"Roger did not protect the victims...The DA and Roger really do not care..."

Setting of preliminary hearing is scheduled for Bear River homicide suspect Mauricio Johnson tomorrow.

As I reported in July, defense made an offer. 

The People continued the last hearing for further discussions with the family of the victims and tribal members 

As I also previously reported, the family is not keen on a plea deal. Some tribal members and close relatives are adamant about no plea.

There could be another continuance tomorrow. There could be a plea deal. Until the plea form is filled, signed, the plea taken and until Johnson is sentenced; anything could happen. The plea could fall through before sentencing for various reasons. 

The one thing that is certain is that family members and several  extended family are pissed at Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees because he has decided to accept the defense offer. 

This is a high profile case and made national headlines. 

I did ask District Attorney Maggie Fleming, Mr. Rees and Ms. Andrea Sullivan, Johnson's attorney about the possibility of a plea deal after the last hearing. Ms. Fleming said discussions were ongoing with the family. Attorneys did not comment and I don't expect them to until something is official and stated in court.

I don't know if Mr. Rees requested the case but before arraignment, DA Fleming responded to my inquiry and said Mr. Rees had been assigned the case.

"Roger did not protect the victims, and he requested this case. I am not surprised - its underhanded of him. The DA and Roger really do not care, they were hiding behind the 'youth offender' ideals. The racism and unfairness in Humboldt Co is unjust," is what one relative told me.

In July 2021 in a post about the Jason Smith case, I reported on information  presented by the defense. Those statistics led Judge Kaleb Cockrum to state on record, "It is concerning that Native Americans are 6 % of Humboldt County's population  but 24 % of the prisoners in Humboldt County." 

Johnson is charged with three counts of murder; one special allegation of personally and intentionally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury/death and one special allegation of multiple murder. 

Recent posts:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/09/deal-or-no-deal-for-bear-river-homicide.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/07/mauricio-johnson-makes-offer-to-resolve.html?m=1

Related post:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/08/convicted-sex-offender-and-second.html?m=1