LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Clearlake Oaks man convicted by a jury in March in a burglary case has been sentenced to state prison.
Judge J. David Markham sentenced David Clair Archuleta to prison during an April 18 sentencing, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
Archuleta, 39, received a sentence of 17 years and four months in state prison, Hinchcliff said.
Hinchcliff said evidence at Archuleta’s trial showed that Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew McCabe was on patrol in Clearlake Oaks on Dec. 30, 2020, at approximately 12:45 a.m. when he observed Archuleta unloading a Predator 3500 generator from a Toyota Rav4 which was parked in front of his residence on first street.
McCabe was aware that a similar generator had been reported stolen on Dec. 24 from a residence on Fourth Street, Hinchcliff said.
Deputy McCabe made contact with Archuleta, and subsequently obtained a search warrant for his residence and the RAV 4. Hinchcliff said the search of the residence discovered property which had been reported stolen from two separate residences, each on Keys Boulevard in Clearlake Oaks.
Hinchcliff said one burglary had been reported on Dec. 26, 2020, and one had been reported on Dec. 29, 2020.
In addition to the stolen property, Hinchcliff said deputies discovered a loaded Glock 9 millimeter pistol. Archuleta had previously been convicted of several felonies and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
A search of the RAV 4 disclosed a backpack which contained several pry bars, Hinchcliff said. Deputy Andrew Moyeda and his Field Training Officer Deputy Walter White, who had investigated the Dec. 29 Keys Boulevard burglary, noted that one of the pry bars was consistent in appearance with marks left on the door of the burglarized house.
Additionally, HInchcliff said the pry bar had white paint on it consistent with the paint of the home in question. The deputies seized the pry bar and took it to the Keys Boulevard address to compare it with the marks on the damaged door.
Hinchcliff said a complaint charging Archuleta with burglary of the Fourth Street residence and possession of a firearm by a felon was filed on Dec. 31, 2020.
He said Archuleta was arrested and appeared in court. Archuleta was released on his own recognizance pursuant to recent changes in California law concerning bail and custody status.
Based on reports documenting the search of the First Street residence which were received by the district attorney after Archuleta’s first court appearance, another case was filed charging burglaries of the two Keys Boulevard homes, Hinchcliff said.
An arrest warrant was issued and Archuleta was arrested on Feb. 3, 2021. During that arrest, deputies discovered a second Glock 9 millimeter pistol and separate 9 millimeter ammunition. Hinchcliff said those charges were added to the complaint; the two cases were consolidated for trial.
The jury trial began on March 9. Archuleta was represented by Mitchell Hauptman. Deputy District Attorney Edward Borg prosecuted the case, Hinchcliff said.
The case was submitted to the jury on March 17. Hinchcliff said the jury returned verdicts on March 18.
He said Archuleta was convicted of three counts of first degree burglary, one count of possession of stolen property; two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
The court also found that Archuleta had suffered a prior strike conviction for arson, Hinchcliff said.