DUI case leads to felony arrest

LAKEPORT >> In July of 2021 — a four-vehicle collision in Clearlake Oaks that sent several people to the hospital left a Pacifica man to face numerous DUI charges.

Being the defendant, Stephen Robert Williams, was not present for a hearing last year, the Court found no good cause for his non-appearance and issued a bench warrant for failure to appear.

On March 22, 2024 the defendant was arrested on that felony bench warrant by the Clearlake Police Dept. and booked at the Lake County Jail in Lakeport.

During a hearing last year, the defendant's bail was exonerated.

During a hearing in 2023 the defendant was present and not in custody, waiving his rights to a preliminary hearing. The Court and the People consented to the defendant's waiver.

At that time, it was ordered that the defendant be held to answer to the charges.

In 2023 the defendant was not present for a hearing as his defense counsel, Attorney Jonathan B. Steele, was present through California Penal Code 977. This Penal Code allows an attorney to appear on the client's behalf without the defendant/client present.

There is another case trailing this matter in which the defendant is charged with a hit and run with property damage. Last month Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson stated she will be moving to amend the complaint in this case to modify the charges to a felony.

The defendant was not present last year for a preliminary hearing.

Defense Counsel, Jonathan B Steele, informed the Court that the defendant contacted him the day prior to the hearing to inform him that he was having medical issues.

At that time the matter was trailed to see if defense counsel had medical records.

When the matter was recalled, defense counsel stated he did not have medical records and he had not been able to have contact with the defendant,

The Court found no good cause for the defendant's non-appearance. The Court ordered the issuance of a Bench Warrant — Failure to Appear with bail set in the amount of $70,000.

In 2022 the defendant was not present at a recent hearing while his attorney, Jonathan B. Steele, was again present by remote appearance through California Penal Code 977.

During the hearing there was a discussion as to the subpoenaed records that should have been received. There was also concern to the necessity of having these documents for the preliminary hearing.

Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson stated that she would look into the matter of the records as Defense Attorney Steele requested the matter be continued in order to allow for the subpoenaed record issue to be resolved.

The Court, pursuant to the request of the defendant, ordered this matter be continued.

During a hearing in Sept. of 2022 there was a stipulation to continue the preliminary hearing due to both counsel missing information on some alleged victims.

The matter had been continued at that time as well.

The parties stipulated that the subpoenaed medical records in the clerk's file may be released to Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson for copying and then returned to the clerk's file. There was no chain of custody objections.

In April of 2022 the defendant was present by remote appearance and not in custody at the Lake County Superior Court for a recall of his warrant.

In Feb. of 2022 the defendant was not present as his retained defense attorney, Jonathan B. Steele, stated his client was still having medical issues from the vehicle accident and requested the matter be continued.

There was a felony warrant issued for the defendant on Feb. 15, 2022 and he requested the warrant be cleared.

The Court did not make any orders at that time but the Court did recall the arrest warrant.

The Court left the bail as set in order for the following conditions to be imposed:

Will not drive a motor vehicle unless validly licensed and insured

Obey all laws

Will not possess or have under his control any alcoholic beverage and will not enter any public place where the primary item sold or dispensed is an alcoholic beverage. The defendant will abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages.

The defendant has been charged with seven counts of DUI — Alcohol while causing injury and three counts of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The charges stem from an incident in July of 2021 when Williams was driving west on Highway 20 near Sulphur Bank Drive at an alleged high rate of speed when he collided with the vehicle in front of him.

According to CHP, both vehicles crossed over into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with other vehicles.

As a result of the collision, the defendant suffered major injuries and was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Clear Lake CHP officers observed symptoms and an indication of alcohol intoxication and was arrested.

Three other people were flown to UC Davis Medical Center, one with serious injuries, and three others suffered minor injuries.