Mckinleyville's Kevin Alto appointed to the 9th District Agricultural Association Redwood Acres Fair Board

California Governor Newsom has appointed Mckinleyville's Kevin Alto to the 9th District Agricultural Association Redwood Acres Fair Board. Since 1998, Alto has been the President of Kevin Alto Equipment. 

18 attorney generals including CA's Rob Bonta filed an amicus brief supporting a preliminary injunction requested by PFLAG and GLMA which states two executive orders by President Trump has "targeted transgender people in an unlawful and discriminatory manner."

 

A coalition of 18 attorney generals including California AG Rob Bonta filed an amicus brief today supporting a preliminary injunction requested by PFLAG, GLMA which states two executive orders by President Trump has "targeted transgender people in an unlawful and discriminatory manner."

"Both the California Constitution and the First Amendment to the United States Constitution protect your right to free expression. However, police and other government officials are allowed to place certain narrow restrictions on the exercise of speech rights."

ACLU of Northern California posted this on Facebook two hours ago. There is an entire video reel highlighting the need for a permit protest and contacting a lawyer.

Blaine O'Shaughnessy finally showed up for court and has Conflict Counsel appointed; he can't afford an attorney?

 

Blaine O'Shaughnessy was on the second floor this morning to be arraigned in his 2024 case. The last post I did was in April 2024 when he failed to appear for arraignment in his hit and run case.

One juror out with flu in Widmark trial; Brandon Widmark attempted to contact witness after testimony but was thwarted because her number was blocked by jail

 

(Jesse Widmark)

(Brandon Widmark)

Today's jury trial for Brandon and Jesse Widmark started off with juror #12 being excused because he has the flu. Judge Steven Steward was informed at 8:30 this morning. The male juror gave Judge Steward a note from his doctor at St. Joe's.

The case was called at 9:15 and attorneys were informed. For his health and safety of other jurors, juror #12 was excused and an alternate juror #5 was picked leaving four alternates. Both jurors are male so the makeup of the jury does not change.

Today, People's witnesses include DA Investigators Ryan Hill and Greg Hill. They are not related. Investigator Greg Hill formerly worked for Eureka Police Department. Since Investigator Ryan Hill testified; it was not necessary to have Investigator Greg Hill testify.

Defense won one motion which was to exclude any testimony about Brittaney Nunes demeanor. If you read my previous post, Investigator Hill's testimony at the 402 hearing will confirm my observations but more importantly give you insight why. Defense lost another motion about Brandon Widmark's attempt to contact Nunes after her testimony.

On 2/16, Nunes resolved her 2022 DUI case with a plea. Judge Steward sentenced her. Nunes is not the only People's witness with a criminal record.

Audience members today included Jesse Widmark's aunt. When the bailiff went out to get the jury this morning; Jesse Widmark glanced at his aunt and silently acknowledged her presence with a nod.

Brandon Widmark's mother is in Arizona and reached out to me since her only updates are from following my blog.

Both brothers look very different than their booking photos. Brandon Widmark with a high fade haircut, facial hair trimmed and in a suit. Jesse Widmark clean shaven in slacks and dress shirt. 

Several other witnesses testified including inmate and convicted felon Shawn Gallagher who refused to answer questions, was found in contempt of court and remanded into custody on a no bail status. Gallagher was granted immunity by the DA for his testimony in this trial. He has a pending 2025 case and the charges are possession of meth and unlawful posssesion of ammunition charges. That 2025 case is on for preliminary hearing on 2/25. 

2/19: Repeat of that again today with Gallagher. You can read the findings and orders Judge Steward issued.

Before evidence and more testimony from civilian witnesses, there was an argument on an objection by Ms. Linkous about the People wanting the preliminary transcript of Gallagher's testimony read into record. 

I covered a civil lawsuit Gallagher filed against Brandon Widmark which was dismissed in November 2024. I have covered Gallagher previously and mentioned his criminal record before this post. He has 28 cases in Humboldt Superior Court.

You can access those posts on that civil case via the search feature on the blog.

No other media in court again. These arguments and motions are key and often have information which won't be covered by anyone else. These are important in case there is an appeal.

Ms. Sullivan is being very strategic in choosing what she objects to and that is wise. There is a reason she is in demand in various counties all over California, including Humboldt.

Most of the objections are by Ms. Linkous. While I get that she is defending her client who has more to lose than his brother Jesse, this is wasting time and dragging out a trial estimated to last 6 weeks. She has lost most of the objections. Mr. Rees is an experienced, skilled prosecutor and today it was victory lap after victory lap for him. Judge Steward is explaining his rulings in detail and citing case law. Most of my readers who value details are in the legal community and will wait until I can update those details. Today, what happened with Gallagher and the testimony from EPD Officer Dimitrios Tagaropoulos was crucial. 

