Allpoints hires Sacramento law firm and sues County of Humboldt for violation of Outdoor Advertising Act

 

I had contacted Mr. Jeff Slack and Geoff Wills when I did this post. I did not expect to hear from Wills and I did not but that happens too often in Humboldt from a certain crowd. Whether it is an elected official or a business person or even certain local tribes; money or Humboldt "status" is irrelevant if you are unprofessional and incapable of basic decency and communication.

I saw Mr. Slack briefly today for a minute and asked about AllPoints and Mr. Slack said that he does not comment on ongoing or potential litigation. 

I did several posts on another lawsuit against the County of Humboldt. Janssen Malloy's Jeff Slack and Frank Martin already won against the County in that lawsuit.

I had checked on May 9 and there was no writ filed by AllPoints. When I checked today, there was a writ of mandate filed by Allpoints Outdoor Inc vs County of Humboldt et al. It alleges violation of the Outdoor Advertising Act.

Allpoints Outdoor Inc Is represented by Mr. Daniel Cucchi and Mr. Jeffrey Crosswhite, both are with Sacramento law firm Avdis and Cucchi, LLP. There is no date scheduled yet.

Not only does other local media ignore and selectively cover courts and other news; they seem to follow up a lot to cover what I reported. 

Why have they ignored these two lawsuits? If they show up on other local media after this post; case closed.

Katrina Earley bursts into tears as guilty verdict for first degree murder was read shortly after 4:11 today

Less than 24 hours to reach another guilty verdict. Jake Combs convicted, again, for killing Trevor Earley.

Minutes after their last note with clarifications on jury instructions about the special allegation. and just after 4 p.m.,  there was a verdict in the Jake Combs case. At 4:11 jurors entered the courtroom.

Katrina Earley burst into tears as the guilty verdict was read for first degree murder. The jurors also found the special allegation true that Combs personally and intentionally discharged a firearm during the comission of the crime.

The foreperson was a female juror. 10 men and two women were on the jury. 

At 4:23 jurors asked to step outside. On record, there was discussion about aggravated factors and two "bifurcated issues." Trevor Earley's age; he was 25 and whether the crime was vicious and cruel.

Combs waived his right to a court trial and bench trial on two issues of bifurcation. Judge Cockrum asked Combs about the waiver and confirmed," There will be no jury trial or Court trial about aggravating factors set by statute. "

Of course, outside the presence of the jurors, he mouthed off on the criminal justice system, "I want to waive the whole fucking thing. Your honor realistically, I just want this over."

Combs chose to go through this and put Trevor's family through this; again. He chose to go through a retrial and reject the People's offer. Combs was held accountable by a jury for the second time for murder and the second allegation. Combs can waive his right to appeal  if he is really "sorry." 

At 4:27 jurors came back in and were thanked and excused.

Preliminary hearing in the new case he picked up is May 27. Defense attorneys will reach out to Ms. Timm about a resolution.

Sentencing on this murder case is on July 31. A referral has been made to probation about the current sentence he is serving and the county.

When I shot him, I snapped." The moment Combs said this, I knew. When I watched Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm give her closing and then I looked at the jury,  I knew. 

I did not say anything until the verdict out of respect for the family.

None of the jurors waited around to speak with attorneys today. I understand why.

There was emotion in their eyes and as I left the courtroom, I too was emotional and shaken. For days, Katrina Earley was stoic. Surrounded by loved ones she had to endure a retrial from a selfish, unrepentant murderer. To hear a mother sob again, in pain was very difficult.

If you read my coverage on this retrial, I already said from the beginning that Combs would regret not taking the plea offer and that his public defenders were no match for Ms. Timm.

None of the jurors waited around to speak with attorneys today. I understand why.

I reported on Combs new case for possession of meth in jail and his prior felony conviction last August and was the first one months ago.

There were three extra bailiffs in the courtroom, in addition to the Courtroom 1 bailiff.

