LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Northshore man who ran his pickup into a downtown Lakeport store on Christmas night made his first court appearance in the case this week.

Jason Kaluna Fugit, 46, of Nice, was arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Wednesday, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.

Anderson said Fugit is charged with felony vandalism, burglary and reckless driving for crashing his truck into the front of the Campos Casual store on Monday night.

On the night of Fugit’s arrest, a judge gave a bail enhancement of $500,000 in the case. Anderson said that enhancement remains in place, with Fugit still in custody.

Fugit is due to return for appearance of counsel and plea entry at 8:15 a.m. Jan. 3. Anderson said Mitchell Hauptman was appointed as Fugit’s attorney.

Shortly before 7 p.m. Christmas night, Fugit drove his Chevy Silverado through the front of the Campos Casuals store, located at 344 N. Main St., as Lake County News has reported.

Lakeport Police Officer Tyler Trouette said he arrived to find Fugit standing in front of the store and his pickup in the back of the building. It had smashed not just through the glass entryway but through counters and merchandise displays.

Trouette said it appeared that Fugit had lined up his pickup and then accelerated through the front of the store. There were no signs of skid marks or attempts to brake.

Fugit’s criminal history includes his 2005 arrest for attempting to kill his grandmother, who he thought was conspiring with the government to commit treasonous acts.

He pleaded guilty to elder abuse and in 2008, was sentenced to eight years in prison but instead sent to the Napa State Hospital because he was found to have been insane at the time he tried to kill his grandmother.

Anderson said Fugit was released from the state mental hospital in the spring of 2015.

In recent months, Fugit has been regularly seen in downtown Lakeport with cardboard signs complaining of a government conspiracy to persecute him.

Since his 2015 release, Fugit has had no other criminal cases filed against him with the District Attorney’s Office, Anderson said.

Anderson said Fugit told authorities that he used to work for the Campos’ limousine service. Fugit said he thought the Camposes were part of a government conspiracy because he had been required to sign confidentiality forms to drive the limo.

Fugit also told investigators that the crash was an accident, but then claimed that his belief that the Camposes are part of a conspiracy was why he did it.

RheaBeth Campos, who along with husband Ron owns the store, said she recalled Fugit working for them a long time ago when they owned the limousine company. She said that was about 20 years ago.

Campos said Fugit worked for them, but “not for very long,” and only did a few limo runs, she said.

“I never knew who he was,” when he was standing on the corner more recently with his signs, she said.

Fugit did come into the store recently, bringing with him a written statement, Campos said.

The Campos’ son, James, who manages the store, took the statement and told his mother that it was page after page of ramblings.

RheaBeth Campos said her son threw the paper away, but after the crash he retrieved the statement from the dumpster to give to police.

Police originally estimated damage to the Campos Casuals building to be at least $100,000.

Campos said their insurance company will visit on Tuesday to give them an updated estimate.

In the meantime, the main damage already is cleaned up. “We’re quick on our feet,” said Campos.

However, there is still more to do, including additional cleaning, she said. They’ve also made themselves available to respond to requests for merchandise exchanges because of the Christmas shopping season.

As for the store’s future, it will return, Campos said, noting they will “absolutely” reopen.

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.