Winning verdicts, one for DDA Jackie Pizzo; the other for DDA Brent Kling

Two wins today for the DA.

Press Release:

On March 15, 2016 Clayton Jerod James was convicted of Assault with a Semi-Automatic Firearm, Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, stemming from an incident in Hoopa on January 13, 2015. Mr. James became angry and brandished a firearm at the victim after unsuccessfully attempting to purchase methamphetamine at the residence.  Mr. James also shot the firearm in the direction of the victim’s husband. The case was investigated by the Hoopa Valley Tribal Police Department and prosecuted by Jackie Pizzo with the assistance of District Attorney Investigators Gary Cooper and Tom Cooke.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2016 before Judge Cissna. Because Mr. James has two prior convictions for felonies considered “strikes” (manslaughter in 1991 and assault with a deadly weapon in 1999) and the current conviction involves a serious or violent felony, he could be sentenced to 27 years to life.

On March 17, 2016 after a day-and-a-half jury trial before Judge Timothy P. Cissna, jurors returned a guilty verdict against Aaron James Eib for driving while his license was suspended, a violation of California Vehicle Code Section 14601(a).  The jury also found true that Eib had a prior conviction for a similar offense in 2014; this conclusion affected the penalty for the current conviction.  The case against Eib arose from a vehicle stop conducted by Deputy Maxwell Soeth, presently with the Humboldt County Sherriff’s Department, on August 13, 2015 in downtown Fortuna.  Eib was sentenced immediately following the verdict and will serve five days in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.  The case was prosecuted by Deputy D.A. Brent Kling.