John Chiv: Former SN employee and Humboldt Planning Commissioner Brian Mitchell's domestic violence arrest is the first high profile case involving a gay couple I have covered and the alleged victim may have a record of his own

Sep 28, 2024

Former SN employee and Humboldt Planning Commissioner Brian Mitchell's domestic violence arrest is the first high profile case involving a gay couple I have covered and the alleged victim may have a record of his own

Former Security National employee who was formerly on the Humboldt Planning Commission and on the County Assessment Appeals Board was arraigned on 9/24. Conflict Counsel's office was appointed, bail was reduced by Judge Kaleb Cockrum to $45,000 which is $5,000 less than what it was at booking. The complaint describes the alleged victim Anthony James Sjoquist as "someone with whom the defendant had a dating relationship."

I have covered domestic violence cases with male victims but this is the first high profile case involving a gay couple that I have covered in Humboldt Superior Court.

The DA has charged Mitchell with a felony in Count 1, PC 273.5 (a) corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant. There is special allegation for Count 1 using a deadly dangerous weapon; a walking cane. Count 2 is a felony False imprisonment. Count 3 is PC 273.5 (a) a misdemeanor.

OR bail hearing was on 9/26; preliminary hearing was scheduled for 10/4. On 9/27 Mitchell was released from custody on supervised release.

9/26 minutes were not in the system when I checked. I will take and look and add those later and if conditions of supervised release are available.

I also congirmed with HCSO PIO Meghan Ruiz and Sjoquist was arrested by HCSO and was taken into custody on April 27, 2024 for PC 243 (e) (1) which is domestic battery Against spouse/cohabitant.

Will other local media finally cover Mitchell's arrest and case given the information in this post about this involving two people in the LGBT community and someone who is high profile.? We know how their groupies like to give them accolades even if they don't do their job properly which should have been a week ago. Patrick McTigue, Gregory Kreis and Brian Mitchell are just three examples where the rest of the media is late to cover relevant news and conveniently when there isn't risk involved and all the initial research and hard work is done for them.