Alleged pitchfork perpetrator Darling in court today with 5 cases, released on OR days before recent incident

Paula Sue Darling was in court today and 5 cases were on the court calendar this afternoon in Courtroom 5. This is Judge Hinrich's courtroom but today visiting Judge Arvid Johnson was presiding. Roger Rees for the People and Kevin Robinson was appointed as counsel for Ms. Darling.

 The most recent case Darling is charged with felony, assault. Count 1 is Inflict Corporal Injury on a Spouse and Cohabitant and Count 2 is Assault with a Deadly Weapon other than Firearm.

A quick glance on the public access computers shows two cases for which she was arraigned on 4/3/14 and released on 4/6/14 on OR. She has failures to appear and bench warrants on at least 1 of these cases. Charges were misdemeanors.  Assault and battery, vandalism, possession of a controlled substance.

Two other cases she had conditional probation foira 1 year. Was found guilty in September 2011 on a DUI and Drug Offense. Various charges of reckless driving, possession of controlled substance, possession of marijuana over 28.5 grams, possession of controlled substance paraphenelia and failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility.Public Defender represented her in 2011.

Today's update:

She was denied release on OR today. She does have a couple of aliases today and started her court proceeding by identifying herself as Paula McKee. She was not feeling particularly Darling today.

But the savvy court staff informed the visiting judge and the hearing proceeded While Mr. Robinson was receiving and looking over the paperwork for the 3 cases she was arraigned on today and while the Judge was mentioning that there were petitions to revoke probation, Darling was impatient in wanting to see the documents. Mr. Robinson calmly spoke with her and thankfully for her, entered her not guilty pleas and a time waiver.

While Mr. Robinson had requested she be released on OR with a supervised release program, Mr. Rees objected and asked that the Court follow the recommendations of supervised release but no OR and that this was for the protection of the victim and the community.

The Judge agreed with Mr. Rees.

Background info:

On 04-19-2014, at approximately 1:45 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a stabbing that occurred in the 400 block of Phillipsville Loop Road, Phillipsville.  When deputies arrived on scene they met with the 66 year old male victim, who was bleeding from stab wounds to his arm and scratch marks on his face. The victim declined medical attention.

The victim told the investigating deputy he got into an argument with Paula Sue Darling, 45 years old, whom he had a dating relationship with. During the argument, Darling grabbed an ax and he kicked it out of her hand.  Darling then grabbed a nearby pitchfork and started swinging it at the victim, then stabbed at his torso with it. The victim put his arm up to protect himself and she stabbed him in the left forearm.

The victim showed the deputy where the altercation occurred, along with the ax and the pitchfork that was used in the crime.

Deputies checked the area for Darling but could not locate her. A be-on-the–lookout to all area law enforcement was issued for Darling, who is wanted for assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence.
Paula Sue Darling is described as a white, female, 45 years old, 5’5” tall, 145 lbs, strawberry blond hair, blue eyes