

Christopher Keith O’Neal, 57, was fatally shot just after 12 a.m. Nov. 9, 2014, in Lucerne.

O’Neal, a survivor of the 1978 Peoples Temple Jonestown massacre, was shot by two sheriff’s deputies who had responded to his home on the report of a domestic disturbance.

O’Neal emerged from his home into the front yard with a kitchen knife. He refused to follow deputies’ orders to drop the knife, he told them he was going to charge them and then did so.

The deputies shot 10 rounds at O’Neal, who was hit by seven them, according to his autopsy.

The incident occurred nine days before the 36th anniversary of the Jonestown massacre.

Then-District Attorney Don Anderson ruled Sienze’s shooting was justified.

Feb. 21, 2015: Adam David Young

Shortly after 9 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2015, deputies and California Highway Patrol officers responded to a report of a physical fight between two male subjects in Nice.

The deputies identified the males who were fighting, and one of the deputies found Young to be intoxicated to the point where he couldn’t care for himself, arrested him for public intoxication and handcuffed him.

The deputy placed Young in the front passenger seat of his patrol car because the back seat was outfitted for a K9.

As the deputy was driving Young to the Lake County Jail, Young became violent, hitting his head on the dash and spitting on the deputy, who managed to keep control of the car while also handling Young.

The deputy pulled into the parking lot at the Rodman Slough County Park and ordered Young out of the car. When he refused, the deputy pulled Young out of the vehicle. Young fell and lost consciousness.

At the deputy’s request, medical personnel responded and transported Young to the hospital for treatment.

March 1, 2017: Wesley David Thaxton

Wesley David Thaxton was knocked consciousness while being taken into custody by a sheriff’s deputy in Upper Lake on March 1, 2017.

Shortly after 9:30 p.m. a deputy responded to Upper Lake to a report of a male subject who had broken down a woman’s door and was refusing to leave. Thaxton was found drunk and passed out on a couch on a porch.

The deputy took Thaxton to the patrol car and contacted the reporting party, who declined to press charges. He returned to the car and Thaxton attempted run away.

The video, shot at night, does not clearly show what happened next. The deputy said in his written report that he chased Thaxton and took him down with a leg sweep. When Thaxton tried to get up, the deputy forced him down again with another leg sweep.

In the video, the deputy can be heard calling for medical assistance due to Thaxton having lost consciousness. The deputy told Northshore Fire paramedics that Thaxton hit his head “pretty hard.”

Thaxton regained consciousness shortly afterward and was transported to the hospital.

Feb. 15, 2018: Jason Richard Sienze

At 11:40 a.m. Feb. 15, 2018, Jason Richard Sienze was observed by witnesses in the area of Marin Street in Nice acting strangely and talking to himself. A 2003 Chrysler Sebring that has been linked to Sienze was located wrecked and abandoned in the area of Buckingham Way, authorities said.

Minutes later, Sienze was seen in the 3000 block of Highway 20 knocking on doors and asking for money, acting strangely and talking about going back to prison. Not long after that, he was seen driving a stolen pickup on Nice Road, where he pointed a handgun at a man and pulled the trigger, but the gun misfired.

Authorities said he forced entry into a residence, took keys and stole a 2006 Ford F-350 pickup. Deputies confronted him in the area of Lakeview Drive and Burpee Drive.

The 15-minute video shows deputies in the area trying to locate Sienze, finding him and shooting numerous times at him as he backed the pickup down Lakeview Drive. The deputy whose body cam video is shown is heard saying he can see a pistol in Sienze’s right hand.

Several deputies approached the vehicle and found him shot, with the vehicle still running. A deputy reaches inside and turns off the pickup, which had several bullet holes in the windshield. The deputy with the body cam video then calls for medics.

Sienze was declared dead at the scene a short time later.

An autopsy found that Sienze had been struck a total of seven times in the neck, chest, both arms and right thigh.

Then-District Attorney Don Anderson ruled Sienze’s shooting was justified.

Sept. 5, 2018: Carlos Anthony Gonzalez

On Sept. 5, 2018, Carlos Anthony Gonzalez, an inmate at the Lake County Jail, refused to comply with correctional officers’ orders to move from his cell to another.

Several correctional officers subsequently entered the cell to move him. Gonzalez reportedly fought them before they handcuffed him and moved him to the other cell.