Only Times Standard and I were in court for the verdict.

Letter writer calls out Supervisor Arroyo's remarks about HCSO agenda item at yesterday's meeting

 

I don't have a letter to editor section. I am making an exception and including this in a post.

This letter addressed to Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo was sent to me as well as other local media outlets at 1:27 p.m. The letter writer requested anonymity.

Let's see if other media publishes this letter and keeps the letter writer's identity anonymous, even the first name which I chose not to publish.

"Supervisor Arroyo,

I am writing to express my concern and disappointment regarding your comments at yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting during discussion of Agenda Item 26-434, Consider the Establishment of an Independent Civilian-Led Oversight System for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

While I respect that differing viewpoints are part of a healthy discussion, the tone and delivery of several of your remarks were off-putting. Your statement that you were “…surprised it isn’t more embraced,” accompanied by laughter and flippant behavior throughout your statements, came across as dismissive of the perspectives and concerns shared by members of our department.  Please be reminded that you also said, “Some of you may disagree with me and that’s fine—that’s the beauty of democracy.” That principle is important, and it is one that applies to all of us, yourself included, when you feel we aren’t “embracing” this item.

Additionally, your comment that the presence of law enforcement in the chambers felt “intimidating” was concerning to many of us. The men and women you referenced—whether in uniform or business attire as both were present, were present to engage in the process, just as any other group would be. We have attended these meetings to represent our profession and to remain informed and involved in decisions that directly affect our work and the community.  I have yet to hear you be intimidated by any other group that has represented their office or organization.

While I can only assume the “intimidation” came from the six employees in uniform, please let me remind you of the significance of that uniform.  The uniform represents individuals who face difficult and often dangerous situations every day in the course of their duties. These are professionals who routinely encounter circumstances most people will never experience in their lifetime yet continue to serve with commitment and professionalism. Beyond their roles in law enforcement, they are also parents, spouses, coaches, volunteers, and active members of this community. When they take that uniform off, they go home to their families. They are the parents helping with homework after long shifts, the spouses holding their households together, the coaches on the field, and the volunteers showing up for their communities. They carry what they see and experience into those roles, often quietly, and continue to give of themselves.  I’m sorry that the “intimidation” didn’t allow you to see how genuine these humans are.

It was also discouraging to hear their presence characterized in a way that suggests unease or apprehension, when we have all consistently demonstrated respect for this process, even while listening to criticism and, at times, mischaracterizations of our work.

Supervisor Bushnell expressed that she is “…saddened that this has created a division in our community.” That concern is one we can all share. However, the words chosen by those in leadership, yourself included, and the way in which they are delivered, carry weight and can either help bridge that divide or deepen it.

We remain committed to serving this community with professionalism and integrity, and I ask that those entrusted with leadership approach these discussions with the same level of respect.

This letter was initially signed. However, out of fear of retaliation, I have removed my name. What an unfortunate world we live in."

Jake Combs jurors request readback of full testimony of Jake Combs and one witness

 

(Combs)

Exclusive from courtroom.

11 a.m. There is a note from the jury in Jake Combs murder case. I saw Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm headed towards Courtroom 1, followed her on a hunch. Deputy Public Defender Ryan McClurg was there. No one else except DA Victim Witness Advocate. Deputy Public Defender Emery Welton arrived at 11:03.

Juror #8 was slightly late. The questions they asked were if they could get the Combs 'original interview from 2022 when he was arrested and Elias Antunez' first interview. If not, they wanted readback of full interview of Antunez and Combs.

The readback is what attorneys agreed to and so court reporter has to prep and then this will take hours.

I already reported earlier that jurors started deliberations yesterday at 3:48p.m. This morning they were supposed to start at 9:15.

I have the questions they asked since I was in the courtroom. 

Robert Schaulis from Times Standard came in after everything concluded. No other media here. 

