LAKEPORT, Calif. – The man responsible for a June hit-and-run that injured a child has been sentenced to state prison.
Andrew James Gravlee, 28, of Nice, received a five-year state prison sentence in Lake County Superior Court from Judge Andrew Blum on Monday.
Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg said Gravlee reached an agreement to plead guilty to assault likely to produce great bodily injury and a special allegation of personal infliction of great bodily injury. Gravlee originally had been charged with hit and run and reckless driving with bodily injury.
On June 26, Gravlee drove a 2015 GMC U-Haul pickup that hit a 2002 Honda Accord parked on the side of Highway 20 in Lucerne, as Lake County News has reported.
The crash caused the Honda to roll forward and hit a girl who was standing in front of the vehicle. Authorities said that the crash broke both of her legs and left her with lacerations.
Borg said that, after the wreck, witnesses saw Gravlee get out of the truck and look at the girl before he got back in the pickup and fled the scene. The injured girl later was flown by air ambulance to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.
The California Highway Patrol would conduct an extensive search by ground and with the aid of an agency helicopter for Redding before finding the pickup – loaded with appliances and furniture – later that day in the hills north of Lucerne.
The CHP said its officers would develop information that led them to conclude Gravlee was a person of interest in the crash.
Gravlee was arrested the following day after an alert CHP officer encountered him riding as the passenger in a vehicle that the officer had pulled over during a routine enforcement stop.
On Monday, the injured girl's grandmother gave a “pretty intense” victim impact statement to the court in which she recounted what her granddaughter has endured as a result of the crash, Borg said.
Borg said the grandmother explained that the girl has undergone surgery to repair a compound fracture, has suffered scarring about which she is self-conscious, and appears to be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and agoraphobia.
Ultimately, despite what the family has endured, Borg said the girl's grandmother indicated that she has forgiven Gravlee.
Borg said Gravlee had a history of criminal violations primarily committed in Washington state, including a felony trafficking conviction. At the time of the June crash he was on felony probation.
Until this case, Gravlee had no strikes. However, Borg said the special allegation of personal infliction of great bodily injury makes the main charge of assault likely to produce great bodily injury a violent felony and therefore a strike.
Gravlee must serve 85 percent of the five-year prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole, Borg said.
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.
The upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holiday season will see record-breaking travelers in California. The traveling period is defined as Friday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Jan. 2.
According to the latest travel survey from AAA Northern California, more than 12.4 million state residents will celebrate the end-of-year festivities with an excursion out of town, representing a 1.8 percent increase from last year.
“More Californians will travel to celebrate the holidays than ever before,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “Rising incomes and a desire to gather with family and friends should make this the most traveled holiday season ever recorded.”
AAA estimates approximately 10.9 million Californians traveling during Christmas and New Year’s will choose to drive to their holiday destinations, representing a 1.7 percent increase compared to last year.
The air travel industry will experience an increase of 4.8 percent over last year, as more than one million Californians are expected to fly.
More than 400,000 state residents are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as boats or trains. This represents a decrease of 1.3 percent compared to last year.
Nationally, AAA projects more than 103 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the holiday festivities. That’s a 1.5 percent increase compared to last year.
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes are six percent lower this year, falling to an average of $204 per round trip ticket for the top U.S. air routes.
Rates for AAA Two and Three Diamond Rated lodgings are expected to increase 7 percent, with travelers spending an average of $128 and $160 per night, respectively. Daily car rental rates will average $66, slightly lower than last year’s rates.
According to www.AAA.com vacation bookings, mostly warm weather destinations top the list of most popular holiday destinations:
· Las Vegas; · Orlando; · New York City; · San Diego; · Anaheim, California.
This holiday season, millions of travelers could be easy targets for thieves and scam artists.
AAA advises all travelers to broaden their peripheral vision while on vacation and always remain diligent about their personal security and surroundings.
