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Woman who had worked for Social Services and sheriff's office arrested for welfare fraud
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Hidden Valley Lake woman was arrested this week on charges that she fraudulently obtained tens of thousands of dollars in welfare benefits during a period of time in which she also was working for the county of Lake.
April Melissa Wilson, 38, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning and booked for felony grand theft, with bail set at $15,000. Jail records show she later posted the required portion of bail and was released.
Lake County Probation officials arrested Wilson, according to her booking records.
Probation is contracted with the Lake County Department of Social Services to conduct welfare fraud investigation services for programs including In-Home Supportive Services.
IHSS is one of the programs from which Wilson is accused of illegally receiving funds, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
In addition to IHSS, Hinchcliff said Wilson wrongfully obtained benefits from North Coast Opportunities' Rural Communities Child Care program.
North Coast Opportunities Web site explains that the Rural Communities Child Care program “provides childcare for low-income families and continuing education for childcare providers.” The program was established in 1975 and is funded through the California Department of Education's Child Development Division.
Hinchcliff said the case against Wilson – which originally was two separate cases – arrived at the District Attorney's Office in December and was just filed.
He said Wilson is charged with 21 counts involving grand theft, welfare fraud, perjury, and making false claims to a public board or officer over a period of time beginning in January 2011 and continuing through November 2015.
During that time, Wilson obtained $33,000 in welfare benefits to which she was not entitled, according to Hinchcliff.
Hinchcliff said there is a co-defendant in the case, Brian Noel Jones, 34, a handyman who also is from Hidden Valley Lake.
Jail records showed that Jones was arrested for grand theft on Tuesday, the same day as Wilson. He also was booked on $15,000 bail and later released.
Wilson's booking sheet lists her occupation as social worker. However, Lake County News was able to confirm that she is not working in that capacity for the county of Lake.
In response to a Public Records Act request from Lake County News, Lake County Human Resources Director Kathy Ferguson confirmed that Wilson is a former county employee.
The dates Ferguson gave for Wilson's employment correspond with the period of time during which Wilson is alleged to have perpetrated the welfare fraud.
Ferguson said Wilson was an office assistant in Social Services from October of 2012 to April of 2013, and began working as a correctional aide for the Lake County Sheriff's Office from June 2014 to April 2015.
In April 2015, she began working as a correctional officer, staying in that position just over a month, going back to the correctional aide position on May 18, 2015, and leaving the county's employment 10 days later, according to Ferguson.
Wilson's arrest records show she is tentatively scheduled for a May 3 court appearance.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Lakeport Police to receive traffic enforcement help from CHP
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department, currently dealing with low staffing levels, is getting some additional help from an allied agency.
The Lakeport Police Department and the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office have reached an agreement in which the CHP will handle traffic enforcement within the city on a limited basis.
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen announced the agreement to the Lakeport City Council at its Tuesday evening meeting.
Rasmussen was accompanied at the meeting by Lt. Hector Paredes, the commander for the CHP's Clear Lake Area office.
“As you know, we’re in short staffing times right now for various reasons,” said Rasmussen, who has been reaching out to various local law enforcement agencies to get assistance while staffing is low.
He said the CHP is willing to help.
Beginning on Wednesday – and continuing on a temporary basis for an undetermined amount of time – the CHP will handle traffic law enforcement in the city, which will help alleviate some of the load on Lakeport Police officers, according to Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said the CHP will be available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day of the week to respond to calls involving vehicle collisions, driving under the influence, reckless driving and related complaints.
He said CHP officers also will conduct traffic enforcement related to vehicle code violations.
Rasmussen thanked Paredes and the CHP for being willing to assist the Lakeport Police Department in difficult times.
Mayor Marc Spillman also thanked Paredes.
“We're always looking for ways to partner in our communities and serve our communities,” said Paredes.
He said the agreement is another opportunity for the CHP to serve Lakeport and its citizens.
Paredes, who has been in his post for close to a year and a half, said he has a great relationship with Rasmussen and his agency.
“We're looking forward to partnering and doing what we can to maintain public safety in the city,” Paredes said.
He said they will help with traffic law enforcement and anything that leads from that, including acting as backup to Lakeport Police officers on calls.
Councilman Martin Scheel said he had worked alongside Paredes during last year's wildland fires. “His staff was impeccable out on the mountain and within Lake County, in really what seemed like an insurmountable task during the fires and what had to happen up there.”
He added, “It would have been impossible to achieve what we did during the fires without the California Highway Patrol. I’m happy to have them here in the city of Lakeport.”
“It's a privilege to serve all of you,” Paredes said.
