Today, arson suspect Stephen Paiment's preliminary hearing was continued by defense to 10/7/26. Paiment says he is having an adverse reaction to medication being administered.
I have been the only one to regularly cover this case for months and to do in person court coverage. Today, I briefly looked inside Courtroom 1.
Future updates until something significant happens will be added to this post.
I have been the only one regularly covering the four lawsuits against local landlord and candidate for Eureka mayor, Anil Dwivedi.
I have provided the order. Will Dwivedi settle before the election? There is a Case Management Conference on 10/12/26.
With the number of Humboldt criminal and civil cases I cover daily and several defendants with multiple cases as well as other news, I do not have time to provide previous links and most of my readers read me daily and regularly.
When I have time, I may add links or screenshots to recent posts.
If you don't, several paid options are available for customized updates and conveniences such as links or individual questions.
All prior coverage is accessible for free via the search feature on the blog or Google.
27 year old Matthew Sonny Kapono was arrested by Fortuna Police Department yesterday for PC 288 (a) lewd or lascivious act upon a child under the age of 14.
54 year old Michael Carlisle Rider was arrested by Eureka Police Department last night on a warrant for PC 422 criminal threats and PC 243.4(a) sexual battery. He posted bond.
This is for the third 2026 case CR2603172 filed 8/12/26 with the two charges he was booked for and the warrant was filed 8/14/26. Rider is scheduled to be arraigned on the recent 2026 case this morning. Alleged victim Kathlene Crystal Jackson.
He has two previous 2026 cases.
CR2601540 filed 4/17/26 PC 653m (b) annoying telephone calls with intent to annoy and harass, alleged victim Roberta Robin Nolan, which is trailing. EPD is the law enforcement agency.
CR2601474 filed 4/15/26 for PC 646.9 (a) stalking, PC 422 criminal threats and PC wilful disobedience of court order. Alleged victim Kathlene Crystal Jackson. Preliminary hearing scheduled this morning. EPD is the law enforcement agency.
Deputy Conflict Counsel David Nims is Rider's attorney. Deputy DA Brandon Boozari is the prosecutor for all three 2026 cases.
He was remanded today but is going to be released on electronic monitoring.
There were several developments this morning in all three criminal cases. There is also a civil case CV2502845 which was a petition for civil harassment against Rider. A temporary restraining order was granted by Humboldt Commissioner Sarah Kaber on 2/11/2026.
The petition alleges that Rider sent "pornographic materials with salacious commentary" to property managers and employees of Humboldt Property Management.
That was brought up in court today.
You can read the court documents and court minutes yourself. Future dates are in the court minutes but I have also added them in the post . The civil case is calendared with the criminal cases so I am not adding what was previously scheduled.
CR2603172 OR bail 8/28; preliminary hearing 9/4
There is a 10/20 arraignment date which has not been vacated from the system by the end of the day on 8/25/26.
CR2601540 OR bail on 8/28; pre trial on 9/4.
CR2601474 OR bail on 8/28; preliminary hearing on 9/4.
The U.S Attorney's Office, Central District of California released details today about the arrest and federal charges against an employee of a LAX service provider for possession of 11 kilograms of fentanyl in a bag men’s bathroom at airport to be transported to Minnesota.
You read it here first.
Humboldt Deputy County Counsel Heather Durand has been appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom for the vacancy after Humboldt Superior Court Retired Judge Joyce Hinrichs retired. I was the only one to reported on her and other potential candidates for months and years.
I reached out to Humboldt Superior Court CEO Meara Hattan and Humboldt Superior Court Presiding Judge Kelly Neel on 8/25/26 with a question and will be adding any response I receive.
Ms. Hattan responded, "Good morning John- we expect that she will start before January. We are pleased to have Ms. Durand join the bench."
Judge Neel responded, "Good morning,
We are all very happy and excited to welcome Ms. Durand to our Bench; we rec’d the announcement the same time everyone else did, so we do have some planning to do.
I do anticipate her joining us before January but that’s one of the details we will be working out with Ms. Durand as she wraps up things with her current employer."
From California Governor Gavin Newsom's Press Office:
Heather Durand, of Humboldt County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Humboldt County Superior Court. Durand has served as a Deputy County Counsel at the Humboldt County Counsel’s Office since 2018. She worked as a Sole Practitioner at the Law Office of Heather Durand Cooper from 2005 to 2018. Durand worked as an Associate Attorney at Dalton & Bicknell from 2000 to 2005. Durand received a Juris Doctor degree from Empire College School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Joyce D. Hinrichs. Durand is a Democrat.
