John Chiv: August 2021

Aug 31, 2021

Convicted felon and sex offender arrested for marijuana, meth and illegal firearms

If you want more information about him, then just the press release printed elsewhere, read the entire post.

The alert was issued on August 24. It is about San Francisco attorney, Robert Amparan. He "allegedly owns the firm California Traffic Defenders." The State Bar explained why this exception was made during an ongoing investigation.

Horacio Miranda Jr. was finally sentenced last week.

Convicted sex offender and second suspect in Bear River Homicide Von Keener posted bail and is out of custody.

Neighbor complaints result in felon being arrested for meth and drug charges

On August 25th, 2021 agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) served a search warrant on a residence in the 2900 block of Dolbeer St. in Eureka.

Brandy Lee Vielbig was arrested yesterday by the Eureka Police Department on a bench warrant for PC290.011(a) failure to register as a sex offender and PC3000.08 parole violation.

He has at least one previous arrest from July 2018 for assault and battery.

More than 2,700 attempted scams reported to PG&E’s customer service line since June 2021

With utility scams continuing to peak during the current pandemic, it is more important than ever for customers to be vigilant and to know what steps to take to prevent themselves or their families from falling victim.

Convicted domestic violence suspect pleads to killing his wife

Defendant Tavion Jamel James Johnson, now age 23, formerly of the Willits area, finally admitted allegations this past Friday that in March 2020 he killed his wife, the late Elenah Louise Elston, age 49 years at the time of her death.

Lawsuit filed against Newsom recall fails

In a 13 page ruling, U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald denied the motion filed by two plaintiffs saying the Gavon Newsom recall is unconstitutional.

The California District Attorneys Association denounced Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón’s decision to absent his office from this morning’s parole hearing for Sirhan Sirhan.

A remittitur was issued on August 26 in convicted murderer Zachary Harrison's case. Petition for review was denied by Supreme Court.

On June 4, Harrison lost his appeal. The judgement had been affirmed.

Rio Dell Mayor appointed by Newsom to Seismic Safety Commission

California Governor Gavin Newsom made another appointment from Humboldt.

August 24, 2021

2020-611

The Governor of California
President pro Tempore of the Senate
Speaker of the Assembly
State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814

Dear Governor and Legislative Leaders:

As authorized by state law, my office conducted a state high‑risk audit of the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s (department) management of certain federal funds related to the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Patrick Cleary retires quietly from HAF.

Why was the community not notified that Sonia Hunsucker was returning to the community she traumatized?

I was contacted by a concerned citizen about Sonia Hunsucker's release.

Website issues, computer for metal detector not operational, no jail reports for 8/21; 8/22; 8/25 or 8/26. Heard computers generating reports were not functioning.

No information. As usual, the Board of Supervisors do nothing about these issues. Humboldt County has more tech issues than any city in Humboldt County or the local courts. No information from HCSO or the County.

8/31: No booking report. Still no information or explaination from HCSO or the County. No printed reports available.

Aug 24, 2021

State Bar trial against Natalie Duke and Blair Angus is accessible to the public via Zoom

The cases for Deputy Counsel Natalie Duke and former Deputy Counsel Blair Angus were consolidated. The State Bar trial started last Tuesday and is expected to last two weeks.

Both Angus and Duke testified.

The Magney case coverage made national headlines. Will this State Bar trial also embarass and expose the incompetence and poor decisions by the Humboldt Board of Supervisors and Humboldt Superior Court?

Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that he has signed tribal-state gaming compacts between the State of California and the Cahto Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria, the Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians, the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, the Resighini Rancheria, the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians and the Table Mountain Rancheria.

(Keener)

Convicted sex offender Von Eric Keener was apprehended in February on a parole warrant. He was arrested with Bear River homicide suspect, Mauricio Johnson in Utah.

Today, the Court found sufficient evidence to hold Keener to answer to PC 290. 011 (a) and PC 290.012 which are both charges for failure to register as a sex offender and the special allegation of a violent felony strike. Arraignment on information is on September 8.

On Aug. 23, 2021, at about 12:18 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the Blue Lake area conducted a suspicious vehicle investigation at a gas station on the 200 block of Blue Lake Boulevard.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce the launch of a new online database of unsolved missing persons and suspected homicide cases.

Convicted rapist Darrius Upshaw sentencing scheduled today was continued to 9/14. Upshaw is a former HSU student and member of Chi Phi.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information regarding the location of a suspect wanted for carrying out a scheme to scam an elderly resident out of thousands of dollars.

Yesterday, a jury found Richard Avery Dorey, Jr guilty on all counts. He was taken into custody.

Cogorno fired, Bareilles gone, Ray Christie hires top LA firm

Ray Christie fired one of his attorneys, Mr. John Cogorno on August 4. Just a few minutes ago, his other attorney, Mr. Ken Bareilles filed a substitution of counsel and is no longer Christie's attorney.

Christie is now being represented by Larson LLP, a law firm in Los Angeles. Mr. Stephen Larson is a former U.S. District Judge and the founding partner. Mr. Rick Richmond is a partner. Both names and two other associates were on the notice for substitution for counsel filed today.

The Guardian did not make lame jokes like some of the local "media" who made a big deal about the "antifa bus" but did no real reporting. The Guardian provided some information with an opinion.

