Scott Joachim arrested by Yurok Tribal Police for assault with a deadly weapon

 

Scott Michael Joachim was arrested yesterday afternoon by Yurok Tribal Police for PC 245(a)(1) assault with a deadly weapon. He posted bond.

Former City of Eureka Deputy Attorney Curt Davis who was terminated from his job and now works as a private attorney. He is involved in a case in which one of the parties is Scott Joachim. Davis represents Seven Sparks in this civil case.

There is also a family law case for Scott Joachim and Natalie Joachim which was transferred from Mendocino to Humboldt. 

Scott Joachim has 30 search results in Humboldt Superior Court. He is pro per in several cases.

He has a 2024 open case with 6 felonies and two misdemeanors. Charges include robbery, domestic violence and false imprisonment. Public Defender's Office represents him in that case. A Marsden motion in that case was denied on 3/12/26. There is a Readiness Conference in that case on 6/16 and jury trial on 6/29. 

Audrey Hanks starts the evening with a 79% lead over Ben Larson

 

First election night report from Humboldt County shows Audrey Hanks with an overwhelming lead over Ben Larson.

The only other race I am reporting on is Governor. With the amount of candidates, just Humboldt votes do not tell the state results. Looks like Tom Steyer is leading so far but Steve Hilton is second in Humboldt. 

Hanks is more qualified and I hope the trend continues until the final election night report. Even in Humboldt, the two Republican  candidates for Governor are doing well and the same in initial results statwide. Hilton is leading statewide with Chad Bianco in 4th. That should be a warning to the Democrat California party machine who are completely out of touch with the average voter. 

Second election night report at 9:55. Same result with Hanks leading Larson. He just needs to concede now like Matt Mahan did. Governor's results also the same.

Third election night report 10:43 same. The results are not going to change. 

Fourth election report at 11:42 the same. Hanks  77.70, Larson 22.30.

Final electon report at 11:55 the same. Congratulations to Audrey Hanks as Humboldt County Assessor.

Interested in Destinee Rhamy, Sparrow Albritton and Vincent Nelson updates?

(Haven't heard this excuse in Humboldt yet but "good cause" for continuance in Humboldt is debatable)

Destinee Rhamy and Sparrow Albritton have minor updates from today which I have added to previous posts. I was the only one to sit in for some of  Vincent Nelson's preliminary hearing today which was lengthy. No one else was in court for Nelson. Former Ferndale Police Office Tanner Gardner, current Police Officer Cesar Cervantes and Reserve Police Officer Alan Mendes were only few of the witnesses today at Nelson's hearing. That will be a new post but the hearing is still on calendar for tomorrow and I want to wait and add court minutes.

I was at the courthouse all day today and will be doing election coverage tonight.

Tomorrow, there will  be minor updates added to several previous Humboldt court posts. Whether that includes two sentencings but one never knows until the last minute.

More judicial appointments by Newsom, nada for Humboldt; again

5:19 More judicial appointments from California Governor Gavin Newsom. No appointment, again, for the Humboldt Superior Court seat vacant after Judge Joyce Hinrichs retired. Newsom has until the end of his term to make this appointment.

Verdict in Trinidad Gomez case

3:12 p.m. Verdict in Trindidad Gomez case. Waited here all day while checking cases, covering a preliminary hearing. Attorneys here, we are waiting for courtroom to open. Jurors went on break five minutes ago.

3:19 Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge John Feeney just went in so courtroom should open shortly.

Jurors deliberated for less than a day, started yesterday at 3 p.m.

3:26 p.m. Only attorneys and DA Investigator Ryan Hill allowed in right now.

Guilty both counts; lewd act upon a child. The jurors found true the special allegation for both counts.

4 jurors stayed, two male, two female and spoke with Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm. They spoke a bit and then went to the conference room with DA Investigator Hill.

No other media or community member was in the courtroom. Just Deputy DA Carolyn Schaffer, Deputy Conflict Counsel RJ Leohner, Victim Witness Advocate and DA Investigator Ryan Hill.

Judge Feeney is only here until next week. He referred Gomez' case to Probation for a pre sentence report and ordered it be ready by June 11 which is the day sentencing is scheduled. Ms. Timm is out all week so she will submit a sentencing letter and another Deputy DA will appear on the case for sentencing.

I covered the trial regularly, posted links several times. You can access all coverage via Google or the search feature on the blog.

Sex offender James Iskra sentenced to three years, 8 months in prison

 

I covered convicted sex offender Alberto Iskra's arrest and court case. He was sentenced today by Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran.

