Personal perspectives on the Cook case

This year we are going to elect a new  D.A. We hear terms like plea bargains, cruz waivers, what can be done but we know very little other than what the candidate tell us. It has been interesting to sit and watch the daily cases and see the Humboldt justice system in action. It is definitely different than other states in some aspects.

People hear about arrests and then we only hear about details or the outcome if the media deems it newsworthy or they get a press release.

I have received emails from women who were personally affected by this case. I have received emails from law enforcement thanking me for my coverage. I have only written about what was said in court or from a court document because they are actual facts. Mr. Cook did plead in court and he is supposed to be sentenced.

When I wrote my initial post, people from the business community and others said, well we had heard rumors or we suspected. So, why didn't people come forward? People may wonder why there were not more victims or cases? Evidence and what a court of law needs and statute of limitations are factors. One lady told me I was the first person she told, not even her family knows. She is an adult now. And someone this community would believe.

So when the mother of the victim who filed the complaint in this case approached me, I had to think very carefully about writing this post. I explained to her that while I could write about her feelings, I would not state anything else that was not supported by a  fact. These are her feelings about the case and what she is going through.

"This has been happening since March last year, your coverage is the first and only media coverage this case has received," Veronica said. "Most of his family does not believe this happened. I have frustration because it seems that the justice system, in general is for the defendant, not the victim."

Veronica is Cook's daughter-in-law. While her ex husband believes their 7 year old daughter, he wants a relationship with his father. They are separated and going through a divorce.

Veronica said that she believes that Cook pled to a lesser charge so he would not have to register as a sex offender. Since sentencing has not occurred, I do not know if that is a fact. I will try and get verification from one of the attorneys if they can even discuss this with me.

There is another alleged victim who came forward 14 years ago, according to Veronica. Paperwork was filed, according to what Veronica was told, but then it "disappeared." Veronica feels that with his standing in the community it has been hard for the truth to come out. She has received no support from the church's pastor and this is the church that the family went to and she used to attend.

I did check First Covenant Church's web page and at least 2 of Cook's family are in leadership positions.

Veronica is concerned because there is no legal protection in place and Cook can have contact with her 2 other children. "I wanted a restraining order for all my children. I wanted him to not be allowed to have contact with any kids, especially girls under 18." Again, this is something that the attorneys may or may not be allowed to verify.

Her only support is her family and the staff from Rape Crisis Center.

Cook is a local businessman, he goes to First Covenant Church, volunteers at the Rescue Mission, volunteered at Gideons, according to Veronica. "I never saw this coming," she told me. "My greatest fear as a mom was about something like this happening to one of my kids, I never though it would be someone I trusted."

Originally Paul Gallegos was prosecuting the case, it was then prosecuted by Kelly Neel. In my initial post, I wrote what the original charges were and then the charge what Cook plead to later.

I commend Veronica for sharing something so personal. Whatever occurred, we will never know, many documents are sealed, including the psychological evaluation. It is a reasonable assumption to make that people do not plead if they are not guilty. Reasons why they plead can be individual interpretation.

One of the reasons I did this post is because we expect the court system to be perfect. It is not, law and justice are not the same. In cases, especially where children's safety is involved, we need to improve laws. If we know something as a community member we should not stay silent.

You could make the difference in a child's life if you speak up.