When they placed him on the floor in the second cell he complained that his elbow hurt. A jail nurse checked him, he was taken to booking then transported without further incident to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where he was evaluated for his injury.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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In a move to improve horse safety and bring a greater level of transparency and accountability to race tracks, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed SB 469 by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and announced the appointment of seasoned veterinarian Gregory Ferraro to the California Horse Racing Board, or CHRB.

SB 469 would allow the CHRB to suspend horse racing licenses when necessary to protect the health and safety of horses and riders.

The bill signing comes weeks after Governor Newsom directed CHRB to apply new safety measures and create a review group at Santa Anita Park to provide additional examination and determine if an individual horse is at elevated risk of injury before racing. A total of 38 horses were scratched or denied entry at Santa Anita Park since this new review process was established earlier this month.

“Business as usual has resulted in too many horse deaths,” said Gov. Newsom. “I applaud the Legislature for taking action to expand the authority of the CHRB to cancel or move race meets when animal and human safety are at risk. This problem demands deeper partnership between the CHRB and track officials. I call on race tracks around the state to hold themselves to the higher screening standards recently adopted at Santa Anita. This model can save horses’ lives.”

Currently, short of an allegation of an actual rule violation, the CHRB is limited in its ability to take action against a licensee to limit, place conditions on or suspend a racing license. SB 469 will update the law to allow the CHRB to take immediate action on race meet licenses if horse or rider safety is determined to be at risk.

“Putting the safety of horses first is paramount,” said Sen. Dodd, the author of SB 469. “I appreciate Gov. Newsom’s partnership and swift action in supporting this commonsense measure to allow the Horse Racing Board to halt racing when dangerous conditions exist.”

After reports about the increasing number of horse deaths at California race tracks, Governor Newsom announced new regulatory actions through the CHRB and called for additional oversight measures, including the creation of a review group at Santa Anita Park during the final two weekends of race meets in June.

This horse safety review group examined the past performances of all the horses, including any history on the veterinarian’s list and steward’s list, as well as any medical history CHRB was aware of, and physical observations of the horse when practicable.

The panel then advised Santa Anita management if certain horses were considered high-risk. The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita Park, agreed to deny the entry of any such horses and treat the review group’s recommendation as the final word. A total of 38 horses were scratched or denied entry at Santa Anita under this process.

The governor’s new appointee to the CHRB, Gregory Ferraro, 73, of San Francisco, was the director of the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Center for Equine Health from 1997 to 2014.

Ferraro was owner and chief executive officer of Gregory L. Ferraro DVM, LLC from 1972 to 1997.

He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ferraro is registered without a party preference.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Facing a July 1 deadline, the Lakeport Unified School District approved its fiscal year 2019-20 budget on Wednesday, a document that is likely facing revision in the months ahead due to dropping revenue and student enrollment, and rising costs.

The board came into the four-hour meeting equipped with a report from Business Manager Jacque Eischens that warned of the district’s inability to meet its reserve and other budgetary requirements over the coming three years, which could trigger a disapproval by the Lake County Office of Education and action by the state.

The budget totals $18,982,792 in expenditures and $17,530,386 in revenue.

Eischens, a former Lake County Office of Education staffer who interim Superintendent Patrick Iaccino hired earlier this year, told the board that she wasn’t suggesting cuts. “I don’t make those final decisions,” she said, adding that she wanted to give the district, community and board sound numbers.

The board approved the new budget, which is required to be in place by July 1.

Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg and members of his staff were at the Wednesday night meeting, during which a letter he wrote to the district on June 3 about the acceptance of its second amended budget for the 2018-19 was mentioned.

He told Lake County News in a Thursday interview that, as of Jan. 31, the district had looked OK based on its average daily attendance, although his June letter noted concerns with the district’s ADA and enrollment projections.

However, changes to expenses and revenue Eischens noted during the Wednesday night meeting have become the problem, Falkenberg said.

During the meeting and in a subsequent Thursday interview with Lake County News, Eischens explained that a combination of factors – primarily, drops in attendance, expenditure increases and the end of one-time funds from state and federal sources – have led to a $400,000 deficit.

Referring to Falkenberg’s letter about the budget situation earlier this year, Eischens noted, “At that time, everything looked fine.”

At that point, the district board also hadn’t granted a 5.25 percent two-year pay increase for district employees – 2.75 percent retroactive for 2018-19 and an additional 2.75 for 2019-20, Eischens said.

