Anil, the election is over. You lost bigly. Pick up your signs.

 Anil, the election is over. You lost bigly. Pick up your signs.

Jorden, I have no reason to be nice to you but here is some free Humboldt "justice" 101 tips

Saw Jorden Sterling aka Place earlier this week. He was alone and did not approach me. Later, I found out Courtney Zanone and Jordo are no longer a couple. Hopefully, she is back in Oregon.

Jorden read the tea leaves with the losses in civil cases and move on with your life. Courtney was the one who always instigated contact with me. 

However, Jordo is still filing useless motions in his criminal cases and some civil cases.

Jorden has one pending criminal case. He has done well with the result in three cases and we will see what happens in the 4th criminal case. He got a lucky break because another prosecutor could have gotten a different result. And he missed conviction because of one juror.

I doubt Jordo will listen. I have included minutes and here are updates on two cases.

On 10/30,  CV2601720 in Jorden Place vs Pacific Towing, Mr. Dustin Owens' motion to declare Jorden a vexatious litigant filed by Dustin Owens entry of default filed by Jorden Place was denied without prejudice. Jordo, that wasn't a win. You got handed some slack because you are pro per. 

Humboldt Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Timothy Canning explained his ruling and the statute. While Jordo was not declared a vexatious litigant at that hearing; he was warned he is on the path to that outcome. There is a CMC on 2/1/27. Jordo, I have no reason to be nice to you and you know why. My readers know why. You are no match for most attorneys and you certainly do not chance against Mr. Owens.

On 11/9 in CV2601716, Jorden Place vs Elyssa Zuniga et al which from court documents is drama and fallout from his family law case, Jorden's motion for failure to answer was denied. Jorden, you have custody of your daughter. Get over your obsession with every slight and your exes and stop innundating the civil department with your nonsensical filings. That delays justice and paperwork for others.

Jorden, people with legit claims they can prove in court do not get justice in Humboldt Superior Court. You and all the other pro per litigants mad at rulings in family law cases or pissed at HCSO or the world clogging the court system hurts valid claims. The court system is weaponized by those in power and it works for them. Especially in Humboldt.

People who have provable claims and the law on their side get screwed everyday on the second floor of 825 Fifth Street depending on what judge hears their case, what that day looks like and who gets randomly sacrificed in the name of Humboldt injustice. Just because you feel persecuted does not mean you are. I have read what you filed and your alleged claims.

There is a part of me that understands your frustration but the problem with you is that you are not looking at your choices and how much of your situation is your fault. You don't just get to say and claim what you want in court. You have to prove it with evidence.

Your civil cases are being heard by Humboldt Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Timothy Canning. You are on the radar.

You should have taken the "win" in your three criminal cases. Instead you filed every boiler plate motion on a daily basis for months and even now so many motions that do not make any sense. In addition to all your civil cases, you have a writ of habeas! You are out of custody!

Those interested in what is happening with Jorden's several cases have read my ongoing coverage and the background. I am not linking posts, providing screenshots or background.

Former court clerk's son with two cases, arrested for the third time in 2026

 

Vincent Nelson was arrested by Rio Dell Police Department yesterday. 

I have covered two of his cases including the preliminary hearing in CR2601723 which is scheduled for jury trial on 11/16 and CR2600393 which is trailing. The only two new charges are the ones with a Ramey warrant PC 459/461(a) and VC 10851(a) driving or taking a vehicle without consent.

Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum reduced Count 1 in CR2601723 to attempted voluntary manslaughter.

Nelson's attorney is Ken Bareilles. I have reported what Humboldt County court staff and attorneys know that his mother is former Humboldt Superior Court clerk Brenda Nelson.

Another Humboldt mother in denial and coddling her son which benefits Ken Bareilles because he gets paid. Brenda should know better. Three cases in one year. 25 search results in Humboldt Superior Court when I checked last June.

Supervised release backfired as usual. This is not a shocker to anyone who pays attention to my regular court coverage of As the Humboldt Injustice Turns daily soap opera of bad Democrat laws and lax consequences for criminals.

Attempted murder Dustarta Sanchez has more names than the felonies she is charged with from last week's arrest

I reported on attempted murder Dustarta Serene Sanchez's arrest by EPD last week. The DA filed a complaint today which was her must go date. Alleged victim is John Doe. A handgun is the weapon used in the alleged crimes. She is on a no bail status. Public Defender's Office appointed;  criminal protective order served, OR bail hearing on  11/13; preliminary hearing on 11/20.

Tenant protections will be on the City of Eureka agenda for first meeting in December

I had two separate conversations just while I was out and about with Ward 1 Eureka Councilmember Leslie Castellano and then unexpectedly saw Eureka City Manager  Miles Slattery a few minutes ago. Both of them have been working on a presentation that will be on the first meeting in December about tenant protections.

The City of Eureka efforts towards housing are commendable but I know from talking to various people daily that the need for people who are without a roof over their head has quadrupled. It is due to several reasons including the Humboldt declining economy and local slumlords and greedy landlords. This includes working people just being outpriced by traveling nurses or generational progeny living off daddy's properties and landlords who retaliate against tenants who speak up about habitability.

One major change that needs to happen is the attitude of certain employees of City of Eureka Building, more help and citations from City of Eureka Code Enforcement and Legal Services of Northern California doing more than discouraging people from going to court. Most Humboldt judges have been and are very pro landlord. But we have some new judges and a new Commissioner who is fair and doesn't rule predictably. 

Laws don't do any good when money and greed dictate what happens in courts.

"The Humboldt County BOS meeting this morning included public comments from many long time county staffers who recently received letters notifying them of changes in their classification resulting in a loss of pay and benefits (aka demotion)"

Just received this from Sharon Wolff. I have emailed the CAO's office. And one of my specific questions was, "Are Sheriff Honsal and DHHS Director Connie Beck or any department heads taking a pay cut ?"

I have added her statement to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and the letter she received.

Sharon clarified, "I am not a management employee – I am a confidential employee."

I have known Sharon for years, I previously worked at CWS, I know her from the Rio Dell Times and a court case I covered. I do know other County employees like Donna Becker before I started reporting.

The BOS has money for their raises and to pay the law firm of Liebert, Cassidy Whitmore but not their employees. This law firm threatened me over my coverage of Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell.

Sharon's email:

"The Humboldt County BOS meeting this morning included public comments from many long time county staffers who recently received letters notifying them of changes in their classification resulting in a loss of pay and benefits (aka demotion). This is a county wide initiative being done quietly by Human Resources – most if not all county departments are being impacted but HR has not provided any lists of impacted departments and staff so far.  I would encourage you to review the video and all public comments – including right before they go into closed session about employment issues.  We are in the middle of a years’ long staffing crisis and county staff members are covering multiple positions now due to the high vacancy rate because all of the state and federal mandates remain. This would seem to be a bad choice of timing for “unit modification” efforts that results in taking away pay and benefits to the mid-level staff simply because we are an unrepresented group. We have been told by county HR that there are no appeal rights or ability to fight this which is why they can do this. It is purely up to the BOS at this point but it will impact all county services to some degree."

Sharon's statement to the Humboldt BOS:

Good morning, Chair and Supervisors. My name is Sharon Wolff. I’ve worked for Humboldt County for 26 years, currently I am your legislative analyst in DHHS. I took time off today to speak as an individual.

Last week, a number of my coworkers and I received letters moving our positions out of the Management and Confidential group and into AFSCME. The letter calls it a unit modification, but when it takes away your pay and benefits, it’s a demotion. I’m the most senior person in DHHS affected.

For many of us it means a frozen salary — no step increases or cost-of-living adjustments until the new range catches up — and the loss of administrative leave, vacation conversion, and other benefits.

This comes in the middle of a long-term staffing crisis. You froze hiring in May 2023. As of January, the County’s vacancy rate was nearly 17 percent. The mandates haven’t gone away, so the remaining staff cover the gaps. I’m learning to process timecards along with my own work. I have been working on CARE Court implementation to help fill in the staffing gaps.  Some of my coworkers were told they’re losing M&C status because they’re still doing work “substantially similar” to their old jobs — work they’re doing because we can’t fill the vacancies. They’re being penalized for covering for the freeze.

At last Thursday’s HR meeting, many questions went unanswered. We were told this is happening because it can — as an unrepresented group, we have no formal right to appeal the unit decision.

The letters also say this Board has already approved a grace period for some of our benefits. That means some of this has already come before you, but affected employees were never told when, or what was approved.

These designations were the County’s choice years ago, and changing them now is a choice, too. Many of us are the senior staff working out H.R. 1 implementation and how to minimize the harm to our community. These letters sucked the oxygen out of the room for all county employees — not just those who got one.

I understand the deficit. But there’s a better way. I’m asking you to:

First, grandfather current employees — move positions to AFSCME when they become vacant. You get the savings over time without driving out experienced staff during a hiring freeze.

Secondly, direct HR to communicate with the affected employees including how many positions are involved, the effective dates, and when this Board acted on the grace period.

Thank you.

3:57 p.m. update: County of Humboldt Public Information Manager Cati Gallardo sent me this response. "Hi John,This matter will be considered in open session by the Board of Supervisors at a future meeting. Since the County of Humboldt’s labor negotiations are ongoing, we must maintain the confidentiality of that process. For that reason, we are unable to provide further comment at this time."

Day 2 of the Humboldt Courthouse makeover continues

 

Day 2 of the Humboldt Courthouse makeover continues...The Board of Supervisors finish a short  meeting and then have the day off tomorrow, the government life for electeds subsidized by Humboldt County taxpayers.

Incumbent LA judge lost the election to a newcomer and was removed by CJP this morning

Posted this on Facebook and other platforms earlier.

Exclusive and breaking news since the decision and order isn't even on the California Commission on Judicial Performance site yet. Incumbent LA Judge Robert Draper who decides to fight the CJP in court, lost his election and now was removed by the CJP this morning.

I posted this around the same time as the LA Daily Journal.

I am not adding over 70 pages of the decision and order. I have included some of the pages and two remarks. These don't include all the racist, sexist remarks and behavior. Touching an attorney's hair, telling secretaries, "You better be able to fuck better than you can type." It was Moonbeam that appointed him. Moonbeam also appointed Gregory Kreis, also investigated by the CJP and no longer a judge and can never seek judicial office in California.

Draper intends to ask for a review from the California Supreme Court.

This is someone who spent time in jail with Aunna Bollman and even she sees the danger to the public

 

This is a comment on my Facebook news page on the post I did on Aunna Bollman's OR bail hearing yesterday. 

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/11/aunna-bollman-has-been-monitored-she.html?m=1

No one except Humboldt Superior Court judges think Bollman should be out on the streets. I am glad Valerie shared this comment. In Humboldt, people who succeed and follow the rules of probation and treatment programs or any resource programs are left on their own.

Repeat criminals like Bollman are out on the street and as Valerie said, Bollman does not think she has an issue. She could not even behave in court yesterday for a few minutes, nodding her head during a private conversation between the judge and attorneys. 

If judges are going to jeopardize the public with a woman with 14 criminal cases, 4 restraining orders, request for a 5th and incidents like Valerie that we have not even heard about; then there should not be absolute judicial immunity.

Humboldt Superior Court Judge Heather Durand is very pro CARE court and mental health diversion. There is no monitoring and if they do it for a while; they slack off once they think no one is watching. 

Judge Durand and Bollman's attorney Ken Bareilles think Bollman is safe with an anti psychotic injection and that she should be able to get drunk and get high. Let them have her over at their homes for Thanksgiving. All the enablers can take home the various mentally ill who wander on the streets and the Ciurthouse screaming and threatening others. Law enforcement can do nothing because Humboldt and California has their hands tied.

Full text of Valerie's comment:

"Good word. Last year I spent 3 months in Humboldt County jail and actually yesterday marks one year of successfully completing my probation. But this isn't about me, I spent all 90 days incarcerated with this individual. She is not somebody that we can help because she does not think that she has any issues. She is in complete dilute denial of being mentally ill. While she is stabilized in the jail she is continuously given chances to stabilize and do well in programs and whatnot, which she's capable of doing. She maintained this air of superiority: she's not a criminal, she's not mentally ill, and she shouldn't be in there. Once she's stabilized they can let her out again. She could maybe go into a program again and maybe do well for a while but it won't last. The woman has to have the worst case of borderline personality disorder with some schizoaffective traits that I have ever seen in my life. Zero accountability and no acknowledgement of needing to get better. Two weeks prior to her second-to-last incarceration, LOL, she tried to hit me with her car in the alley by my house and I let the police know. She said I was working for Gregory Christ and plotting against her. We happen to have shared the same attorney, I think, for a little bit but she is so deranged. I really think the only thing that will improve her is to remove her from this county and away from all of her triggers."

Attempt to smuggle one pound of heroin hidden inside Pringles chip cans into jail

 

Michael Meiser, 40, of Lancaster, and a former LASD deputy was sentenced to 5 ½ years in federal prison for possessing more than one pound of heroin – hidden inside Pringles potato chips cans – that he admitted to attempting to smuggle inside a county jail in the Santa Clarita Valley. 

