On June 14, a man on probation was seen on surveillance video removing the Pride Flag displayed at the Humboldt County Courthouse and putting it in his vehicle. Eureka Police Department was notified on June 18; four days later. At that time the flag was no longer in possession of the suspect. EPD detectives are working on a warrant for his arrest.
NBC News reported a “Happy Pride” banner and two rainbow Pride flags displayed at a historic New York City church were ripped down by someone on June 22.
The Humboldt and New York City incidents are only two examples theft and destruction of Pride flags and other Pride symbols this year in the U.S.
On 6/22/2024 at 4:00 am Humboldt Bay Fire responded to a reported structure fire in a vacant apartment of a six-unit apartment complex at 607 Summer St.
On the agenda for this Tuesday's Humboldt County Board of Supervisor's meeting is an item to film HCSO deputies on duty.
Aaron Chris Hooven was arrested yesterday by HCSO on two misdemeanor charges, PC 243 (e) (1) domestic battery domestic battery and PC 417(a) (1) brandishing a weapon or firearm and PC 148 (a) (1) resisting arrest.
I have covered Hooven before. I covered his 2018 arrest, case and he was sentenced in 2019.
Convicted upskirter, sex offender and former court mediator Joseph Hale was expected to be released on June 22 from the Humboldt County jail. Per Penal Code 4018.6, inmate Hale was released three days early on June 19.
EPD just issued a press releaon se. Theft occurred on June 14, EPD was informed June 18. Man admitted to stealing the flag but it is no longer in his possession. You can watch the video via the link provided.
Matthew Russell Miller was arrested on 6/18 by Arcata Police Department for PC 261(a)(3) rape of an intoxicated or unconscious victim. He posted bond.
The photo on a Linkedin profile for Matthew Miller, who lists sous chef at the Big Blue Cafe, is very similar. I contacted APD.
On June 20th, 2024, at about 10:35 a.m.., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge in the Loleta area for a report of a possible small aircraft accident. Other emergency services to include the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Humboldt Bay Refuge, Loleta Volunteer Fire Department, and City Ambulance also responded.
Tonight, there is a Zoom meeting on the latest information and planning about for the June 22 protest against Boeing and Raytheon organized by the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice based in Los Angeles.
I am not posting the Zoom link in the email sent about this event but I have included the Facebook post which is public and has a list of endorsers and the Center's contact information.
Michael Acosta's appeal in 2020 for the same case denied. He filed two other appeals. The one filed in March 2024, another denial. The one filed in 2023 he keeps requesting extension of time.
Labor Commissioner cited $5,901,700 Amazon for violating California’s Warehouse Quotas Law. Details in press release issued today. As expected, this made national headlines.
I just did a post on Wallace and Hinz's lawsuit against Joe Mazzotti last week. Ms. Heather Burke had not seen the motion to quash by Joe Mazzotti on 6/10. Motion to quash and order of examination hearing was continued to 6/17 and continued again to 7/1. A request for contempt citation is also scheduled for the same day.
Any normal person by now reading the same court documents knows what is required but Joe drags on the court process . Judge Timothy Canning has the patient of a saint.
In April, I reported former court reporter Kay Marie Gibbs sued the County of Humboldt. Mr. Patrik Griego is Ms. Gibbs' attorney. In that previpus post, are court documents and details of four allegations of failure to discharge mandatory duty under government code and one allegation of negligence.
Del Norte Superior Judge Darren McElfresh issued a written ruling on 6/3/24. I had to wait for the document to be entered in the Humboldt Superior Court system. Judge McElfresh sustained the demurrer filed by County without leave to amend Counts 1 to 4; denied for Count 5. In his ruling, regarding Count 5 Judge McElfresh said Gibbs "might not survive a Section 822.2 challenge"
After endless continuances and an intervention last week that did not result in a resolution, attempted murder suspect Miguel Moreno and Ruben Ramirez's 2023 cases were trailing for assignment until 6/17 when the cases were assigned to Retired Judge Christopher Wilson and the trial will be held in Courtroom 3. Today, motions in limine and jury selection was scheduled to start.
Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm was meeting with civilian witnesses this morning. DA Investigator Greg Hill was with him.
Moreno is represented by Mr. Ken Bareilles. Deputy Public Defender David Celli is Ramirez's attorney.
Moreno's assault and battery in the jail on inmate and murder suspect Brandon Widmark is trailing this case. He was arraigned on 1/2/24 in that case. Moreno's codefendant in the assault case is Johnny Fitzgerald.
Former HCSO Lt. Sam Williams filed an appeal in his 2023 criminal case. Humboldt Superior Court records show notification of filing. It does not show yet on the California Court of Appeal website.
I confirmed the filing of appeal with Sam. He also confirmed that he had contacted the DA and Sheriff William Honsal via email about the investigation and they did not respond to him. Sam then followed up with Undersheriff JD Braud who said he would look into it and nothing from him either. This inquiry is unrelated to the appeal.
DA Stacey Eads, Sheriff Honsal and Undersheriff Honsal are elected officials and we pay their salary. This unprofessional, selective ignoring of who gets a response is because their bosses aka certain Supervisors engage in the same childish behavior and lack of accountability. They do respond to their cronies and media tools.
I asked the following questions to Humboldt Bay Fire Chief Sean Robertson and representatives of Local 652 leadership.
Posted below are my questions and their answers.
The last time I wrote about convicted felon Delano Malang's case was in 2023 when I reported ousted former Humboldt Superior Court judge Gregory Kreis' ruling was reversed on appeal with sentencing errors. Malang is bit an Arcata Police Department Sgt and had been sentenced by Kreis to 4 years, 8 months.
Malang's 2022 case was on calendar today with arraignment on information on other charges he got while he was in custody in Humboldt jail. Charges including assault on a correctional officer and taking a CO's taser. Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm was in court today. He prosecuted Malang in the APD case.
Humboldt Bay Fire released photos and information about the fire at Five Eleven in Old Town Eureka.
Aunna Bollman has 8 open criminal cases with charges in these cases ranging from criminal threats, elder abuse, assault, willfull disobedience of court order. She still has an open case with a TRO granted which was requested by DANCO. This in addition to two three year restraining orders already granted which were requested by County of Humboldt and City of Fortuna.
Instead of his preliminary hearing yesterday, the People dismissed the alleged rape case against Baila Wane. Jane Doe was present and made a victim impact statement.
Wane's preliminary hearing had been continued three times, twice by the DA because the officer was sick and then due to ongoing investigation. The last continuance was by stipulation. Wane was released from custody after the second continuance because the preliminary hearing was continued beyond the 10 day waiver.
This is the second case dismissed this week by the People involving alleged rape crimes. On June 12, I reported that the case was dismissed against Robert Clifton James.
20 year old Tamia Irene WilsonBoatsman was booked into the Humboldt County jail yesterday on an arrest warrant from the Humboldt County District Attorney's office.
John,
Just wanted to give you a tip, Humboldt Bay fire department is hosting members of the media to talk about the issues of retention, staffing, and salary. I don’t think it’s right that you weren’t invited. You are one of the few media outlets that isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. Miles seems to be intent on taking over control of the fire department now.
Main fire station in eureka. This Monday at 930 am.
-Concerned Citizen
Humboldt Bay Fire did not send out anything. I confirmed that on Thursday and then emailed City of Eureka Miles Slattery and cced Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel and Councilmember Renee Contreras-Deloach.
Miles' response on 6/13. "Because it would expose my plan to take over HBF 😉 Now that is an hilarious claim.
The Chief never scheduled a press conference. I just spoke with him. He is coordinating individual interviews and will be reaching out to media. He has you on his list. Thank you, Future Ruler of All Things Fire 😉"
Humboldt Bay Chief Robertson sent that email out on 6/13 in the afternoon for individual interviews and I have mine scheduled.
