How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKEPORT, Calif. – The trial of two Clearlake Oaks men accused of fatally shooting a child and wounding five others last summer hit another delay on Thursday morning as the result of new information in the case.
Following a delay of more than an hour due to a late juror, visiting Yolo County Judge Doris Shockley convened the trial of Paul William Braden, 22, and Orlando Joseph Lopez, 24, at about 10:15 a.m.
The two men are accused of shooting into a group of people in Clearlake on the night of June 18, 2011, killing 4-year-old Skyler Rapp and wounding his mother, stepfather and other family members and friends.
Jurors would hear no testimony Thursday morning.
Shockley immediately announced that she would be dismissing jurors for the day.
“Literally this morning some information has come to light that must be investigated before we can continue the case,” Shockley said.
Just what that information was not disclosed by the court on Thursday.
Shockley ordered the jurors to be prepared to return on Friday, although testimony may not continue until next week, when only one day of proceedings is expected due to the Memorial Day holiday and a court furlough day on Friday, June 1.
The judge told the jurors that the delay was “frustrating but essential.”
Once the jurors were dismissed and had cleared the courtroom, Shockley briefly discussed the case with District Attorney Don Anderson, Lopez’s defense attorney Stephen Carter and Braden’s defense attorney Doug Rhoades.
Referring to another issue that had stopped testimony last week, Carter said there had been a late discovery regarding Anderson’s notes from meeting with a former codefendant in the case, Kevin Stone, who has been expected to resume testimony on Thursday morning.
When Stone briefly was on the stand last week he had stated that he had met with Anderson several times beginning early last November as they worked out a plea agreement to lesser charges.
Carter said they had gone through those notes and determined that none of it needed to be kept out of testimony.
Although it was a discovery violation, Carter said it was a “no harm, no foul” situation. The matter ultimately was resolved with a stipulation.
Rhoades said Braden was “similarly situated” regarding the issue of Anderson’s notes.
“I believe that's all that we can address, at least at this point,” said Shockley.
The attorneys were to spend the rest of Thursday working on the issue that led to the stoppage.
The attorneys in the case are to meet with Shockley in chambers at 3:30 p.m. Thursday to decide if they can proceed with testimony on Friday.
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