3:55 p.m. : 3:55 another note from jurors in Jake Combs case. Question was about "verdict form" but it was a jury instruction. After discussions with attorneys, Judge Kaleb Cockrum sent response with specific jury instructions and what charges they correspond to; it looks like they are discussing first degree, second degree murder and manslaughter. 

The CALCRIM correct jury instructions they were provided were 3149 for page 2 pertaining to  special allegation first degree and second degree murder and 3146 pertaining to special allegation to manslaughter.

4:06 p.m. The family and all of Trevor's loved ones are on the second floor right now.

HCSO' loss; Humboldt County District Attorney's gain

 

HCSO' loss; Humboldt County District Attorney's gain. One of my and local favorite HCSO deputies and current Courtroom 3 bailiff Luke Mathieson is waiting on a background check and soon will be DA Investigator Mathieson. Cropped my photo of the Humboldt County DA's office because I did not want to post any employees. I will try and get another photo later.

Christopher Smith's arrest is what will happen repeatedly if CA elects another Democrat governor

I appreciate Eureka Police Department's press release about Christopher Smith and I almost did not post it because I have more than enough original content and drugs and probation violation are a daily occurrence and multiple times.

Meth, probation violation, burglary and more time wasted by Eureka Police Department thanks to California Governor Gavin Newsom and the anti law and order Democrat party.

Three years later and after endless continuances, alleged molestor Sebastion Hockett is going to enter a plea sometime today

 

Three years later and after endless continuances, alleged molestor Sebastion Hockett is going to enter a plea sometime today. First, it was at 1:30, then 10:15, now it may be sent to another department. First change was  due to requests by Deputy DA Carolyn Schaffer and Public Defender Luke Brownfield, then due to the availability of Jane Doe 2's mother which is only until 10 a.m. and she appeared by Zoom and other individuals present with DA Victim Witness Advocate. 

At attorneys' request, Humboldt Superior Court Judge Steven Steward sent the case to Judge Kaleb Cockrum so the plea could be taken while Jane Doe 2's mother was present.

Update: Hockett pleaded guilty to PC 288.7(b) Count 1 oral copulation with a minor 10 years or younger; victim Jane Doe 1 and Count 8 PC 288 (a) lewd and lascivious act upon a minor; victim Jane Doe 2. Court minutes have more details including counts dismissed, sex offender registration and potential sentence. Sentencing is on 6/26.

I just did a post yesterday and on May 7 which if you have not read, you can search and access on the blog or Google.

Thank you EPD Animal Control

 

Took this photo at 8:04 thid morning on my way to the Courthouse. If this is the car with the dog barking non stop for the last few days disturbing people blocks away, thank you Eureka Police Department.

Deputy DA Rees and Judge Killoran fix Retired Judge Wilson's mistake and alleged molestor Derek Barnett gets cuffed and booked into jail

 

I just did a post on May 9 which has details and charges and Retired Humboldt Superior Judge Christopher Wilson's bad decision not to remand Derek Barnett. Deputy District Attorney Jessica Watson appeared on the case that day.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm who is the prosecutor for this case has been busy for days and weeks with the Jake Combs homicide retrial.

Yesterday it took Senior Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees and Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran to protect the public.

In CR2403934, motion for OR withdrawn, court minutes do not indicate why but defense would be obvious. Bail in this case is $35,00. Preliminary hearing is on 5/21.

In CR2601350, Mr. Rees requested remand and Judge Killoran granted the request. OR bail is withdrawn. Bail is $25,000. Pre trial on 5/21. This case is trailing.  Trial confirmation on 6/9; jury trial 6/12.

Three years later, attempted murder suspect James Atkins case confirmed for trial

 

After several continuances, attempted murder suspect James Atkins jury trial for his 2023 case was confirmed today. It is scheduled for 5/26.

Humboldt County Senior Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees is the prosecutor. LA  attorney Anthony Tall represents Atkins.

In my August 2024 post, I reported on amended charges. I have provided links to previous coverage.

