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Found Guilty by Jury Added on: 2010-09-01 16:27:19
TO:Mendocino County NEWS MEDIA
FROM:Meredith Lintott, District Attorney
DATE: September 1, 2010
DEFENDANT'S NAME: Jerome Montgomery, 36, Ukiah
CASE NO: SCUK-CRCR-10-12356
JUDGE: HONORABLE RONALD BROWN
PROSECUTOR: Steve Jackson, 463-5421
DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Farris Purviance, Deputy Public Defender

FOUND GUILTY BY JURY: Felony violation of Penal Code Section 136.1(b)(2)/136.1(c)(1)--Preventing or Dissuading a Victim from Testifying or Assisting in the Prosecution by Means of Threat of Force or Fear

The jury found true that Montgomery had been convicted and sent to prison by the courts in Solano County for felony Stalking, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Burglary, Attempted Car-Jacking, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. These prior prison terms add a possible 5 years to Montgomery's sentence.

The jury's finding that Montgomery has an Attempted Car-Jacking conviction doubles his sentence under the Three Strikes Law in California.

SUMMARY: On April 25, 2010, Mendocino County Sheriff deputies were dispatched to a domestic violence call where Montgomery's wife was bruised and alleging that Montgomery had beaten her and locked her out of their house. Montgomery was arrested and booked into the county jail on domestic violence charges and a hold by parole.

Based on subsequent investigation by the Mendocino County District Attorneys Office, Montgomery was found to have placed repeated calls to his wife while he was in custody from the Mendocino County Jail.

These calls threatened his wife with force if she did not recant her statement to Montgomery's parole agent about the DV incident. Montgomery is currently on parole for a felony stalking conviction out of Solano County. Montgomery has five prior felonies, including two prior strikes for Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Attempted Car-jacking.

On August 17, 2010, after a two-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on the single count in 25 minutes. Montgomery then had a trial on his prior convictions, which took the jury approximately 30 minutes to find true.

Sentence: Montgomery's faces up to 13 years in the California Department of Corrections based on the dissuasion and the special allegations regarding his prior criminal history. Sentencing is set for September 15, 2010, 9:00 a.m. in Department B. The Probation Department will provide a sentencing recommendation to Judge Brown.
Willits Bypass Driven Off-course Added on: 2010-08-31 19:14:12
Price: 29.95
The Army Corp of Engineers throws the Willits Bypass project off-track for at least two years. Phil Dow, MCOG Executive Director gives his insight.
Marijuana Eradication - August Added on: 2010-08-30 13:08:03
During the past two weeks COMMET team members assisted by the state CAMP team conducted Marijuana eradication operations in the listed areas of Mendocino County.

08/19/2010 COMMET located and eradicated 20,675 Marijuana Plants from a series of gardens in the Yorkville area. The gardens were in a remote location and evidence indicated the suspects were living in the gardens.
08/25/2010 a raid was conducted in the dark gulch area of Comptche. 13,954 Marijuana Plants were eradicated with one shotgun being located in a camp.
08/26/2010 9980 Marijuana Plants were located on BLM land in the area below the Red Mountain campground.
08/27/2010 11,871 Marijuana Plants were seized in the Fish Rock Road area of Gualala.

No suspects were located during the operations.

COMMET eradication figures for 2010 counting the listed operations are

542,388 plants eradicated from sites
50 arrests
66 weapons seized
594 pounds of processed Marijuana

Approved By: Kurt Smallcomb
County Museum and Water Agency -All positions to be cut Added on: 2010-08-27 22:56:13
Allison Glassey and Roland Sanford's positions are being recommended for removal with all other current Museum and Water Agency staff at the County BOS budget hearings coming up next week.
Man stabs self outside Mental Health Added on: 2010-08-26 16:32:27
Price: 29.95

Thursday afternoon emergency personnel responded to a call about a man wielding a knife in front of the Mental Health Office, 860 No. Bush St. When they arrived they discovered that the man had already stabbed himself in the stomach. No explanation was was available at the time as to the man's mental state nor why he stabbed himself. The man was treated and airlifted to Santa Rosa.
Home Invasion Robbery Added on: 2010-08-24 12:37:13
On 08-20-10 at 1400 hours MCSO deputies were contacted by officers from the Cahto Tribal Police Department and advised of an, unreported, home invasion robbery.
MCSO Deputies proceeded to the Laytonville Reservation where they interviewed the victims. The victims reported that on 08-19-10 at 2230 hours a women known to them, Shawntel Hoaglen, and an unknown Native American male adult, entered into their residence through an open front door.
Hoaglen and her accomplice immediately began demanding money. Hoaglen punched a female victim in the face, causing injury, after learning there was no money inside the residence. Hoaglen's male accomplice brandished a small pocket knife and threatened to "stick" the male victim if he did not provide him with money or valuables.
Hoaglen and her accomplice spent approximately an hour inside the residence, terrorizing the victims, and looking for valuables. Hoaglen and her accomplice eventually forced the male victim to load a television and other electronics into a getaway car that they had parked in front of the residence.
During their investigation, deputies obtained items of evidence that proved Hoaglen's involvement. Evidence was also located that will aid in identifying Hoaglen's accomplice.
Deputies and Tribal Police Officer's located Hoaglen hiding inside of a residence and took her into custody without incident. Tribal Police Officers recovered the stolen property in a shed on the property where Hoaglen was staying.
Hoaglen's accomplice is still outstanding. Anyone with knowledge of his identity or whereabouts should contact Deputy Wyant at 463-4086.Approved By: Kurt Smallcomb
In-Laws to Out-Laws Added on: 2010-08-24 10:55:28
On 08-20-10 MCSO was advised of an altercation, which took place on 8-18-10, involving a Stephan Preissler and the father of Preissler's fiance.
The victim had been visiting his daughter at the residence she shared with Preissler when an argument took place about Preissler's wedding plans. Preissler became enraged, grabbed a baseball bat, and held it to the victims temple. Preissler threatened to strike the victim in the head with the bat and also threatened to stab the victim with a knife.
The victim left the residence out of fear for his safety. On 08-21-10 an MCSO Deputy located Preissler and placed him under arrest. Preissler was also served with an emergency protective order, which prevented him from having any contact with the victim.
Preissler was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he was booked for violation of 422 PC of the California Penal Code.

