Oct 26, 2017

Sotolongo refuses to come to court, Deputy Public Defender Kelly Neel falls on the sword for her client, buying time to speak to him

Gearold Sotolongoa aka Roldo Pratt refused to come to court today, twice, which resulted in the trial confirmation, motion to compel discovery and motion to continue the jury trial to be rescheduled, again.

He refused to come court because he did not think it was "important" twice this morning.


Deputy Public Defender Kelly Neel fell on the sword for her client telling Judge Dale Reinholtsen that she had told Sotolongo yesterday that she could appear for him in court today and asked if she could have time to go meet with him.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees and the Judge said they wanted Sotongo to be present because this is a homicide case.

Judge Reinholtsen told Ms. Neel that Sotolongo could sign a 977 waiver, if he wanted to be excused from personal appearance for certain court cases. Even with a 977, a defendant is required to be present for certain court hearings.


Sotolongo is charged with one count, homicide of Roger Yale. Special allegation for Count  1 is that he used a weapon in the commission of the crime.

Sotolongo's trial confirmation was continued from yesterday to this morning. There is also a motion to compel discovery and a motion to continue scheduled to be heard today. It was continued to be heard on October 30.

Another reason for the October 30 date was because Mr. Rees had provided Ms. Neel with some discovery today. A conversatiin about two "Jane Does" was mentioned in police reports.

Jury trial is scheduled for November 13.

Same charges for preliminary hearing and jury trial. He was held to answer on the charges after his preliminary on April 14, 2016.

Gearold Lee Sotolongo - 04/07/2014 - Homicide - Case 201600744. Booking photo of suspect Gearold Lee Sotolongo from 04/07/2014.





Gearold Lee Sotolongo - 03/09/2016 - Homicide - Case 201600744. Booking photo of arrested suspect Gearold Lee Sotolongo - 03/09/2016





Previous posts:

http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2016/02/gearold-sotolongo-aka-roldo-pratt.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2016/03/hcso-swat-team-takes-gearold-sotolongo.html?m=1


3 comments:

  1. Every punk in the jail is trying on the "incompetent/insane" defense. This guy is setting that up. He's being coached in the jail, bet on it. Waiting for Marci Kitchen to pull the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Why should Marci bother, she’s still living the “high” life. She’ll hop off her stool, plead out to a hang nail then go back to the Play Room and keep the party going strong, like she never left.

    ReplyDelete
  3. If I ever get arrested, I’m going to refuse to go to court and hire Marci Kitchen’s Attorney’s, so I don’t even have to go to jail. Didn’t know you could do that but it seems to be trending in Humboldt County.

    ReplyDelete

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