AAA travel theft and safety tips:
· Enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): By enrolling in this program U.S. citizens have easy access to U.S. embassies or nearby consulates to contact in case of an emergency. · Always be aware of your things on your person or left behind you. Whenever leaving a hotel, your car or home, tap your pockets to double check that phone, keys, wallet are there. When in travel mode, always add in passport and ticket. · Separate your sources of cash: If all your sources of money are in your wallet and it gets stolen, it will be difficult to access any funds if in a foreign country. Credit cards have a system set up to send you emergency cash when your card is stolen. Make sure to carry your credit card company’s international phone numbers to call to report theft. Wear a money belt with some cash under clothing and keep extra cash and credit cards safely behind in a hotel room safety lock box. · Scan and photocopy your travel documents: Should your credit cards get stolen, the first thing to do is cancel your cards and file a police report. Having a scanned driver’s license, passport and travel documents will speed up the re-application procedure for new credit cards and allows you access to online details relevant to your car rental, hotel reservations or flight itinerary. · Buy travel insurance: Most travel insurance providers offer reimbursements for travel interruption, lost luggage, medical evacuation and other services. Inquire from your provider to make sure you are covered for any other travel emergencies you might need. · Share travel plans and itineraries with family and friends: When traveling alone, make sure someone has copies of your itinerary, and check in with them while on the road. Make sure to let a friend or family member be aware of your movements, or ideally have a contact in the same city who can help in case of an emergency. · If traveling overseas, be respectful of local customs: The best way to bring unsolicited attention to yourself is by being unaware of local ways and behaving inappropriately. Study up on the area you are visiting and be informed about local greetings, and what behavior and dress code is considered appropriate when visiting religious, government or tourist sites. · Walk facing the traffic or on a part of the sidewalk that gives you maximum visibility: Motorbikes zooming past you can snatch your purse or smartphone right from out of your hands and then drive off. Avoid flaunting your possessions; keep them out of sight.
AAA projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA earlier this year as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.
AAA Travel is the nation’s largest travel organization. AAA Travel offers trips, cruises, tours, and vacation packages throughout the world. Call 888-937-5523 for more information or visit us at your local AAA Travel office or online at www.aaa.com/travel .
The California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Pest Exclusion Branch is announcing six vacancies on the Nursery Advisory Board.
The board is composed of 12 voting members, each representing an establishment with a valid California License to Sell Nursery Stock.
No two members shall represent the same organization. Members will represent a wide spectrum of the nursery industry, and the board will be geographically representative of the nursery industry in California.
The term of office for board members is four years. Members typically meet twice per year, but can meet more frequently if needed. The members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources.
In addition, the board includes up to nine non-voting ex officio members from the County Agricultural Commissioner and Sealers Association, the University of California, and groups affiliated with the nursery industry.
The mission of the Nursery Advisory Board is to grow and maintain a strong relationship between CDFA and the nursery industry in order to secure the industry’s future.
The board facilitates communication between state and federal regulators and the nursery industry, and it advises CDFA’s Nursery Services Program on policies, fees, and other issues concerning nurseries and nursery stock.
Individuals interested in being considered for this Board appointment should send a brief resumé to Joshua Kress by Jan. 6, 2017 at California Department of Food and Agriculture Pest Exclusion Branch, Attention: Joshua Kress, 1220 N St., Room 344, Sacramento, CA 95814.
For additional information, you may contact the Nursery Services Program at 916-654-0435.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – During its last meeting of 2016, the Middletown Area Town Hall heard from the new District 1 supervisor-elect, got updates on projects and took nominations for its 2017 board.
The meeting took place Dec. 8 at the Middletown Community Center.
Shortly after the start of the meeting, MATH Chair Fletcher Thornton offered his congratulations to Jose “Moke” Simon III, who won the District 1 supervisorial seat in the November election. The final results were confirmed by the county's elections office two days before the meeting.
In addition to being grateful to those who supported him, Simon said he wants to earn the respect of people who didn't cast their vote for him.