On April 30, Iskra pleaded guilty to Count 1 forcible rape and Count 9 PC 261.5 (c) statutory rape with stipulation to prison terms. 

Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer is the prosecutor for the case. Deputy Public Defender Emery Welton is Iskra's attorney.

I covered his plea in detail and you can look up that post and the one about his arrest on Google or the blog. Court minutes are included.

Video, more information on Facebook about 6th and H

 

Video from 6th and H is only on Facebook and other platforms. 

I updated live on Facebook. All that information was then added to the blog a few minutes later.

If you are wondering why H is blocked from 5th to 6th on H and there is a Eureka Police Department patrol vehicle not allowing traffic on 6th past I. 

12:56 ambulance left with younger white female. 

White Explorer being towed at 12:58. Eureka Police Commander Leonard LaFrance on scene.

I spoke with EPD Commander Leonard LaFrance. EPD is still investigating. DUI is not a factor. "It appears someone ran a red light." Multiple injuries. Juveniles are on scene. EPD is still getting statements and working on getting roadway cleared. 

I appreciate Commander LaFrance providing me with initial details and told him that I will wait for the press release.

EPD arrested Leisel Norman.

Jurors in Trinidad Gomez jury trial ask for readback

Exclusive. Note from Trinidad Gomez jurors a few minutes ago. They are asking for readback of Jane Doe, DA Investigator Ryan Hill and Trinidad Gomez testimony. No one else was around for the note and when attorneys went in to talk to Retired Judge John Feeney.

Court minutes from 5/29 were finally available this morning in Gomez' case. The delay means I could not include this relevant portion yesterday. I cannot post that portion of court minutes because Jane Doe's mother, HJ's full name is mentioned. It is a choice I have made not to include her name even though it is a part of court record.

Retired Judge John Feeney ruled on 5/29 that Gomez' son's statements about HJ being in Gomez' apartment would not be allowed to presented to jurors. Yet, Deputy Conflict Counsel mentioned it in closing arguments.

Court minutes from yesterday are still not available. I don't need them except to verify when jurors went into deliberations. It was at 3 p.m. which was few minutes after I left the courtroom. They were added after my post this afternoon.

Defense requested a mistrial and the reason stated was Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm's cross examination of the defendant. It was denied by Judge Feeney. This was before Gomez took the stand and Ms. Timm continued cross examination. Defense made a second request for mistrial after Gomez finished testifying which was also denied. 

Once again, setting for mental health diversion for Daryl Jones delayed

 

Once again, Conflict Counsel Supervising Attorney Meagan O' Connell is not here for Daryl Jones hearing. Deputy DA Roger Rees went to check a case in Courtroom 1. Humboldt Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Timothy Canning waiting for attorneys.

8:39 she just walked in, now we wait for Mr. Rees. 8:43 Mr. Rees returned.

Judge Canning told attorneys there is no court reporter available today and court proceedings are being recorded.

Mr. Rees said the 170.1 disqualification for Humboldt Superior Court Presiding Judge Neel was prepared and would be filed later today. The reason was given at the last hearing and if you did not read the May 28 post or are a new reader, you can look it up on google or via the search feature on the blog. There is background in that post from my regular coverage and as of May 28 not covered anywhere else and I haven't seen it after that hearing.

This isn't the first time the Humboldt County has disqualified Judge Neel. In 2023, I did this post.

"If Judge Neel files an answer, it can be 30 to 45 days before there is a decision," said Judge Canning. "I am not assuning the 170.1 will be granted."

Mr. Rees said he was not aware about the "45 minutes delay."

Setting was continued to 6/16 to see if Humboldt Superior Court Presiding Judge Kelly Neel files an answer to the disqualification by DA.

Unless Judge Neel files an answer, I am not wasting time sitting in court a third time just for a date to be set, so the June 16 update maybe added to this post. I will make that decision on June 16.

With the amount of crime in Humboldt and other news; most people move on very quickly to the next headline du jour. 

The serious readers are either my subscribers, advertisers or I see them and the alleged victims already know the information.

DA adds one more charge for Gregory Moon's jury trial

 

Today, domestic violence suspect Gregory Moon is to be arraigned on information which are charges for a jury trial and dates will be scheduled.

On 5/27, the DA filed the information and Moon is now charged with one additional count. I have included the complaint in the post. Readiness Conference on 8/13; jury trial on 8/17.

