Former CWS and current Humboldt Court employee arrested for invasion of privacy

 

(HCSO)

Joseph Michael Hale was arrested yesterday for PC 647(j) (2) criminal invasion of privacy. I worked with Joe at CWS and he is a family law mediator for Humboldt Superior Court. Hale was released on O.R. The arresting agency is Humboldt County District Attorney. I checked with the jail and he was arrested for PC 647 j (2). 

Shouse Law:

647j PC is the California Penal Code section that makes it a crime for a person unlawfully to invade someone else’s privacy. A conviction is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1000.00.

There are three ways a person can incur invasion of privacy charges:

by using a device (like binoculars) to view someone inside a private room

by secretly photographing or recording a person’s body under the clothing for sexual arousal, or

by secretly recording or photographing someone in a private room to view that person’s body.

I have had some women share with me their discomfort with Hale and that they wanted to talk further with me but never gave details. Since this post, I have been receiving several messages.

I contacted Humboldt Superior Court CEO Kim Bartleson and asked if Hale is still working for the courts and if he is on leave? I was told he is on administrative leave.

Ms. Bartleson responded,"No comment at this time."