LAKEPORT— Austin Anthony Schweitzer, 28, of Lakeport was in custody and appeared at the Lake County Superior Court for a sentencing hearing in regards to a vehicle theft earlier this year along with other charges.
The defendant was in custody on another matter, which involved charges of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He was convicted on this charge May 17, 2021.
During the sentencing hearing the defendant requested a continuance to allow Criminal Defense Attorney, Andrea Sullivan, to be present.
The Court grants the continuance and orders the sentencing hearing be continued to July 12, 2021 at 3 p.m. in Department 2.
Schweitzer had been charged with Vehicle Theft, two counts of Buy/Sell/Receive Stolen Property, Shoplifting (up to $950), Grand Theft – Sell Access Card- Intent to Defraud.
The defendant entered a Nolo Plea to the Vehicle Theft charge and was convicted on May 17, 2021 with the remaining charges in this case being dismissed on the same date.
A Nolo Plea is essentially the same as a guilty plea or “no contest” plea resulting in a California criminal conviction. A Nolo Plea is technically not admitting guilt but still allowing the court to determine the punishment.
During a hearing earlier this year, the defendant pled no contest to count two of the Complaint, which was buying/selling/receiving stolen property.
The Court accepted the defendant’s plea and the parties entered into a sentencing agreement at that time. On the motion of the People, the Court orders the balance of the other charges dismissed in the interest of justice and pursuant to a negotiated disposition.
The matter had been referred to the Lake County Probation Department for the preparation of a sentencing report and recommendation.
The charges stem from an incident in February of this year when the defendant was believed to have stolen a car in Lakeport which was left running to warm up. The car contained several credit cards in the vehicle owner’s name. Schweitzer then drove the car to Clearlake and parked it. He allegedly tried to use the stolen victim’s credit cards at a gas station but was unsuccessful.
Lakeport Police Department officers learned of the credit card usage and alerted Clearlake officers of the situation. The car was quickly located near the gas station by a community service office along with evidence linking Schweitzer to the car. The car was returned to the owner.
A short time later, Schweitzer returned to the gas station where an employee spotted him, but now associated him with another vehicle, and notified police. A Clearlake police officer spotted the vehicle at Walmart and Schweitzer was taken into custody without incident. He was found to be in possession of the stolen credit cards, the stolen vehicle’s keys, and other property from the stolen vehicle. He was booked back into the Lake County Jail as the day prior he was arrested by Clearlake police officers for possession of a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine and for being under the influence of narcotics. He was booked into the Lake County Jail and soon released.
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Sentencing continued in vehicle theft matter - Lake County Record-Bee
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