Records subpoenaed from Building and Planning and St. Joe's in Humboldt human trafficking suspect case

 

(HCSO's arrest of Tonev)

Human trafficking suspect had two 2026 cases on calendar today on 3/26. CR2600915 is the case filed first and is scheduled for preliminary hearing. In this case, the Humboldt County DA has subpoenaed 4 manila envelopes from Humboldt Building and Planning yesterday. I already reported that on 3/18, DA subpoenaed records from St. Joseph's Hospital.

CR2601052 the second case is on for motion to examine bail. In that second case, preliminary hearing is scheduled for 4/3.

Deputy DA Carolyn Schaffer appeared on the case instead of Deputy DA Rebecca Buckley-Stein. Ms Andrea Sullivan is Tonev's attorney.

Whether the preliminary hearing in the first case proceeds or not is unknown until the case is called and certain other issues are addressed.

I am posting this preview before the hearing. 

10:56 a.m.: Tonev released on first file without having to pay $465,000 bail. DA choses to have contested hearing on $25,000 in second case which will be held this afternoon. If defense wins that as well, Tonev will be released from custody. Both preliminary hearings now on 4/3. Defense had two witnesses ready today. Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum asked attorneys today to come back at 1:30.

If you followed my coverage on this case, you know the background. HCSO Deputy Pryoor was ordered to be here today by Humboldt Superior Court Judge Steven Steward. Instead he is at the training in Illinois.

I will try and add  remarks from the morning's hearing before 1:30 or update all of it later. No other media in court. No other media has been at every hearing. I have.

I do have concerns about this CA bill charging for public records but I blame people like Kent Sawatzky

Assembly Bill 1821, authored by California Democrat Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco would allow public agencies to charge if government workers spend more than a certain amount of hours within a month looking for documents requested by the same person. 

I have mixed feelings about this and it is because of the next two paragraphs I highlighted in italics.

The proposal would apply to most people, with exemptions for journalists and educational or scientific institutions.

Californians have a constitutional right to government records but Pacheco says it aims to discourage filers who abuse.

For those familiar with Kent Sawatzky in Humboldt; I know the County PIOs and local media are; he is the kind of person who should pay. Unfortunately as many First Amendment experts have pointed out; this will affect others.

There is another possibility behind this bill that you won't see covered by the Democrat spin media. The timing of this is suspicious when California fraud is being uncovered.

It is a busy day and I purposely did not put in the amount of hours because people need to.put in some effort and read legislation or start supporting journalism that is not fluff, spin and controlled by good ole boys and gals or either political party. When I have time, I will look into in further, could be today or all the local media with the big bucks and multiple staff could do some actual reporting that requires something other than calling or emailing the First Amendment Coalition.

Lost Coast Pest Control loses Mother Bernard lawsuit, wins against Redwood Cabins but that judgement maybe temporary

On March 21, I did a post on a lawsuit filed by Lost Coast Pest Control against Mother Bernard House. LCPC lost that small claims case.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/03/another-lawsuit-against-providences.html?m=1#more

Lost Coast Pest Control has filed another small claims hearing against Redwood Cabins and RV resort. On 2/26/26, there was a small claims hearing and judgement was entered in favor of Lost Coast Pest Control. 

Whether LCPC's win is permanent is yet to be determined.

Redwood Cabins filed a motion to set aside that judgement but there was no proof of service because they did not know the other party had to be notified. You don't even have to be a lawyer to know that basic concept; just have common sense. The 3/25/26 hearing on the motion to vacate was continued to 4/24/26.

For those who don't want to read the court minutes, another lawsuit about money owed for rest of contract.

Max Wolfe arrested by Fortuna PD for forgery and check fraud

Max Allen Wolfe was arrested by Fortuna Police Department yesterday for PC 470 (a) forgery and  PC 476 check fraud.

The name looked familiar and when I searched my blog, I found a November 2024 post about Fortuna resident Max Wolfe who was injured in a hit and run being investigated by CHP.