Another example of Humboldt making national and international headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The same local "media" who are enabled, protected and funded by the good ole Humboldt corrupt, psycophants and status quo who chose to consistently invest in the wrong people as well as hinder independent reporting and it constantly backfires on them.

The decent law enforcement, people and businesses in Humboldt don't deserve to be included with those mentioned above.

Listed below are some excerpts from The Guardian article and the link to the article.

High risk parolee, peeping Tom and convicted sex offender Charles Steven Flinn was arrested in July for parole violation and released on OR. He was arrested again yesterday by Arcata Police Department for PC 182(a)(1) criminal conspiracy , possession of Controlled Substance, PC 466 possession of burglary tools and PC664/459 attempted burglary. Once again,Flinn was released on O.R.

Ray Christie buys his namesake and Supervisor Bohn cracks a joke

Ray Christie bought three dairy heifers and other animals at the Humboldt County Fair. He has done this for years. I was informed by sources that this included Super Champion chickens, turkeys and pigs, including the FFA pig named Christie raised by Jack Honsal.

Will Sheriff Billy Honsal keep the money this year or "donate" it like he did last year. That "donation" was done only after my post was published last year about Ray Christie buying the pig Jack Honsal raised.

I called Ray Christie and he confirmed that he bought his namesake.

After last year, naming Jack Honsal's pig Christie and posting about it is tacky and bad judgement

(this was posted earlier today)

Last year, I broke the story that Ray Christie paid $9,975 for a pig raised by Jack Honsal. After my post on Ray Christie purchasing the pig from the Honsal family, sources told me "the money Ray paid for the pig was donated to another cause and another person bought the pig for $4000. The Sheriff called Ray's money 'Dirty Money'." This was confirmed later.

This Facebook post about another pig Jack Honsal raised and named Christie is tacky. Posting it on social media is bad judgement. Of course, it would get attention.

While waiting in court yesterday for other cases, I got to witness another disaster created by California's criminal friendly politicians and another criminal who shouldn't have been released by Judge Timothy Canning in 2019.

A mistake that was only fixed yesterday due to another excellent argument by Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm. Judge Christopher Wilson denied supervised release for Martin Warren which was also the recommendation by Probation.

Remember the 2019 CHP case where the passenger jumped out of the car?

Closing arguments in kidnapping and domestic violence suspect Richard Avery Dorey Jr's case started this afternoon. Towards the end of the day, the jury started deliberations.

At trial assignment, Timothy Ziegler jury trial supposed to start depending on courtroom availability . He was a no show. Bench warrant was issued but held until the next court date.

I started covering this guy when he was arrested by the DA investigators at the courthouse. He has been through two public defenders; now a Bay area attorney. The only way this trial may actually proceed is with Ziegler in custody.

Kaven Dangerfield had an OR/bail hearing today. It was continued to Monday so Judge Christopher Wilson could review the preliminary hearing transcript. Bail remains as set, for now, but could be increased or be a no bail warrant.

In the civil restraining case filed against him by the alleged victim , Dangerfield was not in court. Judge Gregory Elvine-Kreis granted the restraining order for five years.

I covered every single hearing on this case and many exclusive posts. I reported last week that Retired Judge John Feeney would issue a written ruling. The next hearing is an annual report on February 25, 2022.

2/25/22: I checked with Assistant Deputy District Attorney Stacey Eads. It was an annual report hearing. Nothing to report.

Being open on a Saturday. Judges, attorneys, bailiffs and many people in the area work on weekends.

The Eureka Chamber of Commerce lists Gabrielle Long as the new owner. The Taste of Bim is owned by Gabrielle Long. She is the new owner of The Grind Cafe.

Cory Nelson was held to answer on 8/18/21 in his mayhem case. Arraignment on information is scheduled for 9/1/21.

The preliminary hearing for his most recent arrest for kidnapping has been vacated. That case, another 2021 case and a 2020 case are all set for disposition/reset on 9/1/21.

Kevin William Wesley Dikes was arraigned this afternoon. He got a bit of break this afternoon when bail was set at $915,000 instead of a million. That bail amount could change next week.

Since Tuesday afternoon at 3:30, a power surge broke the metal detector screening equipment.

You cannot enter from 5th street entrance but you can exit the building from that side. It has still not been fixed.

Derek Hughes nixed from Redwood National and State Parks

Following 38-year-old Derek Alwin Hughes’ guilty plea to one count of felony vandalism on July 23rd, Judge Christopher Wilson today sentenced Hughes to two years on probation and ordered him to complete 400 hours of community service and to stay out of Redwood National and State Parks.

Kevin William Wesley Dikes was arrested on August 19 by Det. Sgt. Chris Ortega of the Arcata Police Department and booked into the Humboldt County jail on two charges of PC 288 (a) lewd or lascivious acts with a minor and one charge of PC 207(a), kidnapping.

Sex offender Thomas Asbury Waggener booked into jail after he was taken into custody in court. Charges include failure to register and parole violations.

Aug 19, 2021

EPD investigating shooting in the vicinity of Alice Birney School

About an hour ago, Eureka Police posted this on Facebook.

"Eureka Police Department is investigating a shooting that just occurred in the vicinity of Alice Birney School. There is no threat to the school. More information will be provided as it becomes available."

EPD Chief Steve Watson, EPD Captain Stephens,Sgt. Eddie Wilson, Sgt. Leonard LaFrance are all on scene.

I am going to wait for the press release