LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Clearlake Oaks man arrested for kidnapping and rape in August has been ordered to stand trial in the case.

Clifford Merle Cutrell, 55, was in Lake County Superior Court on Thursday for his preliminary hearing before Judge Shanda Harry.

Cutrell was arrested and charged for the rape case committed in August as well as a separate case involving another victim for an April assault.

Harry ordered Cutrell to stand trial on the rape case following the Thursday preliminary hearing.

His preliminary hearing in the April assault also was due to take place on Thursday but was continued to Oct. 13, according to court records.

Under an amended complaint in the rape case, he’s charged with 10 felonies: kidnapping with the intent to commit rape; assault with intent to commit rape; four counts of oral copulation by force or injury; rape; burglary; criminal threats; and sexual battery.

For the assault, he’s facing two felony counts: assault likely to cause great bodily injury and false imprisonment.

Cutrell is a registered sex offender who has previously served prison time. The state gave him a risk assessment score of 21, placing him in the “high” category for risk of reoffending.

Case documents say he has seven previous felony convictions in Tuolumne, Sonoma and Lake counties from 1995 to 2020 involving battery causing serious bodily injury, sexual battery, false imprisonment, failure to register as a sex offender, disobeying a police officer and possession of an illegal weapon.

Since his arrest for the rape and kidnapping by Clearlake Police on Aug. 12, Cutrell has remained in custody at the Lake County Jail. 

At the time of his arrest, bail was set at just over $1 million. His booking sheet now shows bail at $4 million. Bail review was held at the same time as his preliminary hearing last week, according to jail records.

He’s been ordered to return to court for arraignment in the rape and kidnap case on Oct. 14, after which it’s expected the court will consider dates for trial.

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