Max Allen Wolfe has two traffic cases and four criminal cases in Humboldt Superior Court. He has a failure to appear in one 2024 case which is for petty theft. He has convictions in both traffic cases and convictions in the other criminal cases for two probation violations, firearm charges with some firearm and drug charges dismissed in one of the cases as a part of the plea.

LA law firm representing former French Laundry employee in California labor code violations lawsuit

 

Elena Flows Beteta worked at the French Laundry as a worked as a dishwasher from 2022-2025. Beteta s suing French Laundry Corporation, French Laundry Partners, LP and KRM, Inc. which does business as the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group over alleged pay and break violations of the California labor code.

The lawsuit was filed on March 19, 2026 in Napa Superior Court by LA's Koul Law Firm.

Beteta is suing on behalf of her and “over fifty current and former aggrieved employees."

LA deputy arrested for three felonies involving a minor; bail is $300,000

 

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested after an investigation into allegations of off-duty sexual misconduct.

Getting arrested for a DUI near EPD headquarters

 

Getting arrested for a DUI near EPD headquarters. At least the DUI suspect was drunk. 

What's the excuse for LOCO's errors?

LOCO thinks EPD and RDPD are the same? Photos by RDPD. The text says contact RDPD Sgt.

The press release is also days old because David Bourland was arraigned this afternoon.

Since I was not in the courtroom, I dont know what other errors were made in LOCO's reporting of the Christopher Diven preliminary hearing. The name of the witness who had a medical emergency is one error. 

I have court minutes which I have added  to yesterday's post.  I hope enough readers saw the LOCO screenshot posted below before the court minutes. LOCO has access to my blog and Facebook page as well as other coverage just as anyone else and they could edit the article. I posted earlier about the morning developments in Diven's hearing. If LOCO staff is going to sit in a courtroom, they can also add some quotes . The information in the court minutes has the same information and more relevant information than what LOCO posted.

Robert Schaulis from the Times Standard spelled the witness' name  spelled and posted two articles on the same case. Maybe LOCO should have hired Robert?

I covered several other cases this week instead of wasting time on the Diven case which is yet another Humboldt drama homicide of a woman sleeping or having an affair with two men and one ends up dead. Whether Retired Judge Christopher Wilson strikes the MIA witness' testimony or not; at a jury trial, she is not a credible witness. The DA should make Diven an offer for a plea.

Criminals should not dictate the system; "judge shopping" adding to an already chaotic busy Humboldt court calendar

 

Two cases were continued from today to tomorrow. In the Georgi Tonev case for good cause. Both the DA and defense had valid reasons.

In the Analia Martinez case, the Public Defender Luke Brownfield made an oral motion in court to disqualify Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran because they knew that repeat offender Analia Martinez stood no chance with a law and order judge. Her OR bail is now in front of Judge Cockrum is the one who let Analia Martinez out on diversion. She failed. Judge Cockrum remanded her on Monday. 

It is already another busy day tomorrow with another 20 court cases, all day long. What's two more defendants with multiple cases? Continuances like the Analia Martinez case are unnecessary because "judge shopping" does not change the facts of repeat offender's actions. It does endanger public safety.

The judges are exhausted, the attorneys are exhausted, the court staff is exhausted and law enforcement is exhausted. My readers already know I am exhausted. After 12 years, this schedule and chaos is impossible and the ones who created this mess aka elected officials and the soft on crime California Governor Gavin Newsom are in their ivory towers letting the criminals work the system.

San Jose man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for child pornography conviction

 

San Jose resident Christopher Schuette was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in federal prison. This was for his conviction for possession of child pornography and attempted enticement of a minor.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California just issued a press release.

Maybe if California did not make breaking the law and crimes such as violating a protective order a misdemeanor, victims would not be repeatedly in danger

 

Travis Danial Nelson arrested by HCSO for PC 273.6 violating a protective order. Another arrest which is a waste of law enforcement's time and court resources.

