After 3 days of jury deliberations, verdict in first local COVID 19 jury trial

The jury trial was for CR2001871.

2:35 Verdict in after three days of jury deliberations in first COVID 19 jury trial which was held in Courtroom 1.

Defendant is Zachary Haggard. In May 2020, he was arrested for attempted murder.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees is the prosecutor for the case. Defense attorney is Mr  Victor Campos. Judge Christopher Wilson presided over the trial.

Waiting for defendant to get "dressed." Then jury has to be assembled. Hopefully, livestream will start around 3 p.m. Haggard in a white dress shirt and blue tie looks completely different. Physical distancing with everyone wearing masks.

It did briefly. Back on at 3:05. No audio. Camera only showing Judge, attorneys and defendant. Jury is not shown since trial is on You Tube.

3:11 Court tech came into courtroom. No audio.

Haggard had to be admonished by Judge Wilson as verdict was being read. "That

3:25 Count 1 jury hopelessly deadlocked, thanks to Judge Wilson mentioning that later. Mistrial declared.

Missed charge due to no audio. Couldn't hear breakdown since jury foreperson didnt have a mic. Foreperson was juror #2. Did follow up and it is PC 664/187 (a) attempted murder.

Count 2 and 3 Haggard was found guilty of the lesser included charge; assault with a semi automatic pistol and the special allegation PC 12022.5 (a) was found to be true for both counts.

Count 4 Haggard was found guilty of shooting at an inhabitated dwelling.

Count 5 Haggard was found guilty of felon in possession of a firearm.

Count 6 Haggard was found guilty of brandishing a weapon.

Sentencing for Counts 2 to 6 is on September 23. Trial confirmation for Count 1 is on September 16. Jury trial for Count 1 is on October 19. Haggard has currently not waived time.

DA Press Release (on 9/3/20):

On September 3, 2020, a Humboldt County jury found Zachary Morgan Haggard, age 25, of Kneeland, guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic pistol, one felony count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, one felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one misdemeanor count of brandishing a firearm. The jury also found true special allegations regarding Mr. Haggard’s use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The jury could not reach a verdict on a charge of attempted murder.
The case arose from an incident on May 17, 2020. The defendant and two residents had spent the day together at a house on Acacia Drive in Fortuna, drinking and listening to music. After Mr. Haggard displayed a firearm the residents asked him to leave.  Mr. Haggard left, but soon returned and began shouting and creating a disturbance in front of the house. When the residents of the house went out to again encourage him to leave, Mr. Haggard pointed a semi-automatic pistol at one person. In order to protect his friend, the second person armed himself with a baseball bat and tried to sneak up on Mr. Haggard. Mr. Haggard responded by firing a shot at the person with the bat; the shot did not hit the person but passed through their clothing. After the two residents retreated back into the house, Mr. Haggard fired another six rounds at the home.
Detective Brian Taylor of the Fortuna Police Department located and arrested Mr. Haggard the day after the shooting and led the investigation of the case.  The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol also participated in the search for the suspect.
Deputy District Attorney Roger C. Rees prosecuted the case with assistance from District Attorney Investigators Marvin Kirkpatrick and Martin Morris. Local attorney Victor Campos was appointed to represent Mr. Haggard.  Judge Wilson presided over the two-week-long trial.

Mr. Haggard is scheduled for sentencing on September 23, 2020. He faces up to 27 years in state prison. Mr. Haggard’s offenses qualify as serious or violent under California’s Three Strikes Law, therefore he will be required to serve at least 85% of any sentence imposed.

District Attorney Maggie Fleming commented on the trial, “Once again, the willingness of witnesses to come forward created the opportunity to achieve justice - I appreciate their decision to participate.  I also appreciate the exceptional efforts of the jury, the first to serve in Humboldt County under the unique conditions created by the pandemic.”

Previous post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/05/zachary-morgan-haggard-is-in-custody.html?m=1