Mar 18, 2024

Congratulations to Sgt. Swanson on a well deserved promotion

 


"We are pleased to announce that Officer Ryan Swanson has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant." Eureka Police Department posted these photos and news on social media.

Like many EPD officers and staff, I have seen Sgt. Swanson in the field several times. One of the many times was when I called in a welfare check on an elderly lady experiencing mental health issues. She was left alone, without her meds with no family or a social worker to check on her for several days. Sgt. Swanson responded to that call and treated her with such dignity and compassion. We are very fortunate to have good men and women serving in our local law enforcement who rarely get the recognition forthe hard work they do every day when no one is watching.



Paul Gallegos a Proud Boy? Sarcastic and hilarious comment on the Robing Room!

 




This comment on The Robing Room ties with whoever mailed out those flyers. Paul Gallegos a Proud Boy 🤣


This one is serious but the truth. 

After flinging nasty allegations in their divorce case, Mark Carter telling Sheri Carter that the business dispute and "domestic relations" are to be dealt separately is the pot calling the kettle black

 


I am still waiting for the 3/14 minutes from Mark and Sheri Carter's divorce. As I checked their divorce case, I saw a reply filed by Mr. Rory Hanson who is Mark Carter's attorney. After flinging nasty allegations in their divorce case, Mark Carter telling Sheri Carter that the business dispute and "domestic relations" are to be dealt separately is the pot calling the kettle black.

Wallace and Hinz says,"Joe, show me the money"

 


Civil cases in Humboldt Superior court are having dates appear on calendar but are not in e court. This is the case for an order of examination hearing listed in Wallace and Hinz's case vs Joe Mazzotti. There is also a 4/8 date scheduled for an order of examination. Wallace and Hinz is owed $49, 228.29. Who knows when minutes will be in e court so I did some follow up. Today was the date set for Jean Mazzotti’s debtor’s exam. However, since Joe Mazzotti's debtor’s exam is happening on April 8th, and should happen first, today’s exam will be vacated.

Trevor Bohn had another 2023 case, look at the court records yourself and decide if Trev's case is being treated the same as any other defendant including having the Public Defender specially appear on this piddly case

 


On December 2, 2023, when Trevor Bohn was arrested for a DUI, I checked on any other court cases he had in the Humboldt Superior Court system. You can see the cases listed in the court records provided in that original post. 

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2023/12/trevor-bohn-arrested-for-dui-and.html?m=1

Last month, Bohn pleaded guilty to all charges for that December 2023 case, was sentenced to 5 days in jail which he will serve on SWAP and three years on probation. This was his "punishment" for two DUI counts and special allegation that BAC was 0.15 percent or more.

I was surprised to see another traffic/infraction 2023 case on calendar today for Bohn. As you can see from the case number, it was not in e court when I checked on Bohn's court record in December 2023. That other 2023 case was filed against Bohn on December 12, 2023 after my post on Trevor Bohn's DUI arrest. I have too many cases to check and no reason or time to check Bohn's previous record again but the DA's office and everyone else in the court system knew this case was open. Why didn't they address it with the plea in his other 2023 case like they do with other defendants? The citation was from January 2023. It took the DA's office 12 months to file this second case?

E court also lists Bohn as pro per yet Public Defender Luke Brownfield specially appeared for Bohn on this case on 3/11/24 and is now Bohn's attorney. There is no listing in e court that the Public Defender's office was appointed for Bohn. Kreis' buddy and former co-defendant Luke Brownfield who partied with Kreis on the boat in Shasta County and is mentioned in the CJP proceedings against Kreis has so much time to spare that he can appear in a piddly traffic case for Trevor Bohn? 

Poppa Rex endorsed Kreis, the same judge who released the grand jury report on former auditor controller Karen Paz Dominguez before the election. No other Humboldt judge did that before Kreis. Poppa Rex also thought Luke Brownfield should be appointed as Public Defender instead of other qualified candidates. When people from LA and Chicago, including attorneys, say the level of corruption and politics in Humboldt is something they have never seen; that statement says it all.

Update: The case proceeded to trial this afternoon. This was after this post was published. Public Defender Brownfield was not there with Trevor Bohn. Commissioner Sarah Kaber, after giving advisement, acted as temporary Judge presided over the court trial. She reviewed photos on Bohn's phone. California Fish and Game Officer J. Joscelyn testified via Zoom. Bohn was found guilty by Judge Kaber and has to pay a fine of $248.

Mar 17, 2024

Will ousted petty Kreis retaliate against Conflict Counsel for this filing, Humboldt Superior Court is giving the middle finger to the CJP by assigning any criminal trial to Kreis because he has too many conflicts of interest

 


Ray Madrone's cases have been a mess with constant twists and turns. 

Madrone had a drug case dismissed by Retired Judge Christopher Wilson; the DA refiled charges. Madrone also has an assault case with a co-defendant. Conflict Counsel Supervising  attorney Meagan O'Connell represents Madrone in both cases. His co-defendant in the assault case, Carlos MartinezGutierrez,  is represented by Ms. Andrea Sullivan and MartinezGutierrez] confirmed for trial. Madrone's drug case is consolidated with his assault case.