"A innocent person does not need this many excuses"

After jury instructions this morning from Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge John Feeney, Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm gave her closing in alleged molestor Trinidad Gomez' jury trial. I was there after lunch Deputy Conflict Counsel Owen Tipps'closing and most of Ms. Timm's rebuttal. I did not wait to hear concluding instructions or to see the case being turned over to the jury. I do have notes which I will post on the blog later this evening. I did not see any other media when I looked into the courtroom a few times this morning. No other media was there this afternoon for the closing and rebuttal.

There are only two male alternates left.  The make up of the jury is now 7 men and 5 women.

The jury was 6 men and 6 women with three male alternates. Court minutes for 5/29 were not up at the end of the day except for the cover sheet and based on my experience with this court clerk, court minutes won't be up today. I am not staying at the Courthouse until 5 p.m. 

**I had already previously given a warning that there is graphic language because of the nature of the case and this is coverage of court testimony, statements in court and court records. I am not going to do this for every post. People know this is a site for court and crime. **

The closing argument from Mr. Tipps is the worst closing argument I have heard in 12 years; let alone in a molestation case. He was reading from notes and mixed up the examples for circumstantial evidence. I have heard that argument and example given so many times, I wouldn't mix it up.

HJ, Jane Doe's mother, has issues. Those were addressed in Ms. Timm's opening statement. Anyone who saw HJ testify knows she is a problematic witness. HJ is far from mother of the year. I would not demean the word mother and use it for HJ except I have to identify her and cannot use her name because Jane Doe has suffered enough.

Mr. Tipps said the defense and Gomez do not dispute how old Jane Doe was at the time of the alleged incidents.

Mr. Tipps: "Clearly she was touched that night."

Mr. Tipps trying to tell the jury not to be emotional and ignore their morals about HJ and Gomez's "shockingly depraved relationship." Those words were used by Ms. Timm according to Mr. Tipps and they are accurate.

Mr. Tipps himself in his closing described the relationship between HJ and Gomez as "sexual; hypersexual." "Sex consumed their relationship."

I was in disbelief when Mr. Tipps said that the incidents "involved touching; not sex." When he tried to dismiss what Gomez did on the couch as Gomez being concerned that Jane Doe was vold.

Mr. Tipps admitted that Gomez did not report anything to his employer until the allegations came out later and even then, Gomez only informed one employer, Humboldt County Office of Education.

It comes down to Jane Doe and the other witnesses. No one knows what the jury is thinking, especially when they just start deliberations. As deliberations proceed, there are hints.

I was finding it hard to follow Mr. Tipps during closing and I am familiar with the jury instructions he brought up. I was almost falling asleep at the end of the hour due to the repetitive theme.

Ms. Timm addressed the defense's selective interpretations of jury instructions, testimony and evidence. What took Mr. Tipps an hour to repeat, Ms. Timm addressed succinctly.

Ms. Timm: "This case is not about text messages in evidence; it is not about Mr. Gomez and HJ's relationship; it is not about whether Mr. Gomez had a prior history. This case is about what he did to Jane Doe."

"Lewd intent or accident ? typo" The words flashed on the powerpoint presentation as Ms. Timm continued her rebuttal.

"The defense wants you to believe that every act was an accident."

"Every message is a typo."

"How many accidents have to happen before you stop?"

"A innocent person does not need this many excuses." This one sentence was the perfect one liner to shut down Mr. Tipps' entire closing.

Gomez told HJ, "don't use this against me?" If it was not about a 13 year old, why would Gomez say that is a question Ms. Timm presented to the jury.

"There are no messages missing," said Ms. Timm. People's exhibit 4 flashed on the screen."Mr. Gomez plans to molest a child." Ms. Timm read Gomez' words. "It is not going to happen because your child won't stay in bed with you. " "I am going to fuck the shit out of you." 

"During his testimony, Mr. Gomez tried to deflect and say this was sarcasm."

Ms. Timm read another text message and the specific language from Gomez about Jane Doe and said that he"did exactly that to Jane Doe on the couch."

I cover cases from arrest to conclusion. I reported Gomez working at MUSD before the trial. Included below are all the posts I have done on this case with exclusives before anyone else reported or the trial started.

EPD still looking for vehicles involved in Wabash incident from this morning

EPD just issued details about shots fired today on Wabash.

Former Old Town Coffee Chocolates owners request default judgement; court documents show attempt to resolve before filing lawsuit

 

This morning, was the first hearing in a 2025 lawsuit filed on 12/3/25 by Cathy Kunkler and Gail Mentink against Amanda Slinkard. 