“I am proud to be standing where I am today,” said Simon, who promised to work as hard as possible to rebuild the south county in the wake of the wildland fires and to develop it into the jewel it can be.
He offered kind words to the three people who ran against him, including Voris Brumfield and Jim Ryan, who were eliminated in the June primary, and Monica Rosenthal, who ran a close race with Simon in the runoff.
Simon said that the south county's rebuilding is his No. 1 priority.
To Jim Comstock, the retiring District 1 supervisor who he will succeed when he's sworn in next month, Simon said it's an honor to step into his shoes.
“I'm going to be bugging you all the time for advice,” Simon promised Comstock.
Simon said he'll steer his own course and is ready to roll forward.
In other business, MATH Board member Linda Diehl-Darms gave a brief update on her visit to the Cobb Area Council, a new municipal advisory council that was formed earlier this year.
There has been discussion at previous meetings about changing MATH's boundaries to exclude the area now covered by the Cobb group. However, Diehl-Darms said the Cobb council's chair told her that he had spoken to Thornton and that it was not necessary at this time to consider boundary changes.
Diehl-Darms said she subsequently sent out an email to the recently formed bylaws committee that there isn't a problem with boundaries overlapping and that no boundary changes are to be done at this time.
Thornton, however, said there is still a need for the committee to meet to clean up MATH's bylaws, work he expected to have the group start working on soon.
Also at the Dec. 8 meeting, Danielle Matthews Seperas of Calpine gave MATH an update on the community garden project on a Calpine-owned lot next to its Middletown Geothermal Visitor Center.
She said a large tree that sits on the lot, the canopy of which covers part of the proposed garden area, was damaged in the Valley fire. An arborist who examined it proposed that it be taken down, and Calpine's legal department won't OK the garden moving forward until the tree is removed.
The tree was scheduled to be removed the middle of this month, but after a woman at the meeting said the tree should be left in place, Seperas agreed to push back the date of the tree removal.
The group's Dec. 8 meeting also included brief updates on a safety improvement project on a portion of Highway 175 outside of Middletown and an area plan revision.
MATH also took nominations for its 2017 board. Marlene Elder was the only nomination at the meeting, while Thornton and Lisa Kaplan had been nominated at the November meeting.
Thornton said the board election will take place in January when MATH holds its first meeting of the new year.
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.
Boats leaving Pyramid Lake and Castaic Lake are subject to restrictions to help prevent the spread of quagga mussels, which were discovered last week in a tunnel that connects the two Los Angeles County lakes, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced Thursday.
Effective Thursday, boats are subject to inspection as they leave Pyramid Lake and Castaic Lake and Castaic’s Lower Lake Lagoon.
Boats will be inspected by the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department to ensure all water is drained from outboards, bilges, live-wells and any other areas where water may have collected.
As with boating anywhere in California, it is advised that boaters contact the destination waterbody so they are informed of any inspection requirements before their arrival. As a general practice, boats and equipment should be cleaned, drained and dried after every use to prevent spreading invasive species.
Boats leaving Pyramid and Castaic lakes will not be granted a “clean boat” tag, which normally is attached to boats upon departure. The tag is an indicator that the boat has only been used in mussel-free lakes and may not require inspection prior to entering other bodies of water, depending upon a lake’s specific launching requirements.
Additionally, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) urges other waterbody managers with quagga prevention programs to consider Pyramid Lake, Elderberry Forebay, Castaic Lake and Castaic Lagoon as infested waters. Watercraft originating from these waterbodies should be considered high-risk and managed accordingly.
The quagga mussel is a small, non-native freshwater mollusk that DWR had successfully prevented from infesting the State Water Project since the species was first discovered in California in 2007. The mussels, native to the Ukraine, pose an ecological threat to California’s native species and can colonize hard surfaces, clogging water intakes, screens and pipes.
