LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office recently conducted additional compliance checks and probation searches of local sex offenders during Halloween.
The compliance checks were conducted took place from Oct. 28 through Oct. 31, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
On Oct. 28, deputies contacted and searched 10 sex offenders who all appeared to be within compliance, Brooks said.
On Oct. 31, detectives received information that David Monthei was walking around the Lucerne Elementary School, Brooks reported.
Brooks said it was reported that Monthei was wearing a fire department shirt, had his arm in a sling and was carrying a first aid kit. It was also believed that Monthei was out of compliance with his probation terms.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to Monthei's residence and conducted a search, pursuant to his probation terms, according to Brooks.
During a search of Monthei's residence, a cellular phone belonging to Monthei was located. This phone was connected to Facebook, and Brooks said there were messages between Monthei and other individuals believed to be juveniles. The content of the messages were sexual in nature.
During the sweep, detectives also contacted 44-year-old Anthony Stephen Gevas of Lakeport. Brooks said Gevas, who is listed as a sex offender registrant, was in violation of the conditions and terms of his parole.
Monthei was arrested for violating his probation and having child pornography on his phone. Gevas was arrested for violating the terms and conditions of his parole. They were both transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.
Brooks said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has taken a proactive approach to apprehending registered sex offenders who are in violation of their registration terms.
Since Jan. 1, Brooks said 11 registered sex offenders have been arrested for violating their terms and are as follows:
- 42-year-old Michael James Horner of Cobb was arrested on Feb. 27 for failing to register within five days of his birth date.
- 52-year-old Veronika Irene Wells (Phinney) of Clearlake Oaks was arrested on March 25 for failing to register within five days of her birth date.
- 64-year-old Lyn Ashley Dunham of Clearlake was arrested on April 19 for failing to register his change of address.
- 64-year-old William Arthur Bond of Lower Lake was arrested on May 11 for public intoxication and failing to comply with his transient registration terms.
- 54-year-old Alfonso Deno Robles of Clearlake Oaks was booked into custody at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility on April 30 on a felony bench warrant issued as the result of an investigation which found Robles was not living at the address he reported during his annual registration.
- 50-year-old Kenneth Allen Lakatos of Lakeport was arrested on July 23 for failing to register a change of address. During the arrest, Lakatos was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and a glass pipe and was charged for the possession of both items.
- 42-year-old Oliver Dewitt Wells of Clearlake Oaks was arrested on Aug. 7 for failing to register his change of address.
- 52-year-old Veronika Irene Wells (Phinney) of Clearlake Oaks was arrested on Aug. 27 for failing to register her change of address. A probation violation was later added for her earlier sex offender registration violation.
- 35-year-old Raymond Jared Lukens of Lakeport was arrested on Oct. 25 for failing to comply with his transient registration.
- 28-year-old Anthony John Rupert of Kelseyville was arrested on October 29, 2013 for failing to register his change of address.
- 51-year-old James Robert Gowan of Blue Lakes was arrested on Nov. 12 for failing to register within five days of his date of birth.