Approved By: Kurt Smallcomb
UPDATE: Death Investigation Added on: 2010-08-20 09:12:55
Report Number: cor-10-190
Coroner Number: N/A
Incident: Death Investigation
Location: 3000 Branscomb Road Laytonville,California
Date: 8-18-2010 Time: 0810

On 8-19-2010 the decedent involved in the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office shooting incident was identified as Mariano Lopez Fernandez 31 years of age.

According to information obtained by the Mendocino County Coroners Office was Decedent Fernandez had been living in Boonville, but was transient somewhere in Laytonville growing marijuana.

A forensic autopsy was conducted on 8-19-2010. The final results of that autopsy will be released upon completion of all medical and toxicology testing.

Approved By: Kurt Smallcomb
UPDATE: Cultivation and Sales of Marijuana and other charges Added on: 2010-08-19 14:38:02
Suspects:
Suspect 1:
Name: Gerald Stephenson
Age: 52
Address:
City/State: Laytonville,Ca

Suspect 2:
Name: Kelly Dutra
Age: 41
Address:
City/State: Laytonville,Ca

Suspect 3:
Name: David Higgs
Age: 50
Address:
City/State: Laytonville,Ca

Suspect 4:
Name: Delfino Contreras
Age: 22
Address:
City/State: Transient

On 8-18-2010 at approximately 0600 the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office Marijuana Eradication Unit along with Patrol Deputies and Detectives were assisted by The Major Crimes Task Force, Mendocino County Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Mendocino County Probation, Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Agents, Alcohol,Tobacco and Fireams Agents and Forest Service Agents served a search warrant at the listed address on Branscomb Road just West of Laytonville.

The search warrant was for a large Marijuana cultivation operation involving armed guards and ex felons.

On arrival Law Enforcement conducted several residential searches on the large parcel of property. Several marijuana plants were seized along with firearms and other narcotic paraphernalia.

At the residential site the following subjects were located and arrested. Suspect Stephenson was arrested for 12021(a)PC-Possession of a firearm by an ex felon, 12316(B)(1)PC-Possession of ammunition by an ex-felon, 11358 and 11359HandS-Cultivation and Sales of Marijuana. Suspect Higgs was arrested for 11377aHandS-Possession of a Controlled Substance, 12280(b)PC-Possession of an assault rifle, 12090PC-Tampering with a firearm serial number. Suspect Dutra was arrested for 11358 and 11359HandS-Cultivation and sales of Marijuana. Suspect Delfino Contreras was arrested for 1325USC ( immigration violation). The listed suspects were transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail on their listed charges.

Law enforcement then proceeded to two large Marijuana grows which were identified as part of the same investigation. At the upper site officers encountered numerous armed suspects tending to the garden. A total of 426 growing Marijuana Plants were located and eradicated at this location. Several firearms and ammunition were further recovered. At this location an officer involved shooting took place and one of the armed guards was shot and killed by deputy sheriffs The Mendocino County District Attorney along with the California Department of Justice are investigating this incident.

Law Enforcement were investigating a lower site at approximately the same time as the upper site and a firefight ensued. There was no evidence located which revealed anyone was shot or injured during this armed encounter. The Mendocino County District Attorney and the California Department of Justice are investigating. At this site a total of 1980 Marijuana Plants were eradicated along with the recovery of a firearm and ammunition.

The investigation is continuing.

Approved By: Kurt Smallcomb
Another marijuana suspect killed Added on: 2010-08-18 15:27:23
At approximately 7:00am the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, along with numerous other law enforcement agencies were serving a search warrant in an area approximately three miles west of Laytonville. As a team of law enforcement officers entered a marijuana garden, a subject appeared and displayed a rifle. The subject was shot by law enforcement officers and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Mendocino DA and the California DOJ will be the lead agencies in this investigation.

UVTV will be streaming the press conference LIVE from Sheriff Allman @ 4:30pm today.