I have included some of my coverage of the 2022 case and based on that, why should I believe that this arrest will be handled differently by the Humboldt County DA?
The press release issued by HCDTF is included below.
Humboldt Deputy District Attorney Ian Harris was out of the office for months. He returned to work today. Prior to his leave, cases for drug arrests were handled by him.
Here's hoping that case assignment is handled by him again freeing up his experienced colleagues like Deputy DA Trent Timm for other cases which actually have consequences for public safety.
I was the first to report on the Court of Appeals ruling in Daryl Jones case. I did a post on August 19 and August 10. Today, at 1:30 p.m., I doubt anything significant will happen. I have covered this case in details for over a year, the preliminary hearing, the request for mental health diversion in detail and for months.
After 12 plus years, mostly continuances, appeals and minor developments are not a reason for in person coverage and not every Humboldt case is going to get a new post.
Individual customized updates, live or at request and informing my advertisers and contributors first is what is working better for me and those who invest in me financially.
The screenshots are of the two previous August posts.
Update after hearing: I was correct. Hearing continued by stipulation to 9/21/26. Ms. Joanne Carter present for Jane Doe 1 and 2.
This is the Utah courthouse. The inside is clean. I have covered the Tyler Robinson and other cases in Utah court. Cases are called and proceed as scheduled. Continuances are rare and for good cause and they are not multiple and for weeks and months. The jail has inmates ready to appear remotely. Utah court also does pleas and attorneys do sometimes have to talk to clients. All this is handled efficiently on the day and the court hearings conclude on the same day. Prosecutors and defense attorneys have their discussions prior to court.
I did this post on August 19 about the arrest of John and Tucker Donahue.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/08/john-and-tucker-donahue-booked-into.html?m=1
On 8/20/26, John Donahue Jr was arraigned on one felony count PC 211 for second degree robbery. Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran appointed Conflict Counsel for John Donahue, Jr. Bail is $45,000. OR bail is on 8/24; preliminary hearing 8/28.
Tucker Donahue is also charged with PC 211 second degree robbery. Tucket Donahue has an additional felony charge of PC 245 (a) (1) assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm; a bottle and special allegation PC 12022. 7 (a) great bodily injury. The Public Defender's Office was appointed for Tucker Donahue. Bail is $75,000. OR bail is on 8/24; preliminary hearing 8/28.
Alleged victim is Jagdev Singh of Stop and Shop Market.
Deputy DA Frankie Olivares appeared on both cases for arraignment.
8/24/26: OR bail hearing for John Donahue Jr . continued to 8/25.Conflict Counsel has conflict; Joe Judge to be appointed. Preliminary hearinng on 8/28. OR and supervised release denied for Tucker Donahue by Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran. Deputy DA Rebecca Buckley-Stein appeared on both cases at arraignment for the People.
8/25/26: Joe Judge appointedfor John Donahue, Jr. Supervised release granted by Judge Killoran.
Phoenix Police Department released this update an hour ago.
Two former Phoenix Police Department officers, Luis Vasquez Jr. and Antonio Felix, were arrested and fired and today. They face felony charges, including aggravated assault, kidnapping, threatening and intimidating and tampering with evidence. The arrest is related to an unreported, violent traffic stop of a man and woman in South Phoenix on August 5, 2026.
That is corroborated by a 2026 case filed by the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office. Why did it take the DA to file charges from 2024 in 2026? Danielle Williams was not arraigned because Humboldt Superior Court Commissioner referred the case to the DA for affadavit.
That has been happening in quite a few cases.
Since my last post on the Nylander family lawsuit, a hearing on the motion for summary judgement has been scheduled for 9/11/26.
Mr. Dustin Owens represents represents Redwood Meat Co. filed a request for judicial notice in support of the opposition to plaintiff's motion for summary judgement on 8/21.
Ms. Heather Burke represents John and Ryan Nylander. She filed several documents on 8/21/26.
In June at the last hearing, Humboldt Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge granted Ms. Burke's motion for trial priority. Trial assignment on 10/26/26; jury trial on 10/28/26.
Ms. Shelley Addision is representing Marleen Nylander. Ms. Cyndy Day-Wilson represents Stephanie, Rachel and Russel Nylander.
I have included Mr. Owens 8/21/26 filing. Just that one document will get those of you who prefer cliff notes get caught up on what I have dubbed Humboldt's temu version of Yellowstone.