Press Release: People v. Lancaster, Jonathan Nelce, 11/3/09

November 03, 2009

Bradford R. Fenocchio

District Attorney

PLACER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

10810 Justice Center Drive, Suite 240
Roseville, California 95678

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: November 3, 2009

Contact:

Art Campos
Public Information Officer
916-543-8076

Scott Owens
Acting Assistant District Attorney
916-543-8000

TAHOE AREA MAN WHO VIOLATED RESTRAINING ORDERS GETS 360 DAYS IN JAIL AND A SUSPENDED PRISON TERM

A 53-year-old Olympic Valley man has been sentenced to 360 days in the Placer County Jail and given a suspended state prison term of four years after being found guilty by a jury of stalking and of continually violating restraining orders in a simmering feud with a neighboring family.

Jonathan Nelce Lancaster was also placed on five years probation Monday by Placer County Superior Court Judge Larry D. Gaddis and ordered to move away from his home so that he would have no further contact with the neighbors. In addition, he was ordered to pay $8,805 in restitution, fines and court fees.

Placer Deputy District Attorney Christopher Cattran said the jury found Lancaster guilty on September 28 of two felonies - stalking and perjury - and of seven misdemeanor counts of disobeying the restraining orders.

The jury was deadlocked on other charges in which the defendant was alleged to have made annoying or harassing phone calls to a Carson City woman with whom he was obsessed, Cattran said. Those charges have been dismissed, he said.

However, Cattran felt the jury returned an appropriate verdict on the charges involving the feud with his neighbors.

“It’s been our position that Mr. Lancaster believes the law does not apply to him,” Cattran said. “This is evidenced by the jury convicting him of seven violations of court orders and the perjury charge.”

Lancaster was given credit for serving 339 days in the county jail, meaning he will be released this month when he reaches 360 days.

Cattran said Lancaster will be allowed four days to move his belongings from his home and that he must notify the Placer County Sheriff’s Department a week prior to coming back to the home to make the move.