DWR found six adult mussels on December 8 during an inspection of the Angeles Tunnel, which connects Pyramid Lake to the Elderberry Forebay and nearby Castaic Lake. CDFW has concluded Pyramid Lake is infested and both Elderberry Forebay and Castaic Lake are presumed infested.
DWR has found no evidence of mussel reproduction, and no larval or “veliger” stage mussels have been found in Pyramid Lake or Castaic Lake during DWR’s routine monthly veliger detection monitoring. No young sub-adult mussels were found in the tunnel, and while no mussels have been found in Castaic Lake, infestation there is presumed. Both lakes are actively monitored each month.
CDFW has permitted black bass tournaments in Castaic and Pyramid lakes beginning in January. At this time, these tournaments will proceed. When tournament permits are issued, special conditions are required of the permittee, including boat inspections before entering new waterbodies. The boating restrictions above will be required for all tournament participants.
In addition, tournament organizations and participants must comply with all federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances pertaining to the spread of quagga mussels. These laws include additional responsibility for the tournament organizer and participants to properly clean, drain and dry boats before and after the tournament, and educational briefings and literature must be provided to all participants.
CDFW has authority to take enforcement action for any violation of FGC section 2301 related to the transportation of quagga mussels.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Vincent Minelli’s 1958 musical, “Gigi,” screens at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport on Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 1 and 6 p.m.
Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan and Maurice Chevalier star in this charming love story shot in Paris.
Winner of nine Oscars including best picture and with music and lyrics by Lerner & Loewe, the film is notable for sumptuous sets, high fashion costumes and memorable songs such as “Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” “The Night They Invented Champagne,” “I Remember It Well,” and of course, the title song, “Gigi.”
The movie is sponsored by Kathy Jansen. It's rated G, with run time of 1 hour 56 minutes.
Entry to the film is by donation.
The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, 707-263-0577, www.soperreesetheatre.com .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office will conduct a driving under the influence and driver's license safety checkpoint on Saturday, Dec. 17.
The checkpoint will occur somewhere within the unincorporated area of Lake County.
The CHP said its goal is to ensure the safe passage of each and every motorist by targeting roads where there is a high frequency of intoxicated or unlicensed drivers.
The sobriety/driver's license checkpoint is a proven effective tool for achieving this goal and is designed to augment existing patrol operations, the agency said.
Vehicles will be checked for drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or driving unlicensed, the CHP said.
The CHP said it wants to send a clear message to those individuals who consider driving and mixing alcohol or drugs, or driving when unlicensed, that they will be caught and their vehicle will be towed away.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clayton fire started on Aug. 13. By the time the fire was contained, it had burned a total of 3,929 acres and has destroyed 300 buildings.
During those long days, there were hundreds of families displaced. If the Valley fire taught the Clayton fire victims anything, it was to take their animals with them when the evacuated.
Taking the animals brought the new problem; what to do with the animals when you don’t have a place for yourself?
Lake County Animal Care and Control's Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection team and the SPCA of Lake County opened the SPCA facility and welcomed in the evacuated pets.
In addition, the SPCA of Lake County partnered with Orphan Dog Ranch Rescue to provide a place for people to bring donations of pet supplies and a place for people in need to get pet supplies.
The tiny project to provide for pets with the support of the community soon needed a location in Lower Lake.
The people most affected by the fire needed easier access to the pet supplies. It was with the help of Century 21 North Bay Alliance in Lower Lake that Orphan Dog Ranch Rescue, SPCA of Lake County and Jameson Rescue Ranch could start the Pet Pantry in a donated space next to the Century 21 North Bay Alliance office.
The Pet Pantry was open for just over 60 days. During that time, Orphan Dog, SPCA and JARR served hundreds of dogs and cats, along with many rabbits, birds, hamsters, rats, ducks and a couple of turtles.
Orphan Dog, the SPCA and JARR are all proud of the work they did in those 60ish days. They met so many in the community and got a sense of the need there.
