Bear Gandalf Orion Dragonheart found guilty on misdemeanor; hung jury on the felony count

A Mendocino County Superior Court jury returned from its deliberations today with a mixed bag of results.



Defendant Paul Campbell Latimer, age 47, of the Bells Springs area of Laytonville (also known as Bear Gandalf Orion Dragonheart), was found guilty of unlawful possession of marijuana for sale, a misdemeanor.

However, the jury also announced it was hung 8 for guilt to 4 on whether the defendant had also committed the crime of being a felon in unlawful possession of ammunition, a felony. Because the jury could not unanimously agree on this issue, a mistrial was declared as to that single count.

After the jurors were thanked and excused, the case was continued to May 10th for the DA's decision on whether a retrial would be sought on the ammunition count.

The prosecutor who presented the People's evidence at trial was Deputy District Attorney Beth Norman.  The investigating law enforcement agencies were the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This matter is being heard before Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Cindee Mayfield.