Over the last few years, there have been significant amounts of one-time funds from state and federal governments for the district, but Eischens said there is no indication there will be more, which accounts for the large decrease in revenue.

“The majority of it is is our enrollment and attendance,” which affect many funding sources, she said.

Falkenberg explained that over a six-year period, the state has been generous in restoring districts’ funding following state cuts. That gave schools a lot more resources.

Now that schools are fully funded, they’re only seeing a 3.26-percent cost of living increase for the new year, at the same time as both state and teacher pensions are expected to be rising by 3 percent in future years; pensions are lower in the near term due to a government payout, he said.

A drop in attendance, all by itself, is a “huge chunk” of the problem, Eischens told Lake County News.

A large source of revenue for school districts is “average daily attendance,” or ADA, an enrollment-based calculation which can fall or rise depending on student population.

Lakeport Unified’s 2015-16 enrollment increased by two students, or 19.95 ADA. That has been followed by three straight years of decline, according to Eischens:

– 2016-17, enrollment decrease of 24, ADA decrease of 21.19;
– 2017-18, enrollment decrease of 25, ADA decrease of 30.35;
– 2018-19, enrollment decrease of 37, ADA decrease of 44.

Despite the downward trend in enrollment, Eischens said Lakeport Unified previously had an actuarial study that determined district enrollment was going to increase significantly, and their budget assumptions were based on that study.

Now, with enrollment being less than anticipated, the district is having to adjust its budget accordingly. Eischens said ADA averages about $11,000 per student, and is dependent on a number of factors, from grade level to the school’s free and reduced lunch program. Total budgeted ADA for the new fiscal year is 1,380.

Another factor is that schools only receive payment for as much of the time as children are present. They don’t receive credit for excused absences, and if a child is only there a certain percentage of the time, that’s how much reimbursement the district receives, Eischens said.

“Once they’re here, we have to keep them coming,” she said.

Eischens said she doesn’t know the reason for the drop in enrollment, and other district officials and staff on Wednesday night discussed ways of reaching out to families who have left.

Whatever the reason, it appears unique to Lakeport.

“We’re seeing all of our other districts increase enrollment,” with Konocti Unified showing the most rapid growth, Falkenberg told Lake County News in the Thursday interview.

“Lakeport is the only one that hasn’t shown some growth,” Falkenberg said.

At a recent Kelseyville Unified School District Board meeting, Superintendent Dave McQueen noted an enrollment increase for his district this past year.

Falkenberg’s letter to the Lakeport Unified School District for its second amended 2018-19 budget had noted his agency’s concerns over enrollment numbers.

“We’ve warned the district for the last several years that their enrollment and ADA projects have been high,” said Falkdenbeg.

He commended Eischens, Iaccino and the Lakeport Unified Board for now putting up realistic enrollment numbers.

Falling short on reserves

One of the sections of the school district’s budget that shows where the shortfall is building is the reserve for economic uncertainty, an emergency emergency savings account the district is required to have.

The 3-percent state required reserve for 2019-20 is $568,000, while the district wants a 5-percent reserve, totaling $948,140, which would cover payroll for one month. Eischens said the district can cover that in the new budget.

The district is ending 2018-19 with a healthy ending fund balance of $3.3 million, but Eischens said that starts to change in 2019-20, with revenues down by $991,820 and expenditures up by $603,000.

By the start of 2020-21, the ending fund balance is forecast to drop to $1.9 million and to $703,000 at the start of 2021-22, ending that year with a deficit of $459,729. If no changes are made Eischens said the district would not be able to meet the required 3-percent economic uncertainty reserves for 2020-21 and 2021-22, with a possible deficit of $2.6 million by the end of the latter year.

Eischens said there are three full-time positions being added in the new school year – one each for administrator, certificated and pupil services – with another previously grant-funded position being dropped. There also will be annual increases for retirement – 0.82 percent for the California State Teachers' Retirement System and 2.67 percent for the California Public Employees' Retirement System.

She said the district either needs to cut its costs or raise its revenue by $400,000 to meet its 5-percent reserve. If it does that, it can avoid a deficit in its unassigned fund balance by the end of 2021-22.

Eischens also told the board on Wednesday that it’s just short of the state requirement that classroom compensation must equal or exceed 55 percent of the total costs of education. The district is at 53.57 percent now and is in a “warning phase,” and has this next year to meet the 55 percent mark otherwise it could face a $251,899 penalty.

