Timothy Roscoe called the District Attorney's office on January 5, 2017 about a brief encounter he had with Jon Goldberg on September 26, 2016.
The brief road rage incident mentioned in the prosecution's opening statement turned out to be two guys flipping each other on the road travelling into Fortuna.
If that let down from the prosecution's claim in the opening statement was not enough, Roscoe did not witness the shooting. Deputy District Attorney Luke Bernthal brought up two convictions that Roscoe was arrested; one was dismissed.
Once Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo started his cross examination, this witness like others backfired on the prosecution.
Mr. Russo got Roscoe to admit he had never met Jon Goldberg or Tim Smith before and that he had seen Goldberg's picture in media coverage and read about the case in the news.
Roscoe flip flopped back and forth about whether he saw something in Goldberg's hands or not depending on who was questioning him; Mr. Bernthal or Mr. Russo.
Mr. Russo got Roscoe to admit he had never met Jon Goldberg or Tim Smith before and that he had seen Goldberg's picture in media coverage and read about the case in the news.
Roscoe flip flopped back and forth about whether he saw something in Goldberg's hands or not depending on who was questioning him; Mr. Bernthal or Mr. Russo.
In his redirect, and then re redirect, Mr. Bernthal's frustration with Roscoe was obvious. I saw some of the jury's reaction to Mr. Bernthal.
The entire exchange while entertaining has nothing to do with the guilt or innocence of Goldberg. It does explain why Fortuna Police Department did not call Roscoe back.
Roscoe was questioned in detail by Mr. Russo regarding felony and criminal stalking charges that led to one of his arrests. Those charges include Roscoe allegedly stalking a man named Cardoza over a dispute about money; making a false report about Cardoza driving recklessly; sending Cardoza threatening text messages; obtaining a restraining order under fraudelent means; following Cardoza in his car when his children were with him and parking near his house.
For reasons not explained, that case was dismissed by a Judge. Roscoe responded to these details with responses like, "Yes, I wasn't in front of his house but half a mile away."
The other case had a conviction for cultivation and sales of marijuana and possession of an assault weapon. Those charges have now been reduced to misdemeanors.
Roscoe was questioned in detail by Mr. Russo regarding felony and criminal stalking charges that led to one of his arrests. Those charges include Roscoe allegedly stalking a man named Cardoza over a dispute about money; making a false report about Cardoza driving recklessly; sending Cardoza threatening text messages; obtaining a restraining order under fraudelent means; following Cardoza in his car when his children were with him and parking near his house.
For reasons not explained, that case was dismissed by a Judge. Roscoe responded to these details with responses like, "Yes, I wasn't in front of his house but half a mile away."
The other case had a conviction for cultivation and sales of marijuana and possession of an assault weapon. Those charges have now been reduced to misdemeanors.
Another one of Humboldt's finest.
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