Rasmussen also thanked the Lake County Sheriff's Office, which regularly backs up Lakeport's officers, who also help back up the deputies in calls outside the city.
“We all have a vested interest in doing this together,” Rasmussen said.
Scheel said law enforcement in Lake County is a collective effort, with agencies working together.
The council thanked Paredes for his agency's assistance.
In February, the Lakeport City Council approved temporarily restoring a 12th officer position for the police department, as Lake County News has reported.
Rasmussen told Lake County News after the meeting that his department currently has seven officers on duty, with the equivalent of 2.5 other positions off on medical leave and the rest of the positions open.
He’s anticipating an upcoming resignation, and is currently recruiting for a new officer and preparing to finalize offers to two officer trainees whose police academy training will be paid for by the city.
Rasmussen said he had spoken to Paredes for a few weeks about receiving temporary assistance before reaching the informal, verbal agreement.
The partnership that Lakeport Police and the CHP are pursuing is different from what took place in the city of Clearlake during the 1990s, when the CHP had a formal agreement with the city to assist with all types of law enforcement activities, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said his department and the CHP will reevaluate the need for the agreement in three months.
He said he also is speaking with other law enforcement agencies in Lake County and beyond as he explores the possibility of contracting with one or more of them to cover shifts rather than having his officers work more overtime.
There are some agencies interested in offering those services, he said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Sheriff's office celebrates award of GED certificates to jail inmates
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Tuesday, two women earned their General Education Development Certificates after successfully completing the GED program while housed as inmates at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Shannon Flores and Jeanne Pizzagrani are the first two female students to earn diplomas since the GED program started in the jail approximately two years ago, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
The GED program is one of several programs implemented following criminal justice realignment to serve the needs of inmates who are serving increasingly longer multi-year sentences in the local jail.
Programs such as these are provided with the hope that inmates can acquire skills and qualifications to help them succeed upon their release from custody, and live a crime-free, productive life.
Hill Road Correctional Facility Capt. Greg Hosman said that providing inmates who lack a high school diploma with a High School Equivalency diploma helps them qualify for more jobs upon their release.
“The participants in this program feel a sense of pride and accomplishment, and they see that they are capable of meeting goals when they put their minds and efforts into the program,” said Capt. Hosman.
The classes were taught by Virginia Jordan and covered multiple subject areas including social studies, mathematics, spelling and science.
Students are eligible to take the California State High School Equivalency Test, or HiSet, upon completing the program. A successful student will be awarded a High School Equivalency diploma.
Sheriff Brian Martin expressed his pride for Flores and Pizzagrani for earning their diplomas. He encouraged the remaining participants in the program to continue their efforts.
“Possession of a High School Equivalency certificate opens up many doors that were previously closed for the people in this program,” Martin said. “Our hope is for offenders to be able remain free after serving their sentences, and become contributing members of society.”
Clearlake Police Explorer Program relaunched; interested students welcome to apply
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A program to foster community relationships with area youth and the Clearlake Police Department is being reactivated.
Lt. Tim Celli, the acting chief of the Clearlake Police Department, said the agency is relaunching its Explorer Program.
Celli said the program is designed to work with young people ages 14 to 21 who have an interest in the law enforcement field.
The program establishes guidelines and procedures so that members can participate in the ride-along program with police officers, according to Celli.
In addition, members can work with dispatchers, other law enforcement agencies, community members and organizations to develop skills and prepare them for the next step of their career path, Celli said.
The police explorer program is a nationally recognized career-based program that is a subsidiary through the Boys Scouts of America.
The Clearlake Police Department has had an Explorer Post in the past, Post No. 7244.
However, Celli said the post was placed on hold as some children who were involved in the program grew older and left the program. That, coupled with decreased staffing levels, made it extremely difficult to maintain and run the program.
Now that staffing levels are increasing, the department is seeking ways to increase services, Celli said.
“We believe working with our area youth is extremely beneficial,” Celli said. “Youth-based programs such as the police explorers can help provide guidance to them in making sound decisions, help them find avenues for participation in their community, as well as teach them about the successes and challenges facing law enforcement, and provide them tools for a successful career path.”
Officer Joseph Myers, who himself is an Eagle Scout, has accepted the challenge of becoming the Clearlake Police Explorer advisor, Celli said.
Celli said Myers currently is looking for children who want to participate in the program. He also is working with the department's school resource officer to help identify young people who might be interested in joining the post.
If you know of someone who is at least 14 years of age, has a grade point of average of at least 2.0 and who wants to take part in this exciting opportunity, call Officer Joseph Myers at 707-994-8251, Extension 505.
