Parolee allegedly violates quarantine

Leaves hotel to buy alcohol on first day

A 56-year-old Ukiah man who was released from prison last week and taken to a Ukiah hotel was rearrested and booked into Mendocino County Jail Friday evening, after almost immediately violating the conditions of his parole (and county health orders), the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reported on Saturday.

Richard Lovato allegedly violated his Post Release Community Supervision by leaving the hotel to buy alcohol at a local convenience store.

The following information is from a news release provided by the MCSO:

On Friday, Mendocino County Chief Probation Officer Izen Locatelli learned the California Department of Corrections and Re

habilitation had released an inmate from prison and had placed him in a hotel in Ukiah.

Richard Lovato was released on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) to be supervised by the Mendocino County Probation Department.

Locatelli, along with Mendocino County Sheriff Matthew Kendall, met with Lovato and provided him with instructions to shelter in place, abide by the terms of PRCS, and follow all orders of the Mendocino County health officer. Lovato was also fitted with an ankle monitor, which would show he was remaining where he was ordered to be.

At about 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Locatelli returned to the hotel to meet with another former inmate who had been released from prison and provide an ankle monitor and instructions to this person as well. Upon completion of these duties, Locatelli learned Lovato had left the location and purchased alcohol at a local convenience store.

Locatelli contacted Lovato as he returned from the store and found him to be in possession of alcoholic beverages. Lovato has a noalcohol clause as a term of his PRCS release. Locatelli arrested Lovato at the location and contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division, who responded to the location and took custody of Lovato.

Lovato was transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail on a flash incarceration pursuant to Post Release Community Supervision violation. “Flash incarceration” is a period of detention in jail due to a violation of a parolee’s conditions of parole. Lovato will be held in custody without bail for up to 10 days.