Man Held Without Bail for Threatening Stepmother in Novato

A 31-year-old homeless man is behind held without at Marin County Jail as a suspect in a domestic violence incident involving his stepmother at a Novato home, Novato police said Friday.

Vathana Khiev originally was booked with a bail of $500,000, but police requested and were granted a no-bail enhancement by Marin County Superior Court investigators.

Khiev, who has no address according to Novato police, is accused of violating restraining orders, damaging the front door of the home where his 44-year-old stepmother lives and threatening to kill her.

Police officers investigated a call about a court order violation in the 1500 block of Center Road on Thursday afternoon. The woman said she was threatened with her life several times. Several neighbors saw Khiev leaving the home Thursday, police said.

Police dispatchers broadcast a description of Khiev and a Marin County sheriff’s deputy spotted him walking near Diablo Avenue and George Street in the downtown area. Novato police arrested him 4:37 p.m. Thursday.

“We have reports of prior instances where he’s assaulted her and caused some damage to the home,” police Sgt. Sasha D’Amico said. “There are more accounts of bizarre behavior and he is suspected in a couple of burglaries at that home. … The prior criminal history is pretty serious and there is intense fear by the victim” to justify the no-bail enhancement.

Khiev faces a felony count of threatening to terrorize and a misdemeanor violation of a court order.