When two defendants have conflicting interests, it makes scheduling hard. Add to that more complications created by the ineptness and mismanagement of Humboldt Superior Court administration and former Presiding Judge Joyce Hinrichs and ousted but still current Presiding Judge Gregory Kreis. Madrone  case is one of 3 cases I am covering which are trailing for assignment from 3/15 and on calendar for 3/18.

With disqualifications, lack of courtrooms, lack of court reporters and Humboldt Superior Court judges being lax in granting multiple continuances; this is just par for the course.

People objected to the defense motion to continue  Madrone's  trial. The ruling was deferred so the judge assigned to the trial would make a ruling. In addition to the motion to continue, Conflict Counsel filed a petition for mental health diversion.

If these factors were not enough Conflict Counsel disqualified Judge Cockrum filing a 170.6. Attorneys file 170.6 all the time. The trial was the assigned to Courtroom 7 which is Kreis' courtroom. Ousted Judge Gregory Kreis has had several 170.6 filed against him. But  Conflict Counsel filed 170.1 which I don't recall being filed by an attorney against a Humboldt judge except the Jason Smith case and in that case the 170.1 was denied by a Del Norte Superior Court.  

Kreis was reassigned to the juvenile court calendar because of the number of disqualifications against him by criminal defense attorneys. Yet, he keeps being assigned trials. The biggest travesty and injustice is this bufoon making $260,000 salary for the daily damage he does to the reputation of the robe; not to mention that he has no business being a judge.

In the 19 counts in the CJP proceedings against him, what Kreis did to Ms. O'Connell is mentioned. Why is Humboldt Superior Court administration assigning any criminal trials to Kreis. I hope the CJP, the California Judicial Council will pay attention to what happens with this 1701. Kreis has been defiant in the past on any recusal. Sending such a motion to be heard by a Del Norte or Mendocino judge is meaningless because these are neighboring counties and courts rely on each other. Kreis was voted out as a judge and until the CJP proceedings are going on; he should step down as Presiding judge but, as usual, his ego will not allow him and no one in Humboldt Superior Court administration or any other judge is going to bite the hand responsible for their paychecks.

Mar 16, 2024

No one expected Trevor Bohn to serve the 5 days in jail

 


No one expected Trevor Bohn to serve the 5 days in jail and he won't; he signed up for SWAP on March 9. Bohn's commit to jail today was today but that is now moot.

Other defendants can sign up for SWAP just like Trev but not everyone's Poppa is Rex. Not all SWAP assignments are the same. So unless Trev is scraping weeds off a sidewalk or doing actual physical labor like any other defendant; I doubt he has learned his lesson. If he does not show up; who will know? Probation hasn't even bothered to do anything about the Jose Guzman Jimenez convicted of hit and run who did not show up for his commit to jail date. 

Conflict Counsel with less staff has done more on this case than the Public Defender's office originally appointed for this defendant

 


Criminal threat suspect Carla Jean Pirovano's preliminary hearing was scheduled for 3/14. It was continued by stipulation to 3/17/25 for a disposition reset. Count 1 was reduced to misdemeanor by the People. A criminal protective was order served on Pirovano. 

Originally, the Public Defender's office was appointed; then Conflict Counsel took over. Some Deputy Public Defenders work hard. Others need to shape up and start working instead of latte breaks because their buddy Gregory Kreis isn't going to be around much longer to cut them slack.

Federal prosecutors investigating whether Meta had a role in illicit sale of drugs

 

U.S. prosecutors in Virginia have sent out subpoenas.You can read the full article at:

Two years probation for child porn conviction

 


Patrick Payton was charged with possession of child porn. He negotiated a plea for 2 years probation and was sentenced on 3/14 by Retired Judge John Feeney. Deputy District Attorney Jessica Watson appeared on the case for the People on 3/14. Payton hired Mr. Manny Daskal.

Mar 15, 2024

County website will be down tomorrow due to AT & T scheduled maintenance

The county’s website will be down tomorrow, Saturday, March 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. due to AT&T scheduled maintenance.


Criminal threats and hate crimes suspect granted supervised release

 


Criminal threats and hate crimes suspect Daniel Epperson was granted supervised release this afternoon by Judge Lawrence Killoran. Alleged victims are Lee Ulansey and Josh Ulansey.

NAR lawsuit settlement ends 6% commission and other new rules

 



The excerpt in the post is from CNN. You can google and read Wall Street Journal, NPR or any whatever media source you want. The basic facts are the same. I have reached out to a few people about the local impact. The post may be updated.

Humboldt County in national news again? Another high profile federal lawsuit against the County but not filed in Humboldt?


The first article is supposed to be published this Monday, March 18 in The Atlantic and one of the people who was supposed to be interviewed was Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal. The person who told me wouldn't say more and is not sure if Sheriff Honsal will be in the final version.

The person is prone to exaggeration so let's see if this will be the "wave" or "bombshell" claimed which are words used by him. This is supposedly part one of this "wave."