John Chiv: James Leach broke through the door of a local attorney's house with a firearm in each hand

Jun 2, 2023

James Leach broke through the door of a local attorney's house with a firearm in each hand

Is James Leach a dangerous criminal or a paranoid delusional man in need of mental health treatment? Depends on who you ask.

One of Leach's alleged victims and his attorney would say the latter. Based on my own experience with Leach, talking with all the alleged victims around the time of the incidents and in the EPD case for the last five months, EPD testimony, Leach's criminal record, the gun violence restraining order requested by EPD granted for two years , 4 arrests in last 5 months, his behavior in court, I say the former.

The prosecutor at the end of the day did not minimize Leach's conduct but based on the testimony from the two victims, left open the possibility of mental health diversion. I am not going to share what either victim told me in confidence, only the details testified to in court yesterday. Jackson, her husband, Jeff Holland and Allison Arkley Holland knew Leach, his father and all of them do understand and want Leach to get help but there is a lot more to the real fear they felt and Leach's subsequent actions in Eureka and Leach is a danger to the public. Maybe it will come out at trial or if the alleged victims in Eureka give me permission to share more.

Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm is the prosecutor. Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo is Leach's attorney.

Leach has an EPD case and a HCSO case. One of the alleged victims in the EPD case, Rosa Reed testified for the People. The other alleged victim in the EPD case is local dentist Jeff Holland. He is Allison Arkley Holland's husband. Security National was mentioned in Reed's testimony.

The alleged victims in the HCSO case are local attorney Allison Jackson and her husband Peter Ranken. Ms. Jackson was the People's first witness. Ms. Jackson mentioned the Arkleys in her testimony.

Eureka Police Officer Tyler Moore, EPD Sgt. Dustin Nantz, EPD Det. Amber Cosetti and EPD Commander Wayne Rabang were the other People's witnesses.

In the EPD case, Count 2 was reduced to a misdemeanor pursuant to PC 17(b). Arraignment in both cases is on June 15. Even Mr. Timm agreed this case is likely a mental health diversion case.

On December 8, 2022, at approximately 7 p.m., Leach kicked in the door of Jackson's Hydesville residence, "wood flew in, a man, Jimmy came through the door with a firearm in each hand," Jackson testified. "He had a shotgun in his left arm and a handgun in his right arm. He believed we were being held hostage."

Jackson and her husband knew "Jimmy" for a decade, considered him a member of their extended family, had him over for Thanksgiving and knew his dad. Leach had gone hunting with them in the past.

Jackson's husband was in another part of the house. She calmed Leach down, offered him apple juice in exchange for the firearms. Jackson put the firearms down on the floor. "He looked like he had lost reality."

The firearms were secured and law enforcement was called. The process took a few hours.

During cross examination, Jackson said, " I am here. I want James to be taken care of. This is not a person to throw away. He needs help." Leach sobbed as he heard Jackson make this statement.

Leach told Jackson "he was going to kill the people that were holding them hostage, the voices were telling him that" and Jackson described it as a psychotic break.

As Jackson took the firearms from Leach, "he was ranting and raving about the Arkleys."

Jackson finished her testimony and as she walked out, Leach yelled," I will pee in a cup for you. I know what I did wrong."

In my previous coverage, I have information and the search warrant executed by EPD. Sgt. Nantz testified about examining weapons found in Leach's residence when the gun violence restaining order was served and they were assault weapons.

Commander Rabang testified about EPD being contacted by HCSO after the Jackson incident in December 2022, a statement he took from Jackson and a meeting held at EPD which led to further investigation of Leach. The gun violence restraining order was because of the Hydesville incident and a 5150 hold on Leach from Redding and concerns expressed by Jackson. EPD investigation revealed Leach owned several firearms. The guns were not registered to Leach who has one residence in Fortuna and one in Eureka which belonged to Leach's father who recently passed away.

Det. Cosetti testified that a search warrant was executed on Leach's Eureka and Fortuna residences. EPD knew about the Eureka residence due to prior contacts with Leach. The search warrant included homes and vehicles. A shotgun was found in Leach's Toyota Tundra.

Rosa Reed is employed by Security National. Reed said she works as a housekeeper cleaning the Hollands' house. Leach's Eureka residence is next door. Reed got a call from Holland on January 7, 2023. He wanted her to "check on the residence because the alarm was going off." She entered the house through the kitchen and heard voices. It was one person.

At the front door, she saw Leach. "He was on his knees talking to himself." Leach had a hammer and power drill. "I raised my hands and said what are you doing? What are you doing?"

"I said go," Leach testified. He just stayed on his knees. "Then Jeff Holland drove up. He got up when Jeff asked him to leave."

Leach told them "someone was shooting at the windows and kept saying, I am sorry." As Leach got up to leave, the claw part of the hammer caused an injury on Reed's leg. She still has scars. This injury was through long pants Reed was wearing. Reed and Jeff Holland went to the window and there were no bullet holes.

Leach was furiously scribbling as Reed testified.

EPD Officer Moore said on January 7, 2023 at 2:01 p.m., he was dispatched to the Holland residence for a report "of a neighbor who kicked in the door and was attempting to fix it."

He saw Leach and Reed outside. Officer Moore spoke to Reed briefly. Another EPD officer spoke with Leach. There were footprints outside the door, debris near the door and damage to the door. Officer Moore spoke with Jeff Holland. EPD determined there was no one shooting at the window. Video surveillance shown to EPD by Jeff Holland and Allison Arkley Holland showed "Leach coming to the door, then slamming his body against the door and kicking it."

In Mr. Russo's cross examination of both Reed and Officer Moore, there was back and forth about whether Leach hit Reed intentionally with the hammer.

Before Retired Judge John Feeney's ruling, Mr. Timm said, "Both of his cases resulted from a mental health breakdown. That does not take away the intent of harming people. In one incident, people were home; the other incident they were not present but it is still scary."

If you read my prior coverage of his arraignment and other hearings, you will see he was ranting about shooting at windows in court.

Leach had doubt declared, he was found competent to stand trial. Now this case will drag on more at taxpayer's expense and may end up in mental health diversion.

I did a post on Leach's preliminary hearing yesterday and several other detailed posts. Most of my regular readers check this blog daily and several times a day so if you are not familiar with the charges and case, check yesterday's posts and prior coverage.

6/15: Leach arraigned on information for jury trial. Defense filed 995 motion to be heard on 6/29 so motion to consolidate continued to that date and Bail reduction will also be heard on that date after Leach interrupted Retired Judge Christopher Wilson in the middle of arraignment yelling, "I need my bail reduced" and "I have two houses." He also argued with Mr. Russo after Judge Wilson gave him a reality check on how bail reduction request could turn out. Leach told Mr. Russo, "I can get a different attorney." This just moments after Judge Wilson told Leach, "I am not trying to be rude. You need to talk to your attorney. Factual determinations needs to be evaluated. You have two burglaries and firearm charges. People may have a no bail position."

Mr. Russo said he "may not oppose" motion to consolidate. Trial Confirmation on 7/31; jury trial on 8/7. Deputy District Attorney Jessica Acosta appeared on the case.

Charges for jury trial: