Jury selection started late this morning in Destinee Rhamy's 2023 homicide case

 

Several trials are scheduled to start today and I was at the courthouse this morning checking on the three I have covered regularly. No other media has covered the other two cases and no other media has regularly followed homicide suspect Destinee Rhamy's case. 

Ms. Andrea Sullivan was appointed to represent Rhamy. It was good to see her back in Humboldt County this morning. Ms. Sullivan represents clients all over California and recently had a trial conclude in Riverside County.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees is the prosecutor for this case.

The trial had been assigned to Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge John Feeney. Jury selection is taking place in Courtroom 5 which was closed this morning except to attorneys and Rhamy so I didn't get a chance to confirm if it is still Judge Feeney. He was in Courtroom 2 last week. E court says Judge Lawrence Killoran.

I have linked previous coverage in this post including two previous Marsden motions Rhamy tried and were denied. I only include this because Rhany was all chummy with Ms. Sullivan this morning.  My trial coverage will only include posts on the trial.

Mr. Rees and Ms. Sullivan went in 9:56 a.m. with Rhamy who is out of custody. Rhamy had a younger woman with her waiting before the courtroom opened who left and said, "see you later."

Also sitting outside the courtroom were Victim Witness Advocate MH with the mother of Holland Renee Elbik. Jury selection was delayed until 11, since they are waiting on three or four jurors. They started coming into the courtroom at 11:08 including a local civil lawyer. If he is not selected and excused; I will add his name later.

Just to address any gossip or rumors because I know the second floor well; I will disclose this since there were other people around who can vouch. I talk to attorneys, I talk to court staff about general things. At one point, Ms. Sullivan was using the court computer, she was with Rhamy so I did not go in; when I saw Ms. Sullivan gp into courtroom 5, I went to use the computer and Rhamy daid, "Andrea is logged in." I told Rhamy she was in the courtroom and then Rhamy left.

Elbik's mother heard me talking to people. She asked, if I was John Chiv. I said "yes." She said, I read your blog and said others follow my coverage. I told her sorry to meet you under these circumstances and I would talk to her after the trial.

Nothing I said to Rhamy or the victim's mother has anything to do with the case other than pleasantries. Potential jurors who know me say hi. I explain that other than that, best to talk after they are excused or the trial.

I should not have to explain myself after 12 years but this is Humboldt and anyone who has followed me or has been on the second floor of the Humboldt courthouse knows sometimes fiction is truer than the lies and smears spread in that building and not just about me.

Is Curt Davis still in Eureka, Pasadena or ?

 

I was the first one to report last June that former City of Eureka deputy attorney Curt Davis was terminated. I am not going to link all the posts I have done on him including the last on January 16, 2026 where he was a no show again for a hearing, did not bother to file a response and was sanctioned $650 by Humboldt Superior Court Judge Timothy Canning.

Davis started his own law firm in Eureka working with his brother. I don't see him at the Courthouse often but that applies to several local attorneys. 

I check the State of California website often; for various reasons. Checked his profile and his Linkedin profile. He is not on the Pasadena law firm Domb & Rauchwerger website but it is on his Linkedin and California bar profile. Whether he is on contract with them or employed there; I will find out this week or eventually. Couldn't pull up his Eureka Curtis Davis Law PC website. 

Smartest decision made by City of Eureka was to hire Greg Holtz

 

(Photo: Greg Holtz Law

If you read me regularly, you may have noticed a familiar name in lawsuits filed by the City of Eureka. Mr. Greg Holtz, previously of Legal Services of Northern California, has his own law firm has contracted with the City of Eureka. This can be a plus for the City if the Council and City Manager use him wisely and don't eff up the one smart decision they have made recently. I got to briefly chat with him on Friday while he was waiting for Courtroom 4 to open.

Third case filed for Victor Phetsomphou; this one for indecent exposure

 

The Humboldt County DA filed charges in a 2026 case for Victor Anakin Phetsomphou. The charges were filed 2/11; an arrest warrant was issued on 2/19. Arraignment is on 3/11 when Phtemsomphou's two other cases are scheduled for preliminary hearing.

This is for Cal Poly Humboldt arrest and Phetsomphou is charged with PC 314 (1) indecent exposure.

This is how busy it has been with Humboldt courts that I have been checking regularly about  charges for Phetsomphou for the December 2025 arrest but had to wait to post this because the arraignment isn't until March.

I already reported on two other cases he had. In addition to the daily 20 plus cases, multiple continuances, repeat offenders, waiting on minutes for days because court staff is also impacted, the DA's office has to wait on arrest warrants, reports and I have 20 cases on an average to follow up daily while doing other news and national coverage.

The useless California and Humboldt elected officials know this situation is out of control. They don't care how this affects others despite being repeatedly told but neither do the people who refuse to speak up for those who inform and protect you. Especially those with money and power in Humboldt. The few who try are ignored by the same officials.

It is the elected officials' fault and they  continue to be the useless, selfish leeches collecting paychecks instead of improving the situation. Every single one of them would be fired in private industry.

Convicted molestor and Navajo Nation member sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison and 15 years of supervised release

 

30 year old Arizona resident and a Navajo Nation member Avery Billy, was sentenced this week to 188 months in prison after which he will be on 180 months of supervised release for the sexual abuse of two young girls who lived on Navajo nation. The victims were in first grade when Billy started abusing them.

Max Aylward arrested by EPD for indecent exposure, resisting arrest and being drunk in public

 

Max Trenton Aylward was arrested by Eureka Police Department yesterday for PC 314 (1) indecent exposure, PC 148(a)(1) resisting arrest and PC 647 (f) drunk in public.

These are all misdemeanors. Unless this happened near a school or there is any other reason, this is just one of hundreds of cases that will go nowhere. Based on 12 years of covering Humboldt courts, there are going to be no consequences.

33 year old San Francisco man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for production, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material

 

33 year old Henry Muller has been in custody since his arrest in 2023. The U.S. Attorney's Office of Northern District California issued a press release this evening about Muller being sentenced on February 12, 2026 to 20 Years in federal prison for production, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material. In addition to the prison term, Judge Edward Chen sentenced Muller to a 15-year period of supervised release which will start after his term of imprisonment.

Muller's prosecution was a result of an investigation by the FBI and San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

APD arrests Kason Severe for probation violation, firearm and drug charges

Arcata Police Department arrested repeat offender Kason Severe yesterday. APD received a tip Severe was attempting to sell an illegal firearm on Snapchat and was in possession of controlled substances.

Weitchpec's Molli Myers appointed by Newsom to NCWQCB

 

(Photo :Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group)

"Molli Myers, of Weitchpec, has been appointed to the North Coast Water Quality Control Board.  Myers has been the Chief Operating Officer for the Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group since 2022. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Myers is a Democrat." --Just released by Governor Gavin Newsom's Office of Appointments.

Once again, Humboldt Superior Court Dept 6 appointment MIA

Yesterday, another judicial appointments press release from California Governor Gavin Newsom's Office. Once again, Humboldt Department 6 temporary appointment MIA.

They shouldn't have said it won't be on the ballot this June before making an appointment. Candidates have a March 6 deadline & for months, Humboldt courts are having to pay Retired or Visiting judges.

Local attorney Elan Firpo sued for breach of contract by Cassie Brown

 

(Photo from Stokes, Hamer, Kirk, Firpo & Auwarter, LLP website, Firpo is second from left)

I have covered Ms. Elan Firpo for years. First as a former Humboldt Deputy District Attorney. Regular, longtime readers will remember her from my coverage of the Bodhi tree case. She also ran for DA in 2014. I covered her campaign. She had her own law firm, Firpo Law Firm right by the Courthouse but most recently is an attorney at Stokes, Hamer, Kirk, Firpo & Auwarter, LLP.

Today, there was a case management conference scheduled in a breach of contract lawsuit filed on 8/20/25 by Cassie Brown vs Elan Firpo. Civil minutes could be up very late today or days later. 

There is a demurrer scheduled on 3/9/26 and there is an update that the CMC is set to coincide with demurrer. There is also a 4/24/26 hearing on Order to show cause for failure to appear.

Brown is represented by Oakland attorney Michael R. Huff Oakland who has filed an opposition to the demurrer.

Ms. Firpo has hired William A. Munoz and Bill Munoz of Freeman, Mathis, Gary LLP which is Roseville law firm.

I have included the complaint and other court documents if you want details.

Another California civil attorney contacted me after the post saying, "This is a malpractice case.  Professional negligence = malpractice."

Got to give a shout out to Humboldt County Sherrif's Office

 

(Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal)

(Humboldt County Undersheriff JD Braud)

Got to give a shout out to Humboldt County Sheriff's Office for their timely press releases, some the same day of arrests & their professionalism in prompt responses & treating all media fairly. This is a small, rural County, also short staffed & they deserve kudos for all they do.

Convicted felon Gilbert Barff arrested on drug and child abuse charges

On Feb. 19., at 7:42 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff deputies, assisted by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Team served a search warrant at a residence located in the 2300 block of Lee Ln. in Eureka.  

Got to agree with Gavin on this one after the Supreme Court 6-3 ruling

Got to agree with California Governor Gavin Newsom on this one. The people deserve refund checks from President Donald Trump because cost of living was already high & businesses, especially corporate screwed the people.

The U.S. Supreme Court in a 6-3 ruling said that the tariffs exceed the powers given to the president by Congress under a 1977 law providing him the authority to regulate commerce during national emergencies created by foreign threats.

The court did not weigh in on whether or how the federal government should provide refunds to the importers who have paid the tariffs, estimated in 2025 at more than $200 billion. Before the importers, the people in the U.S. deserve refunds.

Even though it was not all tariffs, this administration needs to read the tea leaves that they are losing people regarding Epstein files; people support Tom Homan but not the Noem, Lewandowski, Miller tactics. The Supreme Court is not a guarantee for this administration.

When convicted sex offender and statutory rapist Jared Johnson is sentenced, the three strikes law applies

 

(2024)

(2022)

I covered Jared Johnson in 2022 and his arrest on December 30, 2024 for alleged sex crimes involving a minor. His criminal history also includes a 2023 case and details are in previous coverage.

Johnson was arraigned on charges for the sex crimes involving a minor on 1/2/25. There were several continuances of his preliminary hearing. On 2/18/26, instead of apreliminary hearing in CR2500019, Johnson entered a plea which was taken by Humboldt Superior Court Judge Cockrum.

Johnson has to register as a sex offender; he  pleaded guilty to added Count 3 PC 261.5 (c) statutory rape and admitted special allegation PC 667 b (i) which is California's three strikes sentencing enhancement. Counts 1 and 2 were dismissed.

Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm is the prosecutor for the case. Deputy Public Defender Wade Orbelian is Johnson's attorney.

Sentencing is on 3/12.

Salisha Dean 2025 case dismissed today by the DA

 

I did two previous posts on Salisha Danale Dean who was arrested by EPD last August.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/12/failure-to-appear-in-court-arrest.html?

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/08/if-salisha-dean-arrested-by-epd-for.html?m=1

Today, there was trial confirmation scheduled in CR2502364. Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge dismissed the case on the motion by Deputy District Attorney Matt Dobie. Deputy Conflict Counsel Owen Tipps is Dean's attorney.

Sparrow Albritton charged in her second case with 3 felonies for statutory rape and 3 felonies for lewd act on a minor

 

Sparrow Albritton was arrested twice last year. In October for statutory rape and in December for DUI and child endangerment. Charges were filed for the December arrest; CHP is the agency.

The DA's office was waiting on the report and arrest warrant information from Fortuna PD and I have been checking regularly. Yesterday, nothing had been filed when I checked; later in the day, the complaint by Humboldt Deputy District Attorney was entered in the system. Arraignment in the Fortuna case is for statutory rape, alleged molestation is on 3/17/26 which is the same day as the preliminary hearing for the DUI child abuse case. Albritton is charged with three felonies for PC 261.5 (d) statutory rape and three felonies for PC 288 (c) (1) lewd act on a child. Alleged victim John Doe.

2020 failed Eureka Council candidate Tamar Shirley is suing Humboldt Judge April Van Dyke

2020 failed Eureka Council Ward candidate Tamar Shirley who went MIA after qualification. He has filed a lawsuit against Humboldt Superior Court Judge April Van Dyke alleging civil rights violation, violation of due process, violation of equal protection, acts outside judicial capacity, declaratory and injunctive relief

There is a hearing on a request for demurrer with prejudice scheduled with Justice Stuart Pollak via Zoom today. All Humboldt Superior Judges recused themselves.

Ms. Sharon Nagle is representing Judge Van Dyke. Shirley is pro per. He did not file opposition to demurrer as of 2/11. Shirley was not in court. Demurrer sustained. Case dismissed.

Shirley is not only stupid but he is clueless that you can't sue judge. Especially, if you just don't like the ruling. 

Most of the points I was going to make are listed in court documents filed on behalf of Judge Van Dyke. The California Commission on Judicial Performance would laugh if Shirley even bothered to contact them. Only in Humboldt is there this kind of nonsense allowed to waste court time. 

Shirley has not listed his middle name & I am not wasting time I dont have looking through every one of 36 searches to list every conviction or outcome in Humboldt Superior Court but most of the cases have a D and the same middle name Demetrious Dewayne & I checked the address in the civil lawsuit against other court documents.