Arson suspect competent to stand trial
Matthew Samuel Miravalle was in custody and recently present at the Lake County Superior Court for a Doctors’ Report Hearing.
In March of this year the defendant pled no contest to the arson of property charge.
A no contest plea allows the defendant to not accept or deny responsibility for the charge but agree to accept responsibility. A no contest plea differs from a guilty plea as a no contest plea cannot be used against the defendant in another cause of action.
The defendant waived his right to a trial by a jury on the question of
competency.
Being defense counsel has submitted the matter on the doctors’ reports, the Court will proceed to a Court Trial.
The Court has received, read and considered the doctors’ reports.
Based upon the evidence, the Court finds that the defendant is presently competent to stand trial. The criminal proceedings are reinstated
The Sentencing Hearing is set for October 5, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. in Department 3.
The matter has been referred to the Lake County Probation Department for the preparation of a Supplemental Pre-Sentencing Report.
During a hearing last year, Defense Attorney Angelina Potter declared a doubt as to the defendant’s mental competency.
The Court had ordered criminal proceedings in this matter suspended as the Clearlake Oaks man accused of setting three recent wildfires remains in custody.
Two doctors were needed to evaluate the defendant and provide doctors’ reports. The Court appointed Dr. Taylor Fithian and Dr. Kevin Kelly to evaluate the defendant. During a Review Hearing earlier this year, the Court was in receipt of both doctors’ mental evaluation reports of the defendant. Both doctors’ evaluated Miravalle and found him to now be competent.
Miravalle was charged with two counts of property arson and one count of arson of structure/ forest land.
During an arraignment hearing in September, Miravalle en
tered a plea of not guilty to all counts and any special allegations.
Matthew Samuel Miravalle, 35, was arrested last September following a Lake County Sheriff’s Office investigation that identified him as a suspect in three Clearlake Oaks fires — two dating back to June of last year.
After his arrest, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Corey Paulich, Miravalle had “admitted to starting” all three fires, and had “been seen in the area” of the most recent fire, which broke out on Sep.
23, “just prior to it starting.”
That fire, allegedly caused by Miravalle, was located near the Eskaton Clearlake Oaks Manor Senior Apartments at the intersection of Highway 20 and Lake Street in Clearlake
Oaks, Paulich said. Northshore Fire Protection District units responded, controlling the flames after a small area of grass and part of a wooden fence had been burned near the apartments. Cal Fire investigators determined arson to be the cause, and identified Miravalle as a suspect.
According to Paulich, Miravalle has been registered with the state as an arsonist, meaning he has a previous arson conviction.