William Jarnaghan, former Hoopa softball coach held to answer to all sexual conduct charges against minor female victim in preliminary hearing

William Jarnaghan, a former softball coach in Hoopa, was held to answer on all charges in a preliminary hearing held today in Courtroom 1.

Jane Doe, the minor victim testified, so did HCSO deputies Mark Peterson and Jennifer Turner.

DDA Brie Bennett is prosecuting the case. Mr. Neal Sanders is representing Jarnaghan.

Both families had several members attend the preliminary hearing which started in the morning around 10:30 a.m. and concluded a little after 2 p.m. this afternoon. I was the only media to cover this today. I chose to forego covering both the Arreaga and Warren cases to cover this preliminary hearing but briefly checked in on both trials.

I will have a detailed post on the preliminary hearing later this evening.

The charges against Jarnaghan involved a female victim under 18 years old. She was 16 at the time, the alleged conduct started in December 2014.

Counts 1,2 and 3 are felonies. Sexual penetration/Foreign object PC 289 (h). Counts 4,5 and 6 are misdemeanors. Annoying/Molest a child under 18 years. PC 647.6 (a)(1).

He has been served with a criminal protective order, had to give up firearms, if convicted he will have to register as a sex offender.

Judge John Feeney denied a motion by the defense to reduce the felonies to misdemeanor charges.

Arraignment on information for jury trial is on October 14 at 2 p.m.