Former school sports official arrested for rape, sexual misconduct with underage girls; more victims sought
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport man who formerly officiated at middle and high school basketball games has been arrested on charges including rape and lewd acts with a child in a case spanning seven years, and authorities believe there may still be more victims.
Bradley Kenneth Pendleton, 33, was taken into custody on a felony arrest warrant on Thursday, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
It’s alleged that, in his capacity as a school sports official, he committed rape and had sexual contact with young girls between 2010 and 2017, Paulich said.
Paulich said Pendleton was booked into the Lake County Jail for rape, lewd acts with a child that is 14 or 15 years old, and oral copulation with a person under age 18.
The charges are related to five separate underage female victims, all from the Lakeport area, Paulich said.
Paulich told Lake County News that the rape charge is specific to one incident, with Pendleton alleged to have had sex with at least one other victim.
The agency also is looking for other potential victims, Paulich said.
Pendleton was arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Friday. His bail, originally set at $100,000, was raised to $155,000.
Jail records indicated he remained in custody on Friday evening.
Paulich said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit began its investigation into the allegations involving Pendleton in May.
During the course of the investigation, authorities discovered that Pendleton was meeting girls while acting as a sports official at local middle and high school basketball games, according to Paulich.
The results of the investigation were forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, which filed a criminal complaint with the Lake County Superior Court. Paulich said a felony arrest warrant was then issued for Pendleton.
On Thursday, Pendleton voluntarily turned himself in at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office where Paulich said he was interviewed by detectives.
During the course of the interview, Pendleton provided statements which corroborated the young victims’ allegations and he subsequently was arrested, Paulich said.
Paulich said investigators believe there could be other victims – in addition to the five so far identified – who have not yet come forward to report a crime.
If you have any information regarding the current investigation or possible unreported criminal conduct involving Pendleton, please contact Lake County Sheriff’s Office Detective Shamus Stafford at 707-262-4231 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.