Fraud and California make national and regional headlines

 

Even though regional and national liberal media covered this, you won't see this in the usual liberal local media outlets. After I call them out does not count.

HCSO did not inform you, the other media didn't cover it; I have been the only one to report on the DA's petition to declare convicted felon Justin Patrick a sexually violent predator

 

I covered convicted felon Justin Patrick's 2016 case and I am the only one who has reported and done posts on the Humboldt County District Attorney's petition to declare Patrick a sexually violent  predator.

HCSO did not inform you. The other media did not; I did. Of course, they may follow up on it now. The screenshots are of three posts with court documents and Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge Christopher Wilson's ruling.

Today, there was another setting for the court trial to have Patrick declared a SVP. It was continued again to 6/12 due to outstanding medical records.

Minor future updates will be added to this post.

Court of appeal reverses Humboldt court ruling; says County demurrer should not have been granted in former court reporter lawsuit against County and awards Janssen Malloy costs on appeal

 

In April 2024, I was the first one to report on a lawsuit filed by former court reporter. No one covered that lawsuit. I did several posts on that case and my last post was on March 2025.

Kay Marie Gibbs against County of Humboldt. I recognized the name because Kay was one of the best Humboldt Superior Court reporters. She worked for the local courts for almost 40 years.

Del Norte Superior Judge Darren McElfresh was assigned to the case. Mr. Patrik Griego represented Gibbs pro bono. Mr. Griego is senior partner at local law firm Janssen Malloy. 

The County of Humboldt was represented by Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, a Fresno law firm.

Judge McElfresh consistently ruled against Gibbs and Mr. Griego. I like Kay, I knew her and was very disappointed by the ruling. Kay worked for the local courts for 40 years.

Today, Mr. Griego told me, "The court of Appeal just reversed the trial court and held that the trial court should not have granted the County’s demurrer to our complaint.

The Court of Appeal remanded the case back to the trial court and awarded us and awarded us our costs on appeal."

First page and first line of second page:

Plaintiff Kay Marie Gibbs, a former employee of defendant Humboldt County, was a court reporter who worked for the Humboldt County Superior Court for almost 40 years. As she neared retirement, she learned that the county had failed to enroll her in the California Public Employees’

Retirement System (CalPERS) during the early years she was working for the court. Her first and second amended complaints against the county and three individual county employees alleged a Kafkaesque scenario in which bureaucratic impediments, indifference, or malfeasance thwarted her attempts to resolve the problem.

The trial court sustained defendants’ demurrers to the complaints and denied her the opportunity to file another amended complaint. On appeal, Gibbs argues that the court erred in doing so. We largely agree and therefore reverse."

Dispostion:

"The judgment entered following the sustaining of defendants’ demurrers is reversed as to the second and third causes of action in Gibbs’s first amended complaint and the negligence cause of action in her second amended complaint. The case is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Gibbs shall recover her appellate costs."

Some extra information. Liebert Cassidy Whitmore is the same firm who tried to threaten me with potential legal information for valid reporting.

Links to all previous coverage I did can be accessed via the search feature on the blog or you can just go to the First District Court of Appeal website and read the entire ruling which provides factual and procedural background which will be easier and it is in one document.

Key updates in several cases yesterday; hopefully Sebastion Hockett and Trinidad Gomez will resolve cases today

Updates and developments in several court cases of interest from yesterday.

Karen Middleton and Shawna Brink arrested by EPD for child endangerment and animal cruelty

Karen Lynn Middleton aka Karen Asbury and Shawna Marie Brink were both arrested yesterday by Eureka Police Department for PC 273a (a) child endangerment and PC 597(a) animal cruelty.

Middleton posted bond. 

EPD issued a press release at 10:48 a.m.

Convicted repeat offender Rashad Carter arrested on Ramey warrant and booked on three violent rape charges

Rashad Moein Carter arrested on a Ramey warrant yesterday by HCSO and booked for PC 261(a)(2) rape by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury; PC 289(a)(1)(a) forcible penetration with a foreign object and PC 287(c)(2) (a) forced oral copulation.