Nelson had one 2026 case filed on 2/24/26 which for a HCSO arrest for Count 1 PC 273.6 (d) disobeying a domestic relations court order as a felony. The court order was issued for a Butte County case. That charge included that Nelson had been previously convicted of a violation of Section 136. 2 (i) and Count 2 was vandalism. The DA dismissed this case with a Harvey waiver. 

Nelson had another 2026 case which was for a Eureka Police Department filed 2/10/26 in which he entered a plea on 2/24/26 and entered a guilty plea to Count 2 PC 243 (e) domestic battery (1) as a misdemeanor instead of PC 273.5 (a) domestic violence and Count 4 PC 594 (b) (2) (a) vandalism. Same victim in both 2026 cases.

Counts 1 violation of a protective orderas a felony  and Count petty theft 3 were dismissed by the DA. Humboldt Superior Court Judge Cockrum placed Nelson on three years probation with no jail time. He has a review hearing in this case on 4/3/26.

Maybe if California did not make breaking the law and crimes such as violating a protective order a misdemeanor, victims would not be repeatedly in danger.

DA charges Josalyn Spagel with statutory rape and oral copulation of two male minor victims

 

I did a post on Josalyn Spagel's March 21 arrest which has some information on her including her other Humboldt Superior court case.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/03/josalyn-spagel-arrested-by-apd-and.html?m=1

Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm filed a complaint today charging Spagel with four misdemeanors. Count 1 and Count 2 PC 261.5 (c) more commonly known as statutory rape. Count 3 and 4 PC 287 (b) (1) oral copulation of a minor. There are two male minor victims.

2:12 p.m.: Arraignment was just completed. Spagel sat in court with her head down until her case was called. Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran set bail at $20,000. 

Spagel said she can afford to hire an attorney, then mumbled something about being unsure so Judge Killoran appointed Conflict Counsel. She has a shaved head. Very different look than Facebook profiles.

Referral made for a supervised release report. OR bail on 3/27; trial confirmation on 4/7 and jury trial on 4/13.

I have included the detailed complaint. The complaint has a merged EPD case note. What that means might have to wait until the preliminary hearing.

Elections office says ranked choice voting will begin in 2028; not 2026

Humboldt County Elections office released the following statement just now.

Georgi Tonev charged in second case with human trafficking, intentional theft of wages, possession and cultivation of marijuana

 

The Humboldt County District Attorney's Office has filed another case against human trafficking suspect Georgi Tonev. Arraignment originally scheduled for the afternoon was moved to the morning when the preliminary hearing for the first case is scheduled. The DA has filed a declaration and Order Shortening Time and a statement of probable cause as well as a declaration and motion to examine source of bail which is not in the system and the file for the second case is already with the judge.

Tonev already has a preliminary hearing scheduled in the morning in the first case. In that first case, on 3/18/26, the DA subpoenaed records from St. Joseph Hospital.

3/25/26: In CR2600915, preliminary hearing continued to 3/26. Deputy DA Carolyn Schaffer appeared on the case instead of Deputy DA Rebecca Buckley-Stein. Ms Andrea Sullivan is Tonev's attorney. In CR2601052, Tonev was arraigned and motion to examine bail was continued to 3/26. Preliminary hearing in this case is on 4/3. I will add a few more remarks from my notes from the courtroom this weekend.

"California is a safe haven for reproductive rights and gender-affirming care. In the face of ongoing attacks by the Trump Administration, I’m proud to sponsor legislation that strengthens our role as a safe haven."

 

California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced sponsoring three bills that strengthen protections for patient access to and provider delivery of reproductive health care and gender-affirming care in California. 

HCSO Deputy Shane Steele testifies at convicted felon Christopher Diven's preliminary hearing

 

Convicted felon Christopher Diven has five open cases. Three 2026 cases; one 2025 case and one 2022 co-defendant case. I have covered Diven since 2022.

There were several people in Courtroom 4 today for Christopher Diven's preliminary hearings in the murder and firearm case. This was a special set today. Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge Christopher Wilson is in Courtroom 4 today. Two of Diven's cases were consolidated into one preliminary hearing.