Retired Deputy Public Defender and former Deputy Conflict Counsel Leslie Keig is now working at tje Humboldt County DA's office. She will join her former colleague Andy Truitt who already works there. Mr. Truitt mostly handles cases in early resolution court. Ms. Keig will be appearing on cases in juvenile court.
According to her Facebook post, "Part time short term extra help. Definitely a different perspective."
I like Ms. Keig but what did I say in my earlier post about Deputy DA Luke Bernthal leaving and hiring of annuitants? Can Maggie and Stacey hire and retain anyone not in the old clique? What does it say when you get long time retirees and public defenders and cannot get people who want a career as prosecutors to stay?
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2024/06/two-months-later-another-experienced.html?m=1
Criminal and hate crime suspect Daniel Epperson is no stranger to law enforcement, the courts.
Last week, I did a post on his custody status and the criminal protective order filed in his case.
You can read for yourself the threats he made to Lee and Josh Ulansey and his previous court history. This post has exclusive information about texts and DMs and insight from sources familiar with Epperson. According to information provided to me, Epperson beat his own parents and made anti semitic and hate speech to Jewish family members.
The language is graphic, hateful, racist and anti semitic and I am surprised the DA's office chose to charge Epperson with misdemeanors.
Motions in limine were heard earlier this week in alleged molestor Steve Boudreaux's jury trial. On 6/7 motion to file first amended information was granted by Judge Kaleb Cockrum. Special allegations were added and the wording regarding the alleged incidents at Arcata House and the residence in Samoa.
On 6/10 defense expert Dr. Dempsey's non compliance with court order was discussed,. Tje trial was assigned to Retired Judge John Feeney. He ordered Dr. Dempsey to comply, possible sanctions discussed including exclusion of testimony.
Robert Clifton James is charged with 11 counts which includes several alleged rape crimes and domestic violence. The People dismissed his case today due to insufficient evidence. James' attorney is Ms. Andrea Sullivan. Deputy District Attorney Candace Myers is the prosecutor on this case. EThe DA continued the case for further investigation.
Arcata Announces Merritt Perry as the New City Manager. The City of Arcata is excited to share the selection of Merritt Perry as the next City Manager.
On April 2022, I reported that Humboldt County DA's office lost two more Deputy District Attorneys. Now I heard from a few sources yet another experienced Deputy DA gave notice and is leaving and headed to El Dorado County. Again, someone I like and a prosecutor who was good. Deputy DA Luke Bernthal responded to me and confirmed the news.
The 6/3/24 order of examination hearing in the 2022 lawsuit filed by Wallace and Hinz Bar Company vs Joseph G. Mazzotti and Jean Mazotti for breach of contract was continued to 6/10 because Joe Mazzotti said he had three positive tests for COVID and appeared via Zoom. Ms. Heather Burke representing Wallace and Hinz requested the continuance.
Joe Mazzotti is representing himself filed a motion to quash a subpoena and that will also be heard on 6/10. For a good laugh, you can read Joe's court filings and statements that he has no legal obligation to testify, accuses the Court of broad misuse of discretion, uses "secret dealings" with Jack Wu in references to their texts and says "much of our texts are about playing ping pong" and the difficulties of being business owners in Humboldt and California.
Joe can continue to claim what he wants. I have included recent filings, court records with exhibits which include documents from the Secretary of State. Joe needs to pay Wallace and Hinz what he owes.
I was the first one to report on this lawsuit and regularly cover it. Trial is scheduled in August 2024 in the other lawsuit I reported on; Itria Ventures LLC vs Mazzotti LLC.
I was in court today. Trial confirmation was scheduled in Brandon and Jesse Widmark 2023 cases where they went on a crime spree all over Eureka until they were apprehended. Brandon Widmark has several other cases and so many different dates and developments including extradition on two other cases which only involve him.
