Jun 30, 2015

DA files motion to amend charges against Jason Warren, will the Judge grant the motion?

Today at 3;30, there is a pre-trial hearing on the motion filed by District Attorney Maggie Fleming to amend the information, which could mean additional charges against Jason Warren, who is charged with the murder of Dorothy Ulrich. He is also charged with the death of Suzanne Seeman and attempted murder of severely injuring two other joggers who were with her. In one case he is represented by Mr. Kevin Robinson from the Public Defender's office. In another case by Mr. Glenn Brown from the Alternate Counsel's office. DA Maggie Fleming is prosecuting this case. No death penalty is sought in this case.

At the last court hearing, the defense lost their motion to sever the two cases against Warren. Before that, a pre-trial date was vacated. There is extensive coverage of the case on this blog.

I will update after the hearing this afternoon


Last post:

May 27, 2015

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


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 Myrtle Avenue, where Warren ran over three joggers, Mr. Robinson said different law enforcement investigated the two incidents.

Hoopa murder of Dorothy Ulrich was Sheriff assisted 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 three joggers on Myrtle 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 properly 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.


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