They were also able to let the community know about the free spay and neuter programs – the Clearlake Pet Project administered through the SPCA of Lake County and FIX Lake County administered through Orphan Dog.
“Century 21 NorthBay Alliance is a proud sponsor of many local organizations in Lake County,” said Jeff Collaso, manager/owner of the Century 21 office.
The Pet Pantry is so grateful to Century 21 for their support. They also want to thank the community, businesses, and other rescue groups for their support during this difficult time. The donations made a huge difference to a lot of pet families.
Anyone needing help to care for their pets should contact the SPCA of Lake County at 707-279-1400. A limited Pet Pantry will be available during spay/neuter and immunization clinics. The SPCA of Lake County is also taking donations to continue the program on a limited basis.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The heavy rain falling across Lake County has resulted in a series of temporary and long-term roadway closures, with the National Weather Service issuing a flood watch on Thursday.
Forecasters said a Pacific storm system – which already has drenched Lake County and much of Northern California – is expected to bring more rain through Thursday night.
As a result, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch through 4 a.m. Friday for parts of interior Northern California including Lake County.
Heavy rain is expected to continue through the night before tapering off Friday, with conditions expected to be clear in Lake County through the middle of next week.
National Weather Service rainfall observations for the 24-hour period through 2 p.m. Thursday showed large totals, with the Cobb and Middletown areas reporting the most rain.
Totals, in inches, are as follows:
– Bear Canyon/Middletown: 4.51. – Boggs Mountain: 3.28. – Cobb: 4.67. – Hidden Valley Lake: 1.89. – High Glade Lookout (north of Upper Lake): 3.63. – Indian Valley Reservoir: 1.10. – Jerusalem Grade/Middletown: 3.4. – Kelseyville: 1.97. – Lyons Valley (west of Lakeport): 2.13. – Lower Lake: 1.59. – Mt. Konocti: 1.32. – Upper Lake: 2.0. – Whispering Pines: 3.52.
The rain that already has fallen across the county has impacted some area roadways.
The Lake County Public Works Department said that, effective immediately Hill road between Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Lakeshore Boulevard, is closed to all traffic due to continuing debris flows.
The agency said road crews had begun working on the closure on Tuesday after the hillside above the roadway had begun to slip again.
“As long as it's raining and the ground is moving, we can't keep up with the flow to keep it cleared off,” said staffer Lori Price, who also handles the agency's Facebook page, which posts updates of road conditions.
Public Works on Thursday didn't have any estimate as to when that portion of Hill Road would be reopened.
Above the road is Lakeside Heights, the subdivision that's been dealing with a severe landslide for three and a half years.
Another county road closure necessitated by weather conditions is Bell Hill Road at the Adobe Creek low water crossing, which was closed on Thursday due to water flowing over the roadway, according to Lake County Public Works.
As for more immediate and shorter-term closures, the California Highway Patrol reported that the roadway was flooded at Scotts Valley Road and Eickhoff Road in the north Lakeport area, with roadway flooding also reported at Highway 29 and Tule Lake Road near Upper Lake.
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.
Still need to buy holiday flights or find a room for New Year’s Eve?
If you search online, it’s likely that some of the first results will be from online travel agencies and third party booking sites. They may claim that they offer the best deals, and that it’s hassle-free.
Booking your flight or hotel room online through a third party, not the hotel or airline itself, may have advantages. However, there are also risks involved.
Although there are many legitimate online booking sites, like those that are Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited, there are also some bad actors out there that may try to take advantage of travelers.
So far in 2016, consumers nationwide have filed 2,284 complaints with BBB about online travel agencies. This is a 28-percent increase from last year. Nearly 1,800 complaints had been filed by this point in 2015.
The leading cause for complaints are issues with guarantees, followed closely by problems with refunds/exchanges and poor customer service.
Travel and vacation scams are also a problem. So far in 2016, around 260 have been reported to BBB Scam Tracker – with a median loss of $890. Consumers have reported booking hotels through online third party sites and discovering upon arrival that the hotel simply did not exist.
