Court subpoenas reluctant witnesses in Arcata chef stabbing case

This afternoon there was a pretrial hearing and a motion to compel attendance of necessary witnesses requested by the defense. The suspect Juan Ferrer is being represented by Marek Reavis from the Conflict Counsel's office. The case was being prosecuted previously by former DA Paul Gallegos. It is now being prosecuted by DDA Roger Rees.

Three witnessss were given subpoenas in court today and dates set for them to show up for jury trial in April. Mr. Reavis' office and the Sheriff's office had been unable to reach these witnesses despite repeated attempts. Today,they did come reluctantly but voluntarily after receiving a notice to show up in court.

"I was worried that they were avoiding service but it does not seem so," said Mr. Reavis. The three witnesses that are now under "in persona jurisdiction" are Sarah Brody, a witness who heard a voice characterized as "enraged yelling, 'Fuck you and your fat girlfriend'"; Virginia Jimenez, the victim's former girlfriend who was with him the night of the alleged stabbing incident and Cher Southard, the manager of the crew house where the victim resided.

In a rare occurrence, Will Houston from the Times Standard, Paul Mann from Mad River Union and I all talked with Mr. Reavis outside the courtroom after the hearing so you will see some similar information in our reports.

A chemical analysis stipulation agreed by the People and requested by the defense to test blood found at two different locations will be done by an independent, private company.

 Ferrer's codefendants Rocheleau and Stoiber who pleaded out go lesser charges will both testify at the trial, said Mr. Reavis.

A pre-trial/status review date has been scheduled for March 3 at 2 p.m.; Trial confirmation on March 23 at 2 p.m. and jury trial is currently scheduled for April 6, 2015. Judge Joyce Hinrichs had disqualified herself from this case earlier this year when the original plea deal was vacated. Judge Dale Reinholtsen who was overseeing the case is now in civil courts. It remains to be determined who the trial Judge will be.

Unlike, when Paul Gallegos was handling the case and it was going through delay after delay, every 2 weeks, discovery in the case is now complete.

Elaborating on the chemical analysis request, Mr. Reavis said that Douglas Anderson-Jordet's body was found near 12th and H streets. "When the body was discovered, there were drops of blood on the sidewalk and street south of the location where the body was found. There was blood on top of his shoes and in between the treads of the shoes. Two-three days later, one of the detectives went back to the location and he found what looked like blood  at 11 th and H. He went back to 12th and H and collected blood samples from both locations. Both these samples were tested and all the DOJ could tell was that they had the same level of degradation." An independent private company will now test the blood to dtermine the blood type, if it from the same source. Mr. Reavis said that this will be helpful to confirm the location of the actual conflict. "This helps confirm Mr. Ferrer's account and what Ms. Rocheleau and Mr. Stoiber's told law enforcement. Both of them said that the confrontation took place at 11th and H and when they left, Mr. Anderson-Jordet was yelling at them."


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