EPD Officer Cassidy's body cam recorded Officer Tagaropoulos talking with Gallagher at the hospital. Jurors saw that video. Gallagher talks about being struck by a red F-150 and the male driver fleeing the scene with a female  in the passenger seat. If you remember ny very first post on the case, I posted an exclusive video and information about the red truck and other information about the Widmark brothers.

The rest of today is mostly civilian witnesses. I am going to try and cover as much as I can of law enforcement testimony and questions by the attorneys.

District Attorney Stacey Eads and Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm were in court to observe some of the trial from 11 to noon.

I always know potential jurors on cases but on the Widmark case, I knew a lot. Some have been excused; others are jurors in this trial. Those potential jurors I see often and today some got live one on one updates.

Humboldt County Fernstock Battle of the Bands winners, The Critics, want your vote to win a national competition

 

(Photo courtesy of Emiliano Ramirez. The Critics at the Bandshell, Golden Gate Park, July 2024)

Local band, The Critics, sen a press release which is posted below. 

Joseph Larue arrested again, this time by EPD, for a warrant for first degree burglary

 

Joseph LaRue was arrested by Eureka Police Department yesterday evening and booked on a warrant from Trinity County for PC 459/461(a) first degree burglary. Bail is $500,000.

I doubt they can release the booking photo but I requested it and EPD PIO Laura Montagna said she would check with EPD Chief Stephens.

LaRue already has a setting scheduled for tomorrow in three other cases; two 2024 cases and one 2025 case. 

For the second time, hung jury in convicted molestor Steve Boudreaux's case

 

As of 3 p.m. on Friday, the jury in convicted molestor Steve Boudreaux's retrial was still deliberating. Later that day, there was a mistrial and another hung jury in the case. 

I had a feeling this might be the case after 2/13/25 and the issue with juror #6. Court minutes from 2/13/25 are in the previous post.

Judge LaCasse tells Michael Acosta, "I am not going to buy that argument. It's clear you have not complied with the terms of probation."

 

The clerk for Michael Acosta's VOP revocation hearing on 2/14/25 has done one of the best summaries of what happened in court that I have seen in 14 years of covering Humboldt Superior Court.

If you want the Chiv'd live observation as if you were in the courtroom or watching via Zoom; read on.

Visiting Judge Leonard LaCasse appeared via Zoom. Deputy District Attorney Ian Harris and Acosta were in court. There were two people in the audience briefly but for most of the hearing, it was just me in the audience, court staff and the bailiff watching the show Acosta put on which was yelling at times and arguing with Judge LaCasse.

Not only did Judge LaCasse not put up with Acosta's nonsense but countered with facts. Mr. Harris remained cool as a cucumber and got in a couple of zingers.

Maria Cuevas' deposition to be taken in Humboldt jail for civil lawsuit against nitrous oxide civil lawsuit

 

In December 2024, I did a post that Jessica Sprague is suing Commerce Enterprises Inc et al and Maria Cuevas. Jessica Sprague is the daughter of David Sprague who died as a result of a collision on 9th and I. The vehicle involved in that fatal collision was driven by Cuevas. Jessica Sprague is the administrator of David Sprague's estate. In the civil case, Jessica Sprague is represented by Humboldt law firm Janssen Malloy's Mr. William Stein; Cuevas by Redding attorney Mr. Jonz Norine in the civil case and Commerce Enterprise's attorney is Ms. Monica Castillo.

In January 2025, Cuevas entered a plea for 25 years, 8 months prison in her criminal case. She is scheduled to be sentenced on 3/10. Ms. Andrea Sullivan is Cuevas' attorney in her criminal case.

In 2018, Ewa Misztal pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, child abuse and endangerment; in 2025 her 9 year old case is set for jury trial

  

(2016 booking photo)

In 2018, Ewa Misztal pleaded guilty to two added counts; voluntary manslaughter as well as child endangerment and abuse.

I covered Ewa Misztal's 2016 case extensively and for 7 years from 2016 to 2023. I stopped following the case in 2023 after she was approved for outpatient treatment.

UIHS CEO and former Humboldt County employee Stephanie Weldon appointed Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health

 

California Governor Gavin Newsom just released a list of appointments. One appointment is from Humboldt County.

In 2021, Newsom appointed Stephanie Weldon to another position.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/10/tribes-humboldt-and-mendocino.html?m=1

Former Kern County Supervisor charged with child abuse and possession of an assault weapon

 

CA AG charges four suspects with 48 counts for "allegedly operating two residential brothels in Sacramento County, laundering money, conspiracy, and tax evasion."