4 North Coast men indicted in Lake County burglary

<p>Four North Coast men have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to commit a home invasion robbery in Lake County by impersonating police officers.</p><p>A U.S. Attorney Office's spokesman said the Oct. 4 break-in involved Eric Mendonca, 43, a former Lake County sheriff's deputy and Petaluma police officer.</p><p>Prosecutors said his co-defendant, Jack Pollack, 54, of Lake County, cased a residence before a third man, Terry Jacksen, 46, of Petaluma, knocked on the door wearing a Lake County sheriff's deputy uniform.</p><p>Jacksen is alleged to have told the occupants he was conducting a search with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.</p><p>Prosecutors said he then handcuffed and zip-tied the residents before searching the house and stealing 48 marijuana plants.</p><p>The indictment accuses Mendonca, a Lake County resident, of providing the uniform.</p><p>In a search of Mendonca's and Jacksen's homes, authorities found a holstered revolver, a set of Lake County sheriff's handcuffs and other items including a cell phone.</p><p>On the cell phone were images of Jacksen and a fourth defendant, Michael Puckett, 45 of Petaluma, posing in Lake County sheriff's uniforms with firearms just hours before the robbery, prosecutors said. </p><p>A search of Pollack's residence uncovered approximately 20 pounds of marijuana.</p><p>Puckett was remanded Thursday at his first appearance in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The others appeared Wednesday.</p><p>Mendonca was released on a $50,000 bond. Jacksen and Pollack remain in custody.</p><p>Each is charged with conspiracy, robbery, impersonating a police officer and drug allegations.</p><p>They've all pleaded not guilty. They are due back in court Jan. 22 before Judge William Alsup.</p><p>(You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.)</p>