All parties are pro per. I have court documents which include the original complaint, first amended complaint, loan documents, text messages and emails showing the attempts at communication which no other media provides on a regular basis.

I am not going to add all the pages and all the court documents but enough for you to see how Slinkard has treated Gail and Cathy. Most of are getting court documents for free, which you would have to pay for or go to the courthouse and look up, most of you invest zero in my independent reporting.

As you can see there have been issues with proof of service and rejection of documents by the court clerk. It is an extremely busy morning with a lot of cases all day today and me having to check multiple times, court minutes not added from last week.

Humboldt Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Timothy Canning may feel differently and cut pro per parties some slack or give them guidance. 

I was in the courtroom today. Judge Canning did.

This morning e court listed a request for a default judgement by Gail and Cathy. However that May 7 request had already been granted which I found out directly from Gail and Cathy. I spoke with them twice today. Today is June 1, that should have been updated in e court. The document was finally entered after my post today.

I did not see Slinkard in the courtroom. She was not in court today.

Judge Canning sent Gail and Cathy to self help and directed them to the next steps to take. There is a dismissal hearing on 10/2/26.

Here are some of the text messages showing the attempts to resolve this before the lawsuit. There are also emails. 

Most locals are familiar with the details and history of why this lawsuit was filed on December 3, 2025. No one is shocked.

Cathy Kunkler and Gail Mentink owners of Old Town Coffee and Chocolates were in business for 20 years. The Old Town Eureka location was the original and Henderson Center location came years later. Both Kunkler and Mentink are respected and liked in the community. 

They retired sold the business to Amanda Slinkard in 2022. I reported on it on October 28, 2022 and mentioned that Slinkard formerly owned Sassafras, another business in Eureka that is closed.

The businesses were never the same under Slinkard's ownership and closed this May. This Friday, when I walked past the Eureka Old Town location, there was a sign saying, "coming back soon."

Cathy and Gail told me they are "optimistic" that the Old Town location will be open again. 

Stu’s Brews will be opening a second location at the former Henderson Center Old Town Coffee and Chocolates.

Laurie Barnwell PRA about Mercer Fraser; you won't see that on Rex Bohn's Facebook page

 

I have been covering these two related lawsuits since 2025 and was the first one to report on both. Brandon Barnwell is one of the parties and his family took on Mercer Fraser in the original lawsuit I reported on in 2025.

I noticed this PRA by Lauri Barnwell.

There was an exparte hearing on in the lawsuit the California Department of Forestry filed against Chalk Mountain and Mercer Fraser. The court minutes are in draft form and not complete as of the end of day on 5/28 or 5/29. I checked several times on 5/28 and 5/29. I checked again on 6/1 and court minutes finally entered after I mentioned it today in my post.

An Order to Show Cause - preliminary injunction is scheduled for 6/12. A Case Management Conference is scheduled on 11/2.

Most of my readers read me daily and have read these posts and know the relevance of the PRA.

If you haven't, you can google or search my blog for details and court records.

If you do not want to because you are lazy and refuse to pay me for a convenient summary, you can just look at the PRA. That alone should be sufficient.

Here are some of the declarations included for the 5/29 hearing. And some of the photos included. I checked and most of photos have a time stamp of 5/22/26.

This information from the PRA about Mercer Fraser is not something you will find on First District Supervisor Rex Bohn's Facebook page where he constantly sings the praises of Justin Zabel and Mercer Fraser. 

I don't have a problem with the May 23 donation by Mercer Fraser because it honors veterans but Rex only gives shout out to certain people. There are many who do good in Humboldt and quietly without recognition. 

The problem is that certain people get these "recognitions" from elected officials and other local "media." They are not held accountable when necessary or written about unless I call the other local media out who then do a token follow up and a sloppy, inconsequential "write up" after I took the risk and wrath.

I do my job and I pay the price every day.

Mercer Fraser and the Barnwell family are opponents in one lawsuit and the PRA is relevant not just to the lawsuit but it is Humboldt County in a nutshell.

One set of rules for the good ole boys and gals and another for the rest of us. Selective hate, selective enforcement and selective targeting and selective protection.

6/1/26: The court minutes are in draft form and were not complete as of the end of day on 5/28 or 5/29. I checked several times on 5/28 and 5/29. I checked again on 6/1 several times and court minutes finally entered this afternoon after I mentioned it today in my post.