Eischens now will send the budget to the Lake County Office of Education; Falkenberg said she has five days from its approval or July 1, whichever comes first, to submit it.

Together, the district and the Office of Education will work on solutions to get the Lakeport Unified budget to meet its requirements. “They’re going to provide us guidance. They’re going to provide us the help we need,” Eischens said, noting the Lake County Office of Education has been very supportive, and that it has been hard to get the necessary decisions made with a new superintendent and business manager.

Falkenberg said he has until Sept. 15 to approve, conditionally approve or disapprove Lakeport Unified’s budget, based on state education code.

“At that point, it kicks off some official timelines for them to correct them budget” and call in other agencies to help support them. Falkenberg also would have to notify the state superintendent that “we have a district that may be of concern.”

However, Falkenberg said his office plans to work with Lakeport Unified to have a budget that can be approved by that September deadline.

While the Lake County Office of Education hasn’t received the final budgets for all of the county’s districts, “We’re not aware of any other districts in this situation,” Falkenberg said.

“During the fiscal downtown it was more common to see this,” he said.

Now, however, on a statewide basis, he said it’s becoming more common to see districts falling into fiscally unstable situations because of the reduction in funding from the state government.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has a host of dogs that continue to wait for someone to give them loving forever homes.

The kennels also have many dogs that need to be reunited with their owners. To find the lost/found pet section, click here.

The following dogs are ready for adoption.

“Wynn.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Wynn’

“Wynn” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short brindle coat.

Staff said he is a lovely fellow who has been at the shelter for several months.. He loves affection and is available for adoption or through the foster to adopt program.

He’s believed to be about 6 to 7 years old.

He is No. 969.

“Tyson.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Tyson’

“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a medium-length gray and white coat.

He is No. 1863.

“Snowflake.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Snowflake’

“Snowflake” is a male Chihuahua with a white coat.

He is No. 1864.

“Scorpio.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Scorpio’

“Scorpio” is a male American Bulldog mix with a brindle coat.

He is No. 2269.

“Lexi.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Lexi’

“Lexi” is a female German Shepherd with a medium-length black and tan coat.

She is No. 2262.

“Hamilton.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Hamilton’

“Hamilton” is a male German Shepherd with a medium-length brown and black coat.

He is No. 2177.

“Cadbury.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.


‘Cadbury’

“Cadbury” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a smooth medium-length beige coat.

She is No. 1215.

Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.

Hours of operation area noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays; the shelter offers appointments on the days it’s closed to accommodate people.

Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – While the federal government has severely limited the kinds of rules local governments can impose on telecommunications facilities, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday explored what budge room the county still has in determining where towers and equipment can be located.

County staff began working on a review of rules in the spring at the request of Supervisor Rob Brown. On Tuesday, Community Development Director Michalyn DelValle and Anita Grant went over the possibilities with the board, starting with the county’s zoning ordinance.

During the discussion, DelValle said that, as far as she can tell, the county has made no significant changes to the zoning ordinance’s Article 71 – which establishes regulations for communications towers and antennae – since 2008.

In that time, Grant pointed out, the federal government has rolled back what rules local governments can implement.

During the discussion, Grant referenced a September 2018 Federal Communications Commission order regarding small wireless facilities, which she said in her written report “invokes an expansive interpretation of the 1996 Telecommunications Act provisions which preempt any local regulations that prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting wireless facilities. That interpretation is applicable to virtually all local interactions with wireless facilities with very limited exceptions.”

Staff is proposing the expansion of setbacks in residential areas for macro communications towers – defined as those on high towers, masts or antennas – as well as expanded design criteria, and more specific and clarified restrictions for the siting of macro towers in viewshed locations.

For small wireless facilities – small antennas placed on existing existing infrastructure such as utility poles – staff wants to establish “objective and reasonable” regulations for design and location, including concealment and/or screening, height and size, location and mounting.

DelValle explained that the zoning ordinance doesn’t currently call out small wireless facilities, and staff is recommending a new permit process be introduced. She said small wireless facilities are those mounted on structures no more than 10 percent higher than adjacent structures.

The September FCC order established two new “shot clocks” for small wireless facilities – 60 days for collocation on preexisting structures and 90 days for new builds.