U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California released details.

Sunbelt Rentals sues Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation

Today was the first hearing, a Case Management Conference in a lawsuit filed by Sunbelt Rentals against Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation.

Sunbelt Rentals is represented by Palm Desert attorney Mr. John Guerrini. An entry of default filed on 10/13/26. 

Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation's response was a cross complaint filed on 11/5/26 and they represented by local Mitchell Law Firm.

Sunbelt requested a 90 day continuance of the CMC to 2/8/27.

Attorneys have access to the documents online or the file. For everyone else,I have included some of the pertinent pages of the complaint and some exhibits by SunBelt.

Mechanics lien keyword in SunBelt's complaint. Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation breach of express contractual indemnity.

The real story is that can Sunbelt get a fair shake in uber progressive Humboldt where Cal Poly Humboldt has liberal politicians, the good ole boy left and the greedy right salivate over that Cal Poly Humboldt money, the rabid Cal Poly "students",  "activists who will attack this post and descend on anyone who appreciates me reporting on a valid lawsuit as well as the liberal local media who will either ignore this or their "court coverage" will be a spin and fluff PR piece in favor of Cal Poly Humboldt.

Gav who luvs criminals thinks it is okay to appoint his former employee who was convicted of domestic violence and child abuse

 

(Nathan Ballard: Napa County Sheriff's Office)

On Friday, California Gavin Newsom's Press Office included this appointment. Other than giving the appointment to someone who worked for him, Gav who luvs criminals and his press office left out Ballard's criminal record.

Humboldt Courthouse's new look

 

Aunna Bollman has been monitored, she was given a chance, she continues to threaten people and Judge Durand is considering release?

Humboldt Superior Court Heather Durand asked   Deputy Trent Timm and Aunna Bollman's attorney, Ken Bareilles, to approach the bench. Despite this being Bollman's 14th criminal case, 4 restraining orders with a 5th request pending and Bollman screwing up her mental health diversion and a chance already given by Humboldt Superior Court Steven Steward; Judge Durand's solution was to put over Bollman's OR bail hearing for the third time to 11/13.  

"Defendant or defense counsel will check with WellPath if she can take her a long acting injection of antipsychotic medication. She will remain on no bail hold pending Friday's hearing."

Responding to City of Eureka's Lisa Sharkey, Judge Durand said there is a possibility Bollman could be released. "We will discuss it further Friday. Her use of alcohol, cannabis needs to be closely monitored along with her anti psychotic medication."

PG & E investigating outage in downtown Eureka on 4th street

Power in rest of the Courthouse except 5th floor. Employees were sent home.

10:23 a.m. PG & E investigating outage in downtown Eureka on 4th street. Not a lot of details available yet.

10:41 a.m.  power expected back by 3:15 p.m.

11:55 a.m. power restored.

"Every vote matters, and in a close election, even a relatively small number of unreported ballots can change the outcome."

 

Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has launched an investigation after officials discovered a discrepancy in their post-election checks changing the current unofficial outcome of one of the state House races.

He did this after a memory card was discovered containing several hundred uncounted 2026 Election Day votes from Seminole County voters.

Dennis Mayo made the right choice to hire Patrik Griego in his DUI case

 

Dennis Mayo was arraigned on 11/4 in his misdemeanor DUI case. He has retained Mr. Patrik Griego which was a smart decision. When I spoke him earlier this year; I told him that would be a wise choice.

Trial confirmation is on 2/17/27; jury trial on  2/22/27.

I have know Dennis for years. He is one of the few people in Humboldt who has not changed how he treats me after I started reporting.

Convicted molestor and sex offender Salvador Gomez resolves case before jury trial

 

I covered  convicted molestor and sex offender Savador Gomez's case since his arrest. I have been adding updates to the July 8, 2025 post.

On 11/3/26, Gomez entered a conditional plea to Count 1 PC 289 (a) (1) (c) forcible sexual penetration by a foreign object for an 10 year upper term in prison, admitted to aggravating factors, that the victim was vulnerable and he took advantage of a position of trust and has to register as a sex offender. Counts 2, 3, 4, 5 and special allegations for Count 1 and 2 dismissed by the People. 

The DA added additional counts for the jury trial but with the dismissals, they are moot. Gomez is ineligible for probation. He would be a fool to withdraw this plea deal.