John Chiv: August 2020

Aug 31, 2020

"Also, a GPS monitor doesn’t work the best in heavily forested areas. This rural area also can experience winter weather conditions that make the road impassible to Law Enforcement or first responders."

I realize that there are different classifications of inmates but with the failure of SWAP, repeat offenders and violations of probations in Humboldt, why are the same concerns Sheriff William Honsal had about GPS two years ago in this area, now irrelevant in 2020?

Despite being busy, I took the time to call a few restaurants about the reopening information

These are not my advertisers; they are businesses that put the effort in to open last time. They are hard working, family owned, local small businesses that did not raise their prices, despite the extra expenses.

Twenty new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since Friday, bringing to 388 the total number of county residents who have tested positive for the virus.

Don't know what her breath test revealed but I heard her say, "OMG, OMG." Pacific Towing is here.

Local businesses with an EOC-certified plan can reopen as soon as today with safety modifications in place

The Humboldt County Emergency Operations Center is incorporating the State’s new four-tier business reopening framework into the Reopening Plan process. Local businesses with an EOC-certified plan can reopen as soon as today with safety modifications in place.

So does WINCO or Public Health plan to address this?

I did a post Saturday on Winco. Still haven't heard from Winco. Based on my experience with Alder Bay, let's see when Public Health gets around to addressing this; if they do at all.

Rob Christensen has arraignment scheduled this afternoon. He is charged with PC148 (a) (1), resisting/obstructing a police officer and PC 602.5 (a), tresspassing. Both are misdemeanor charges.

Confirmation of transport was scheduled for Wesley Starritt today. He is still in custody.

Another trial confirmation was scheduled for alleged rapist Joseph Hall this morning. Defense requested yet another trial confirmation. Jury trial is still scheduled for September 28.

On August 31, 2020, at approximately 3:19 pm, Investigators with the Arcata Police Department, with assistance from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, contacted 56-year old Bryan Wayne Bach, at a residence in the 4800 block of Union Street in Eureka.

Further trial confirmation for murder suspect Gearold Sotolongo was continued to this morning. Defense intends to file a motion to continue the jury trial currently set for September 14. That motion will be heard at trial assignment on September 11.

Confirmation of transport for convicted murderer Antone Aubrey was scheduled today. He is still in custody at the Humboldt jail. The hearing was continued to September 14.

If you are missing the jail logs, here is what is happening

You might have noticed the jail log from yesterday and today is not up. I contacted HCSO PIO Samantha Karges.

She said, "We switched to a new booking system this weekend. We are working with IT to get those reports generated via the new system. It may be a week or so until we can sort it all out."

Aug 30, 2020

Hoopa and Willow Creek residents booked on attempted murder and robbery charges

(Smith)

On Thursday August 27th 2020 at approximately 0638 hours, Arcata Police were dispatched to the Mad River Community Hospital (MRCH) ER on the report of a gunshot victim who was currently being treated.

While transporting meth, Rita Doolittle had her three year old grandson in the car

On August 17th, 2020, special agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) seized 3.75 pounds of methamphetamine during a search warrant service in the 2300 block of Fieldbrook Road in Fieldbrook.

Liza Welsh and Dorothy Wentworth have had social media presence for a while. Lucinda Jackson does and William Tuttle has signs out.

A concerned citizen sent me this screenshot and text. Public Health will not be in until Monday and they don't always confirm or respond, anyway.

Why is Gavin Newsom asking for federal help for an eviction and foreclosure crisis caused by his decisions and a housing crisis that existed in California pre pandemic?

Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) today announced that they have reached agreement on AB 3088, co-authored by Assemblymembers David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) and Senators Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) and Ana Caballero (D-Salinas), to protect millions of tenants and small property owners from the economic impacts of COVID-19.

A new assembly Bill 3088, the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020 was announced today by Governor Newsom.

Here is the link to the text:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB3088

Four additional COVID 19 cases were reported today

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases now stands at 368, after four additional cases were reported today.

How long will it take local Public Health to inform businesses on Governor Newsom's reopening plan and impact on Humboldt?

The restaurants that had a plan and were approved before for indoor dining should be allowed to reopen and not wait until next week. Indoor dining, for example, can easily meet the criteria Governor Gavin Newsom mentioned in Humboldt.

If Napa can open for indoor dining on Monday, there is no reason Humboldt restaurants have to wait.

One source says it maybe Monday before there is information. The way, the state press release is written, it is Newsom vague and confusing speak, so while it would take one phone call or email in private business to clarify, government speak will delay people's ability to earn income

See County press release at 4:53 p.m. below.

In February 2020, a Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Sergeant was contacted by the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office and advised of unreported allegations regarding forcible spousal rape (262 (a)(1) PC), multiple acts of spousal rape of an unconscious person (261 (a)(3) PC) and multiple acts of domestic violence battery some of which resulted in visible injury.

Governor Newsom's new reopening plan includes a four tiered color coding system

Governor Gavin Newsom today unveiled the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, a statewide, stringent and slow plan for living with COVID-19 for the long haul.

Reporting is information and bringing news that matters

Tech issues with court livestream have improved. There are less audio livestream issues and improvement in other concerns which have only been covered on my blog. Prior to these, tech issues were interfering with coverage and viewing.

At trial assignment for Scott Eden on August 28, jury trial scheduled for August 31 was vacated. Trial assignment was continued to September 4.

Trial assignment was continued to this morning for alleged molestor Mark Dare. Jury trial was scheduled for August 31. It will proceed on September 1 with motions in limine.

Ms. Andrea Sullivan practices law in Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Trinity and Tehama County. This week in a Trinity County case, she got 18k reversed in cannabis related fines.

Around noon on August 14th, TCSO Ag Detectives were called to “Setton Pistachio” in Terra Bella for a possible cargo theft.

This case is one example of why open courts are important and the public being able to get information being stated on record

Preliminary hearing was continued for kidnapping and assault suspect Kevin Carns to August 27 by Judge Kaleb Cockrum on the "court's own motion." It was continued again by Judge Cockrum "on the court's motion to October 15.

Three new cases of COVID-19 were reported today, bringing to 364 the total number of county residents who have tested positive for the virus.

Two vehicles abandoned on Samoa Beach have been removed thanks in part to community advocates and the help of two local businesses.

There hasn't been a press release issued yet but the Humboldt Superior Court Clerk's office is open now. Only 9 people in at one time and you have to wear a mask.

Trial setting for Timothy Ziegler was scheduled on August 27. Ziegler was most recently arrested for criminal threats.

"Even if there is pornography, it is not an illegal commodity."

Convicted sex offender and molestor Michael Franco was sentenced in April to 21 years in state prison. On August 25, there was a hearing on a motion to return property.

Franco is still taking up a local jail bed and has not been transported to prison.

(Photo: Siren's Song Tavern)

JD, the owner of The Grind and Siren's Song Tavern took two local businesses that would have closed and kept them open. JD is investing into local community and hiring local employees.

Humboldt County’s total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases now stands at 361, after one additional case was reported today.

Setting of an evidentiary hearing was scheduled this morning for Brian Fiore's writ of habeas corpus.

Trial confirmation for Robert Cullen this morning was continued to September 2. Jury trial is still scheduled for September 8.

Preliminary hearing was scheduled for Darius Upshaw. He is charged with six counts of oral copulation of an intoxicated victim.

Bronson Moon Lewis Jr., age 18, surrendered peacefully into the custody of the Humboldt County Correctional Facility today, August 26, 2020.

The Humboldt County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is now accepting Reopening Plans to resume some Youth Sports activities with COVID-19 safety precautions in place.