“Sixty days is generally not enough time to get a project before the planning commission,” DelValle said.

DelValle said other jurisdictions have incorporated “preferred” location criteria, with the common theme being the location of such structures within rights of way, or commercial and industrial zones. The least-preferred sites are in residential areas.

However, there are still exceptions, as DelValle said the county cannot prohibit telecommunications service. That means a provider can apply for a site that isn’t preferred if it can prove that there isn’t another preferred site within 500 or 1,000 feet of the requested placement.

“There are different rules when it comes to the siting requirements for the small cell facilities and macro towers, so you can’t lump them all in together,” said Grant.

She explained that the effective prohibition standard from the FCC’s September order applies to both small cell and macro towers, and the FCC rulings have the force of law. “They’re not guidelines. They’re legal requirements.”

Grant said the county doesn’t have anything regarding aesthetic requirements for small cell facilities in the zoning ordinance. The county does have some maneuvering possibility for macro facilities, especially in residential areas, when it comes to design review and location. She said it’s much more difficult to mandate restrictions for small cell facilities.

DelValle said the common theme in rules she’s studied from other jurisdictions is that they encourage small cell facilities within rights-of-way, county roads, county-owned streetlights and other existing utilities.

She said they’ve built cell facilities to look like water towers, flag poles and trees; Lake County also has had similar disguised cell facilities here.

DelValle said staff recommends updating the zoning ordinance with new definitions, which will require some research, as she’s not aware of what updates Article 71 has had since 2008.

She recommended that small cell facilities be allowed subject to obtaining a zoning permit with established criteria, such as preferred locations, as that will affect the 60- and 90-day permitting requirements which the county currently can’t meet in getting projects before the planning commission.

Del Valle also suggested updating an abandonment and discontinuance section for telecommunications facilities in county rules. Currently, the county allows companies up to six months to remove unused equipment and towers. Some other jurisdictions limit it to 90 days.

She also mentioned that there are jurisdictions that have put in place communications facilities setbacks from schools ranging from 500 to 1,000 feet, with some exceptions allowed.

Board welcomes alternatives

“I’m the one that asked for this to be on the agenda initially,” Brown said during the board’s subsequent discussion of DelValle’s report.

“It doesn’t come close to what I was hoping for but I think we’ve pushed it as far as we can,” Brown said.

He said he originally had asked for a 2,500-foot setback from residences, but he was happy to do what they can legally rather than putting up a big and expensive fight that the county is likely to lose.

Grant said that distinguishing between the macro towers and the small cell facilities is critical. Preferred site rules wouldn’t prohibit a siting but would certainly streamline the location of a tower. “Time being money for cell tower companies, that may be very attractive to them going forward.”

The height and size of a macro tower doesn’t fall under the 2018 ruling, so Grant said the board has more room to maneuver in terms of setting rules for residential areas, thus the “preferred” status DelValle is suggesting that could situate the facilities in other areas.

Grant said DelValle is proposing to expand the considerations for the planning commission and the Board of Supervisors to the extent it’s possible to do so.

“That’s what I’m asking for,” said Brown.

Supervisor Moke Simon, like Brown, approved of what staff proposed. “If we could go a little farther that would be great, but I think this is a great start.”

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said he went through Article 71 with a fine-toothed comb and suggested that one section that discourages siting on ridgetops should be reconsidered. He said it could cut down the number of towers because he said ridgetops are the best places to put them and are located away from residential areas.

“I see where you’re going with that,” said Brown, noting every site should be considered equally and that not every ridgetop is sacred. He said he can’t think of a more prominent ridgetop than Mount Konocti, where the county owns communication tower facilities.

Grant suggested that the board could direct that new facilities could be considered in a way so as not to create visual clutter. Brown agreed.

She said the FCC has spoken about such facilities a couple of times since 2008, when the last changes were made to Article 71. As a result, “Some of these areas of discretion truly no longer exist for you in the same way.” she said.

Sabatier also found in Article 71 a rule for a 150-foot maximum height for communication towers, with a requirement that the foundation must be set back at least 100 feet from the property line. He said he wanted the setback to match the tower height.

Grant said another jurisdiction did exactly that, making the setback match the height plus an additional 25 feet. “You’re looking at a fall zone in that case, and that’s a public safety issue.”

The board directed DelValle to take her proposed updates to the zoning ordinance first to the planning commission, which will then send it back to the board.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

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