Scammers may also attempt to phish consumers by creating fake hotel websites imitating legitimate brands in an attempt to steal personal and financial information.
Follow these seven tips from your BBB to protect yourself when booking a trip online:
• Do your research. The first step when booking through an online site is to check www.bbb.org . When you visit a company’s BBB Business Profile, you can see its rating, complaint history and reviews from past customers. If you’re looking for a booking site to use, check out the BBB Accredited Business Directory for trustworthy businesses that are committed to BBB’s Standards for Trust. Reading about a business online can help you avoid issues that others have dealt with already. If you see the BBB Seal on a website, you should still check that it links back to the company’s BBB Business Profile. Just as it’s easy to steal hotel pictures from a legitimate website, it’s also possible for scammers to steal the BBB Seal.
• Read the fine print. When booking through a third party site, it’s vital that you read the fine print. Consumers are often surprised by unexpected fees and angry about poor policies that were actually stated in the fine print. Make sure to read the cancellation and exchange policies, and be on the lookout for “booking fees” and other charges. It’s also important to check the contact information. Consider it a red flag if you can only contact the business through email and there’s no listed phone number.
• Double check the URL. Rogue sites may use URLs that are very similar to legitimate hotel, airline or booking site’s URLs. Double check the URL, hover your mouse over links and make sure the spelling and grammar is correct. This can help you avoid getting scammed.
• Look for a secure connection. A secure connection is especially important when you’re entering personal and financial information. Look for the “https:”, where the “s” stands for “secure”, and other trust marks. The site should have a clear privacy policy as well. At every point in the online process, you should know who is getting your credit card information.
• Use a credit card. In case something does go wrong, it’s best to use a credit card. A credit card may offer more protection than a debit or prepaid card.
• Watch out for too-good-to-be-true deals. You may stumble across a third party booking site offering unbelievably low prices. Be careful – this may be a sign that something fishy is going on. Don’t click on online ads or links in unsolicited emails advertising great deals. It may be phishing.
• Call the company directly. To be extra safe, call the hotel or airline directly to confirm your reservation. You can make sure that the third party site properly booked your accommodations, and also alert the company about any special needs or specific requests you may have.”
Rebecca Harpster works for the Better Business Bureau serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.
COBB, Calif. – After its popular debut last year, the “Winter Wonderland” event on Cobb Mountain will return this holiday season.
The free event will on Friday, Dec. 16, at Blackrock Golf Course, 16451 Golf Road in Cobb.
It will run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Monday, Dec. 19.
There will be a zip line and other activities available for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Visit Santa’s Workshop for a photo with Santa Claus from noon to 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. each day.
This event is sponsored by Cobb Community Investment Committee and Funded by Calpine at The Geysers. For more information or volunteer inquiries, please call 707-987-4270 or visit www.facebook.com/WinterWonderlandCobb .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A man released in February after serving 18 years in state prison for a crime he didn't commit has died.
Luther Ed Jones Jr., 71, died early on the morning of Dec. 6, according to his attorney, Angela Carter.
Jones was freed in February at the order of Lake County Superior Court Judge Andrew Blum after evidence was brought forward by District Attorney Don Anderson that exonerated Jones, who had been convicted in 1998 of molesting his ex-girlfriend's 10-year-old daughter, as Lake County News has reported.
The young woman who had been the alleged victim in the case contacted the District Attorney's Office on Feb. 9 to say that her mother – who at the time the case arose was locked in a custody battle with Jones over a young child they had together – had coerced her into making the molestation accusation against Jones.
Anderson sent his staff to interview the young woman, who now lives outside of Lake County, and found her credible. He followed up by filing a writ of habeas corpus for Jones, working with Carter to bring the matter before the court.
During a hearing on Feb. 16, just one week after the young woman had come forward, Judge Blum considered the writ, spoke to Anderson, his staff and to Carter, and surprised everyone by bypassing additional hearings and ordering Jones to be immediately released.
