May 31, 2016

Preliminary hearing for suspended HSU football player Raul Sierra postponed to June 23; Manny Daskal joins as co-counsel for defense

The preliminary hearing for Raul Sierra was scheduled to begin today. Courtroom 1 was "dark" today. Courtroom 5 was to have a Visiting Judge but due to a death in the family, that Judge could not be here this week, as planned.


Courtroom 2 has the Charles Kesselring trial going on in the mornings. That left just Courtroom 4 to handle the preliminaries today and Judge Cissna also started the Jason Daniels jury trial.

Judge Cissna and Deputy District Attorney Stacey Eads were informed by Sierra's attorney, Beorn Zepp that Mr. Manny Daskal is joining as co-counsel for the defense.

After discussing the schedule that was conducive to all the attorneys' schedules, the victim and HSU Sgt. Janelle Jackson, the new preliminary hearing date was scheduled for June 23 at 8:30 a.m.

Intervention is June 15 at 3 p.m. in Courtroom 5.

Sierra has a job and is not in Humboldt anymore. He looks very clean cut with a shave and haircut. He was accompanied by a woman, who seemed to be his girlfriend.

The victim was also present in court, along with Victim Witness advocates and a friend.

Mar 14, 2016


Preliminary hearing for suspended HSU football player charged with forcible rape by use of drugs continued at defense request, Sierra out of custody

Raul Sierra, former HSU football player, charged with forcible rape, made bail and is out of custody. He appeared in court this morning for a preliminary hearing that was scheduled for today, with his attorney. He looks nothing like his booking photo having a shaved head and no beard.

Judge Watson filled in today for Judge Joyce Hinrichs in Courtroom 5. She will be gone for two weeks. Deputy District Brie Bennett is prosecuting the case. Beorn Zepp represents Sierra.

The defense filed a motion to continue. They were asking for 60 days. The People and the victim who was in court, opposed the continuance. Ms. Bennett said "if there was good cause", and the Court granted the continuance that it be short, not more than 30 days. People has just waived 10 days, and today, they waived time.

Mr. Zepp told Judge Watson that there was "discovery pending,", his investigator had a "lot to do" and there would be "an associated counsel." Sierra had previously waived time.

Judge Watson granted a 45 day continuance. Intervention is April 6 at 3 p.m. and Preliminary hearing is April 20 at 8:30 a.m.



Jan 27, 2016


Raul Sierra suspended from HSU, his alleged victim sobbed in court

Raul Sierra was denied release on OR by Judge Joyce Hinrichs after hearing from Deputy District Attorney Brie Bennett and Sierra's attorney Beorn Zepp. A referral has been made to Probation for a Supervised Release report.

Zepp gave letters of support from Sierra's family in San Diego to Judge Hinrichs. Zepp said Sierra has been suspended from HSU since his recent arrest.. He asked for reduction in Sierra's bail, which was denied. He then asked for a referral for  supervised release.

"Mr. Sierra had been cooperating with the system" since he was initially contacted last year, said Zepp. He said his client had no other criminal history and has never been in trouble before and has a good record at HSU.

DDA Bennett opposed Sierra's release. Ms. Bennett said the victim was in court and had told told her that she would feel safer if Sierra was in custody. Sierra had been served with a protective order.

Zepp countered, "Even before the order was issued, he avoided contact with the victim."

After the court hearing concluded, as Sierra was walking back to custody, the alleged victim, a young blonde woman, was sobbing.

Jan 26, 2016


HSU football player Raul Sierra pleads not guilty to charge of forcible rape, preliminary hearing scheduled for March 14

Raul Sierra was arraigned this afternoon in Courtroom 5. He plead not guilty and has retained a private attorney Beorn Zepp.

An OR/Bail hearing is scheduled for January 27 at 2 p.m., Intervention is on February 29 at 3 p.m. and preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 14.





Jan 25, 2016


HSU's Raul Sierra was charged with felony, forcible rape with use of drugs on December 18, 2015

An arrest warrant was ordered on December 30, 2015.

Count 1 alleges that "on or about November 7, 2015" Raul Eduardo Sierra IV was charged with rape by use of drugs."

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