Defense motion to sever in Jason Warren case denied by Judge Cissna

Paul Mann from the Mad River Union and I were the only media at today's court hearing for Jason Warren.

Dates were not put on record. The basic gist of the defense argument was that trying the cases together would be highly prejudicial to Warren and that they did not believe the evidence was intertwined as DA suggested.

Mr. Kevin Robinson is representing Warren in the Eureka incident. On Myryle Avenue, where Warren ran over three joggers, Mr. Robinson said different law enforcement investigated the two incidents.

Hoopa murder of Dorothy Ulrich was Sheriff asisted by Hoopa tribal police and Eureka was Highway patrol.

Mr. Robinson then alluded to former DA Paul Gallegos who prosecuted the preliminary hearing and said Mr. Gallegos suggested he would use charges in one case to build the other case and that this would be highly prejudicial to his client.

DA Maggie Fleming in her summary and argument proved otherwise. Judge Cissna agreed and denied defense motion.

DA Fleming cited PC 954 about "legislative preference for one trial". She also cited law where "joinder and consolidation is mandatory."

Then, giving times and facts of both incidents, she stated that Warren standing in a "pool of blood" after he killed Dorothy Aldrich fled in her car from Hoopa where he ran over threee joggers on Mrytle Avenue and then fled the scene and hid the car. "The entire course of conduct was less than two hours."

Suzanne Seeman died at the scene. The two joggers that survived were Jessica Hunt and Terri Vroman-Little.


"I have reviewed materials and authorities and the cases are properky joined," said Judge Cissna. " To a significant degree, they are related in commission.I don't think one case is more inflammatory than the other."

DA Fleming spoke with the victims' families before and after the court hearing privately.

Judge Cissna asked attorneys to approach and did not state future dates on record. Pre trial was continued from today to June 30 at 3:30 p.m. That information was entered in system later.

Trial could be delayed due to a motion DA Fleming will be introducing.