Clearlake Oaks man sentenced for burglaries

On April 18, 2022, David Clair Archuleta, 39, of Clearlake Oaks, was sentenced to state prison. Evidence at the trial showed that Deputy Matthew McCabe of the Lake County Sheriff's Office was on patrol in Clearlake Oaks on Dec. 30, 2020 at approximately 12:45 a.m. McCabe observed defendant Archuleta unloading a Predator 3500 generator from a Toyota Rav4 which was parked in front of his residence on first street. The officer was aware that a similar generator had been reported stolen on Dec. 24, 2020 from a residence on 4th Street. McCabe interacted with Archuleta, and subsequently obtained a search warrant for his residence and the RAV 4.

The search of the residence discovered property which had been reported stolen from two separate residences, each on Keys Blvd. in Clearlake Oaks. One burglary had been reported on Dec. 26, 2020, and one had been reported on Dec. 29, 2020. In addition to the stolen property, deputies discovered a loaded Glock 9 mm pistol. Archuleta had previously been convicted of several felonies and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

A search of the RAV 4 disclosed a backpack which contained several pry bars. Deputies Moyeda and his Field Training Officer Deputy Walter White, who had investigated the Dec. 29 Keys Blvd. burglary, noted that one of the pry bars was consistent in appearance with marks left on the door of the burglarized house. Additionally, the pry bar had white paint on it consistent with the paint of the home in question. The deputies seized the pry bar and took it the Keys Blvd. address to compare it with the marks on damaged door.

A complaint charging Archuleta with burglary of the 4th Street residence and possession of a firearm by a felon was filed on Dec. 31, 2020. Archuleta

was arrested and appeared in court. He was released on his own recognizance pursuant to recent changes in California law concerning bail and custody status. Based on reports documenting the search of the First Street residence which were received by the District Attorney after Archuleta's first court appearance, another case was filed charging burglaries of the two Keys Blvd. homes. An arrest warrant was issued and Archuleta was arrested on February 3, 2021. During that arrest, deputies discovered a second Glock 9 mm pistol and separate 9 mm ammunition. Those charges were added to the complaint; the two cases were consolidated for trial.

The jury trial began on March 9, 2022. Archuleta was convicted of three counts of first degree burglary, one count of possession of stolen property; two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition. The Court also found that he had suffered a prior strike conviction for arson. Judge J. David Markham, who presided over the trial, sentenced Archuleta to 17 years and four months in state prison.

— Richard F. Hinchcliff, Chief Deputy District

Attorney