Econo Lodge suspects waive preliminary hearing

The preliminary hearing was scheduled this morning for Steven Alberson and Jesse Rodriguez, the Econo Lodge suspects. Both waived their right to the preliminary hearing.

Arraignment on information is April 6 at 2 p.m

Mar 10, 2016

Econo Lodge suspects to be arraigned today with "recklessly and maliciously possessing a destructive device and explosive near a hospital" and possession of pipe bombs

Steven Alberson and Jesse Rodriguez were arraigned this afternoon. Both are charged in the complaint with two felonies. Count 1 Possession of a Destructive Device near certain places, "recklessly and maliciously possessing a destructive device and explosive near a hospital".  Count 2 Possession of A Destructive Device, pipe bombs.

Deputy District Attorney David Christensen is prosecuting this case, his colleague DDA Roger Rees stood in for him for this arraignment.

The Public Defender's office was appointed for Alberson. Mr. Luke Brownfield was present for arraignment today.

Conflict Counsel's office was appointed for Rodriguez. Mr. Greg Elvine-Kreis was present for arraignment today. He asked for a supervised release report for Rodriguez.

Time was not waived by either defendant.

Bail/OR hearing is March 14 at 2 p.m. Intervention is March 16 at 3 p.m. Preliminary hearing is on March 23.

Bail remains at half a million dollars for each defendant.

EPD Press Release:

On 03/08/16 at about 11:35 a.m., an officer with the Eureka Police Department conducted a field interview with a male on probation near a motel on the 1600 block of 4^th Street.  The contact led to a probation search of an associated motel room.  Five male occupants, most believed to have gang involvement, were detained in the room. 

While searching the room, officers discovered what appeared to be three improvised explosive devices.  Officers immediately evacuated all guests from the motel and set up a perimeter.  The Humboldt County Sheriff Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EOD) was called out to assist and EPD investigators obtained a search warrant.

The EOD team used a robot to carefully remove all three devices and render them safe.  All three were confirmed to be explosive devices and included fragmentation material.  At about 9:30 p.m., the scene was secured and the evacuation notice was lifted.

During a search of the room pursuant to the search warrant, officers found heroin packaged for sales, gang indicia, and evidence that an adjoined room was associated.  Officers obtained an additional search warrant for the second room. 

In the adjoined room, officers found three handguns, ammunition, just under 11 ounces of methamphetamine, small individual packages of heroin, evidence of drug sales, and gang indicia.  Two of the three handguns were confirmed to have been reported as stolen out of Central California.