LAKEPORT, Calif. — A Clearlake Oaks man arrested last week for a kidnap and rape case along with a separate case in which he committed an assault was back in court on Tuesday.

Clifford Merle Cutrell, 54, also known as “Cliff Hanger,” appeared before Judge J. David Markham in Lake County Superior Court’s Department 2 early Tuesday morning for the appearance of his legal counsel and plea entry.

Cutrell was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 12, for a kidnap and rape authorities said he committed that day and a felony assault case from April 10, as Lake County News has reported.

He is a registered sex offender with a lengthy criminal record and a risk assessment score conducted by the state that puts him in the “high” category for reoffending.

During the brief Tuesday morning court appearance, Chief Deputy District Attorney Rich Watson submitted to the court an amended complaint that added a 10th felony charge — sexual battery — to the rape and kidnap case, and changed previous counts of sodomy and sexual penetration by force to oral copulation by force.

Cutrell is now facing charges of kidnapping to commit robbery or rape; assault with intent to commit a felony; four charges of oral copulation by force or fear of injury; rape by force, violence, duress or menace; burglary; threats to commit a crime resulting in death; and sexual battery.

He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, said his public defender, Farris Purviance. 

Deputy Public Defender Jennifer Ramon had reportedly filed a motion for bail review for Cutrell, but Purviance, the public defender who didn’t make the initial appearance as Cutrell's attorney but has since taken over handling the case, withdrew that bail review motion on Tuesday.

In order to protect the right to a speedy trial, in felony cases state law sets a 60 calendar day time limit between arraignment and the preliminary hearing unless the defendant waives that time limit. 

Markham asked Cutrell if he was willing to waive the time limit and he said yes.

The judge then set Cutrell’s preliminary hearing for both the rape and kidnap case and the April assault for Sept. 25 in Department 3.

While the bail review motion had been withdrawn, Watson asked that the bail matter be addressed. 

Cutrell’s bail initially was set at $1 million. Watson asked for it to be set at no bail. 

Markham agreed, with Cutrell to be held without bail in both cases pending a future bail hearing.

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