HCSO Detective Shane Steele the only law enforcement witness today started the testimony at 9:30, was testifying at 9:45 a.m. and still on the stand at 10:15 a.m.

The preliminary hearing is still going on at 3:25 and was continued to tomorrow morning.

Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer is the prosecutor on this case. Deputy Public Defender Ryan McClurg is LaBranche's attorney.

There are a lot of other cases I am covering today that no other media has covered or is covering including this one and I am posting live  all day so I will update the post with the outcome and court minutes. Tomorrow morning, it is the same situation and there are other cases more people are interested at the same time.

The court clerk did an excellent job with details and exhibits in the court minutes.

Details on all of Diven's cases and all previous coverage can be accessed via links I have provided.

Convicted molestor and sexual batterer Jarred Vaughan sentenced to 4 years in prison; has almost two years in custody credits

 

This morning, Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran sentenced convicted molestor and sexual batterer Jarred Vaughan to 4 years in prison. He has 641 custody credits.

Vaughan resolved his case before preliminary hearing. He pleaded guilty to Count 3, PC 261 .5 (c) unlawful sexual intercourse; Count 4 PC 261. 5 (d) unlawful sexual intercourse ; Count 5 PC 287 (b) oral copulation with a minor and Count 6 PC 287 (b) (2) oral copulation. Counts 1, 2, and 7 were dismissed.

Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer is the prosecutor for this case. Deputy Conflict Counsel Zach Curtis is Vaughan's attorney.

Court minutes from today have more details. Links to previous coverage are provided which have details. 

First Amended complaint filed in Ray Christie's federal lawsuit against County of Humboldt

 

On 3/23/26, an amended complaint was filed in rancher Ray Christie's case against the County of Humboldt.

Larson LLP partner, Mr. Rick Richmond, is representing Christie. The case has been assigned to Judge Noel Wise at the San Jose location. Humboldt County Deputy Counsel Joel Campbell-Blair is representing the defenants from County of Humboldt.

Last I checked, the  County's motion to dismiss was scheduled for 6/3/26. Today was the dealine for Ray Christie's lawyers to respond to the County's motion to dismiss. The County of Humboldt then gets to file a reply to that response.

I am not posting the entire 77 page first amended complaint. I have included photos, table of contents, relief Ray Christie is seeking and highlighted some excerpts. There is some new information including the mention of Humboldt County First District Supervisor Rex Bohn.

I hope this case makes national headlines and exposes Humboldt and the arrogance of those who destroy lives, reputations and how justice in Humboldt Superior Court if you are not a part of the Humboldt clique and cabal is non-existent.

Read for yourself the 35 count unified complaint for Daryl Jones

 

(Photo from preliminary hearing: John Chiv)

Tomorrow morning, terroristic and criminal threat suspect Daryl Jones is scheduled to be arraigned on information. There is nothing that happens at that hearing usually than not guilty pleas being entered and future dates being set.

I already have the charges. With 20 cases on all day and several other cases of interest on at the same time in the morning, I will cover Jones and update the post but I don't need to sit in a courtroom for dates. Anything could happen such as a last minute plea or a motion filed but I did not see anything when I left the Courthouse today. Even if that happens, it can be added later. I am just going to show up at the Courthouse tomorrow and do what I have for 12 years; cover multiple courtrooms and post based on experience, observation and the trust you have put in me for 12 years. Attorneys having to be in multiple courtrooms determines what gets called and no one knows until tomorrow morning how that will work.

People lived what happened; I did very detailed coverage of the preliminary hearing. At this point, the community is only interested in seeing consequences.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees had mentioned a unified information. If you read my last post, you know. If you look at the document I have included, you will understand.

Link to previous post I did on Jones which gives you access to all coverage of the preliminary hearing and all prior coverage on the case.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/03/judge-canning-holds-daryl-jones-to.html?m=1#more

I have included the 35 count unified information. Conflict Counsel Supervising Attorney Meagan O'Connell is Jones' attorney.

3/24: Trial setting on May 28. Jones in an orange jumpsuit.