Convictions in 2025, 2024 and 2019 traffic cases; acquittal in 2023 traffic case. Default judgement against Carter in civil collections case. Conviction in DUI case. He was represented by Ms. Kathleen Bryson in the case.

HCSO issued a press release at 9:37 a.m.

5/14/26: Carter was released from Humboldt County jail this morning since he posted bond. I followed up. The DA has more time to file charges.

Citizens of Eureka for Responsible Government files 410 form for 2026

 

Citizens of Eureka for Responsible Government, sponsored by the California Associtation of Realtors. Humboldt Association of Realtors is listed.

The 410 form was received May 7, 2026 and uploaded to the City of Eureka website on May 9.

Alissa Woods of Wells Commercial Real Estate and Investments is the principal officer. I have reached out to Ms. Woods via email for more information. Despite a follow up phone call on 5/13; no response.

So far the City of Eureka 2026 elections have generated 0 interest. 

"When I shot him, I snapped."

 

Today is Day 12 of homicide suspect Jake Combs' retrial for the murder of Trevor Earley.

Homicide suspect Jake Combs lost it on the stand just now during cross examination by Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm when after repeated questioning he is caught in a lie and his own previous testimony works against him.  

Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum should have stopped him earlier and admonished him minutes ago. The Earley family is having to go through this, again, due to Judge Cockrum's error. There was no need for Judge Cockrum to say anything to Ms. Timm in front of jurors. He failed to control Combs rambling on the stand. Combs was not following court procedure and how you testify. Ms. Timm repeatedly tried to get Combs to answer what was asked. You don't get to do whatever you like under oath, on stand and be rude to attorneys.

Deputy Public Defender Emery Welton is apparently the lead chair. He just sits there.  Despite the dress shirt and pants and the crocodile tears, Combs lost his temper and his facade was exposed. I have no idea why Welton is lead when Deputy Public Defender Ryan McClurg has a better demeanor and in my observation of Humboldt court cases; better than Welton.

Both are no match for Ms. Timm.

Ms. Timm was questioning Combs about him going to get his keys from the car. After a lot of denial, I don't recall, Ms. Timm should Combs his previous testimony. He finally had to admit what he kept denying.

"Mr. Combs you never said you had a gun," said Ms. Timm.

Ms. Timm: "You told police he didn't have a gun when he was shot. 

Ms. Timm: "You have lied multiple times." 

Unable to deny his own previous testimony and his words now, Combs lost it, "When I shot him, I snapped." 

Clearly the cross examination by Ms. Timm was effective. I covered the first trial. Combs and his attorneys should have taken the plea deal before trial.

A brief break before questioning resumes.  We will see how jurors feel Combs behavior in court this morning. 

Defense rested their portion of  the case before lunch today. Discussions about finalizing jury instructions; arguments on two jury instructions tomorrow.

5/13/26: Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney finished her closing arguments in Jake Combs murder trial before lunch. I was in the courtroom for her closing in the morning. Jurors instructed to return at 1:30. DA Stacey Eads, Deputy DA Rebecca Buckley-Stein, DA Investigators and a couple defense attorneys were in the courtroom this morning.

I covered this trial in detail the first time. The verdict for the retrial is what matters. 

For those of you who cannot be in the courtroom, especially those of you who are my regular readers  and familiar with Ms. Timm know she did an excellent job. She focused on the law, all the options the jurors have for the murder charge, consistently reminded the jurors that Trevor was the victim and no threat and used Combs own words. I could post select quotes. Instead, I am going to wait until the verdict. There are 10 men, 2 women on the jury. Two women and one male alternates.

3:48 p.m. update: Jury goes into deliberation room. 3:58 p.m. Judge and attorneys informed of jurors schedule and who was picked as foreperson.

I have included yesterday's court minutes. There is relevance in them to today's coverage.