By that point, Jones had served 18 years of the 27-year prison sentence he had received at the end of his second trial in 1998. The first trial had ended after the jury deadlocked.
Both Anderson and Carter have praised Blum's handling of the case and noted that he quickly ended what could have been an unnecessarily lengthy process.
“He cuts right to the chase,” said Anderson, who called Blum “conscientious” in making sure justice was – at last – done in Jones' case.
Blum also had previously helped expedite the release of a man who had been held for several months in the Lake County Jail after being incorrectly identified by a witness in a robbery, Anderson said.
Jones was released by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation the day after Blum ordered him freed.
However, in the days and months to come, Jones and his family would encounter one challenge after another, from what to do about his rapidly failing health to seeking compensation for his wrongful imprisonment.
Jones ultimately received $936,880 from the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board for being wrongfully imprisoned for 6,692 days from Oct. 22, 1997, until Feb. 17, 2016. The time frame on that settlement began at the time of his arrest and included time he spent in the Lake County Jail.
Jones was repeatedly hospitalized after his February release, and there were concerns that he would die before the compensation case was awarded. Carter said would have meant that the compensation process would have ended, and Jones' family wouldn't have been able to pursue it.
The Northern California Innocence Project assisted with the claim to the state, and Sen. Mike McGuire and then-Assemblyman Bill Dodd also joined the effort by expediting the monetary award to Jones by having it included in SB 1186, a larger victim compensation bill authored by state Sen. Ricardo Lara.
The bill was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on July 1, as Lake County News has reported.
Anderson, in responding to Jones' death, said this week that he was glad that his office was able to help Jones regain his freedom.
He said he had never actually met Jones in person. “I was thinking about it but never got out there,” he said, adding that every time he had wanted to try to set up a meeting, Jones was back in the hospital.
Anderson is now in his second term as district attorney, so he was not leading the District Attorney's Office at the time of Jones' conviction. However, he acknowledged that it was the District Attorney's Office that caused the case to be brought against Jones.
“Our mission is not only to prove someone guilty but prove them innocent when they are,” Anderson said.
In the months since the Jones case came before him, Anderson has taken other actions to address the problem of perjury in the courts.
That includes forming a perjury investigation unit which so far has made several arrests in an effort to stop people from lying to the courts and creating the kind of damage to people like Jones suffered.
Anderson has not brought charges against Jones' ex-girlfriend, whose daughter had made the allegations against him. He had told Lake County News in previous interviews that trying to pursue that case likely wouldn't succeed due to the time that has elapsed.
Carter said she has been impressed with how the Jones family – including his seven children – came together to take care of their father.
His son, Ko'Fawn Jones, who lost his home in the Valley fire, left his job to provide full-time care for his ailing dad, she said.
And there was the effort to catch up on those two decades of lost time, with Jones getting to know his grandchildren and being finally able to eat food he enjoyed, watch things on TV that he liked and be in the company of family from the time he was released until the time he died, Carter said.
“I think it's a blessing that Luther was able to die surrounded by family instead of the cold, harsh environment of prison health care. I also believe that his family's commitment to his care and comfort extended his life. When he was released from prison and returned to his family, he was told that he had very little time to live,” Carter said.
“He will live on as an example of the effects of injustice and an inspiration to those of us who have an interest in righting wrongs and making sure that the justice system doesn't turn innocent people into its victims,” she said.
Carter added, “I'm grateful that Luther and his family came into my life. All of us, every single one of us, involved in the criminal law system need to be vigilant, watchful and careful that we don't unintentionally cause anyone to suffer the same fate as Luther.”
A funeral service for Jones is tentatively scheduled for Saturday morning at Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel, 16140 Main St. in Lower Lake. Final details are still pending, the mortuary reported.
The video above features an interview with Jones in February, just a few weeks after his release.
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.