Mendocino County Man Accused of Making Criminal Threats, Violating Court Order
A Mendocino County man was recently arrested for allegedly making criminal threats and violating an active protective order.
On the morning of October 15, deputies responded to a report of a possible violation of a court order in Whitehorn.
The suspect, later identified as 53-year-old Wade Patrick Hayes, had allegedly been standing at the end of the victim’s driveway and making threats to kill the victim and their family. Hayes’ court order directly forbids him from contacting the victim, as well as forbidding him from owning or possessing firearms, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Responding deputies arrived at a residence on the 77000 block of Usal Road and detained Hayes, ultimately arresting him on suspicion of making criminal threats and violation of a court order.
Deputies also searched Hayes’s residence, after developing probable cause that he was in possession of a weapon and obtaining a search warrant.
Amid the search, deputies recovered a loaded SKS firearm and a box of .38 special ammunition, resulting in an additional charge of possessing a firearm in violation of a court order and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Hayes remains in custody at the Mendocino County jail on $20,000 bond.
