These are the two posts I did on Brian Harrison's misdemeanor trial. The June 10 post has details on Harrisons prior cases, convictions, attorneys and how Humboldt Superior Court Judge April Van Dyke ended up being assigned the trial.
On June 11, jurors were asked to come back at 10:30. Deliberations had not started for that day. At2:30 p.m. Verdict in Harrison case. Sentencing took place on June 12.
Deputy District Attorney Matt Dobie is the prosecutor. This is his 4th jury trial and his first mixed verdict.
Deputy Public Defender Ehvan Schectman is Harrison's attorney and was assisted by new Deputy Public Defender Lauren LaBow.
I have included June 11 court minutes. I observed jurors waiting, I observed Mr. Dobie attempting to contact the victim after the verdict. I was not in the courtroom for the verdict. I have also included the June 12 court minutes. The victim did not say anything. A protective order was filed and served on Harrison. He was placed on 3 years probation and sentenced to 5 days in jail covered by custody credits.
The jury was deadlocked on Count 1 domestic violence. They reached an unanimous verdict on Count 2 false imprisonment.
This is where the post should have ended. It has not because of selfish, petty Humboldt Karens.
What I have gone through every day for the last 12 years, most of you do not understand. Nor do you want to or give a damn. Those who do understand somewhat are law enforcement, attorneys and those who work for the courts. Of those, there are very few who do support and care about my well being. The same applies to my readers.
The last two months are not the worst I have gone through Humboldt in 22 years because the same vile harassment, targeting, attacking and exhausting me has been done constantly by the evil that is threatened or angry and miserable.What the reasons are is not my problem. Fix your issues instead of spewing your toxic bile. Instead, they try and destroy anyone who stays strong despite tadversity.
Humboldt can dish it out; but can't handle it when the tables are turned.
You read my Trinidad Gomez case. There was interference in my covering that case. I am not rehashing what happened. I wrote about it and I had to contact law enforcement just so I could get work done. Then, there was a white woman juror in that case who I don't know. She was rude and specifically directed it at me. None of the other jurors had an issue with me being there. She suggested they go into a conference room. I respect jurors but there have been problem jurors because Humboldt has a limited jury pool and this County is full of unhappy people who won't look in the mirror. They act out their power issues.
People have seen what is being done to me as I cover the Miranda's Rescue investigation. Not everyone speaks up in public or at all because there are many fearful cowards in Humboldt. That is why abuse of power and corruption is not held accountable.
The jurors in the Harrison case discussed their verdict on the second floor in the hallway. I was checking on court minutes which is in a room next to Courtroom 5 where they were standing and I was waiting for another courtroom to open.
What happened with one specific person was uneccessary and petty and done to hurt me and she used her position as a juror for her personal agenda.
This person recognizes who I am from the Courthouse. So did a few other jurors in this case. Just because someone is aware of who I am that does not mean they know me.
There was another woman juror who works in a high position in the County and very chummy with Rex Bohn. She used to get along with me but as most people in Humboldt; it is fake and two-faced. People here show who they are eventually.
That white woman did not stay to talk to the attorneys and did not interfere with my work. There was another white, older woman, liberal activist on this jury. I have written about her. She did not lash out at me.
6 or 7 jurors were talking to defense when the Humboldt Karen of the Harrison jury piped up and said, "We are not going to say anything if Mr. Chiv is here." I told her, "This is a public hallway." Fact.
Go somewhere private if you think your one cent opinion is so "important." It isn't; especially when you are rude to attorneys and couldn't come to a unanimous decision and while no one knows what happens in deliberations; from the remarks, it was clear that part of the problem were some of the jurors.
Humboldt, in an effort to clear the backlog, rushes through jury selection. If more people were paid for jury duty; there would be a better pool but Humboldt is cheap and even refuses to invest in civic duty.
Then Humboldt Karen said, "We are not making statements to you." I responded, "I didn't ask for any." I did not move because she does not control public space. The jurors continued their discussions in front of me. No one but her had an issue. There were a few hold outs on the deadlocked count. This woman was one of them.
There was discussion about the victim and what she said to the police and what she said on the stand and her credibility.
Juror identities are confidential so I won't name her but she is not going to take advantage of that rule. She chose to name me because she is vindictive.
She worked at the DA's office and she worked at a local law firm who advertises with me and she is no longer at either place.
Whatever her issue is idgaf and her opinion of me does not affect me or change the way I report. The Courthouse, anyone associated with courts, Humboldt business, politics, law enforcement are full of two faced, gossipy, think skinned angry people. They do go online; they are on Reddit and they gossip, lie and hide behind a screen.
I could have done nothing to them; they could be upset at what I wrote; in this small county where there is six degrees of separation and multiple conflicts of interest who knows why they are pissed and their reasons are irrelevant. Many people spewing whatever they want anonymously about me or behind my back are insiders from these groups.
People don't know me but they have plenty to say about me; mostly anonymously and behind my back.
This woman could have just said, can we talk privately? She did not have to name me. She did not have to create a situation. Lately, women; specifically white liberal women; some who don't even know me just glare at me. Get over yourselves.Work on your issues. Get off your high horse.
Humboldt has for decades attacked, gossiped about people, lied, smeared selectively and destroyed livelihoods and reputations. Not with facts; just hate. I use my name, I use court records, I have witnesses and if I expose you, it is for the public good. I didn't come to Humboldt with an attitude. For 22 years, there is no excuse for the way I have been treated. I don't like bullies; I don't suffer fools and I am not your punching bag for your issues. Humboldt has cost me money and most because of their bruised egos and fragile "fee fees" refuse to give credit.
Fix your damn, broke, toxic County instead of attacking someone who has tried to speak up for the underdog and truth. I could leave tomorrow and those of you who constantly attack, try to silence me and destroy me will still be the same pathetic weaklings who will target someone else.
I did not cover jury selection or the trial and when I see both attorneys again, I want to ask did you take your time with peremptory challenges? I would never had someone on the jury who worked at the County, especially where this juror works. I cannot give specifics or it will identify her. I never would have had a juror who worked for the DA and a local law firm. Both were holdouts.
There was a male juror who has served in another county. His feedback to the defense explaining why they found Harrison guilty of one charge and not the other helpful. What he said makes the difference between proving a case beyond a reasonable doubt or creating reasonable doubt.
I never want to be on a jury since I started reporting on courts. Having seen the legal system and covered the process daily, I would be honest; that is if I even made it to voir dire. I would admit that as hard as I would try to be objective; I cannot ignore my observations and experiences. I definitely do not want to be on a Humboldt jury.
