John Chiv: Alleged sex trafficker told Doe 1 about going with God's age, not legal age" and "God's age is puberty."

Oct 9, 2024

Alleged sex trafficker told Doe 1 about going with God's age, not legal age" and "God's age is puberty."

**This post contains some sensitive content from testimony in a court case. This case is the definition of public safety and keeping the community informed. The booking photo was released before the 9th circuit ruling**

In 2021, Darin Ward was arrested by Eureka Police Department for criminal threats against government staff. No charges were filed. Former DA Maggie Fleming told me, "Our Office’s review of the Eureka Police Department’s (EPD) thorough investigation of the case involving Darin Michael Ward of Eureka revealed that it did not provide sufficient proof of a crime under California law for prosecution. "

In court today, it was revealed Ward worked for Humboldt Towing in the liens and sales department. This is also confirmed in his Facebook posts I included in prior coverage. Ward is a Trump supporter and made claims in his Facebook posts that you can read for yourself. I do know Mr. Arlie Capps who represented him in 2021 is a Trump supporter.

In 2024, Ward was arrested by HCSO for sex trafficking of a minor and other sex crimes involving a minor. The original complaint is in a previous post. The first amended complaint has 14 counts. Additional charges and possibly more alleged victims are anticipated.

I have been adding updates from 10/7 and 10/8 to the last post I did on Ward summarizing the never ending preliminary hearing and stunts pulled by Ward and his attorney Mr. Ken Bareiiles.

Today's testimony was the most graphic and damning. Ward's mother was not sitting inside court this morning. His father and mother were absent after lunch. Ward who was so insistent on not waiving time or a continuance folded yesterday and today. Ward could have waived time and his preliminary hearing. He didn't. Ward could have picked a better lawyer. He didn't. Now, he can deal with the consequences and look in the mirror for the person to blame.

Judge Timothy Canning and Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer have been very patient and accommodating. Today, four attorneys sat in the courtroom and watched some of the proceedings. Within minutes of watching testimony, they agreed with my observations. Even attorneys who were not in the courtroom watching the disaster show this week by Mr. Bareiiles agree that Mr. Bareilles is a nice man but he is not the attorney for this case. Almost everyone I spoke with agrees with me that Ms. Andrea Sullivan or Mr. Michael Robinson would be two attorneys who should be handling this case.

Most of my regular readers have been following my coverage of this case. This post picks up with today's summary. I was hoping a detailed post of notes I took over three days. Unfortunately, as I suspected, Mr. Bareilles and his clueless client delayed and asked for a continuance. Ward is the same man who wouldn't waive time and held everyone hostage & rushed this preliminary hearing. Another contimuance to October 23.

10 counts amended to 14 counts before the preliminary hearing. There are 8 Does involved in this case already. It started out with 4 alleged victims and there maybe more. There are Jane Does, John Does, an alleged victim mentioned in court testimony who was 8 or 9 years old.

Meth, child pornography, disgusting predatory remarks towards young children, Ward being naked with minors, asking them to send him naked photos and allegedly threatening to sell them, giving them vapes, alcohol is just the tip of the iceberg in this case. Sex toys, wigs, dressing up in women's outfits. Just one search warrant resulting in two terabytes of electronic evidence, 879 open tabs with majority being child pornography.

Of all the disgusting filth in the last three days, the "cleanest" quote I can use in this post without a more stern disclaimer of graphic and sensitive content is that Ward told Doe 1 "about going with God's age, not legal age" and "God's age is puberty."

The bulk of the Peoples evidence and two witnesses is over. No other media was in the courtroom as usual because their owners are not interested in effort or public safety or real journalism. When national news covers this case, the rest of the local media will ride on the coattails, as usual.

So, the detailed post can wait until this weekend or after I am caught up with this week's news.

All that is left is Mr. Bareilles to conclude his joke of a cross examination which was a waste of hours today and the same tired excuses since October 4, 2024. Mr. Bareiiles took a one day preliminary hearing and has stretched it out to four days and it is about the money. An ethical lawyer would have admitted before the case or even October 4 that he is ill equipped, withdrawn from the case and allowed a competent attorney to take over.

When you read my post from the three day this week, you will see the ridiculousness of Ken Bareilles performance. He is so confused even with the judge, the DA, his own client helping him that I feel like I am watching a cartoon film not a court proceeding.

Ms. Schaffer has helped Mr. Bareilles a lot. She had to write down the names of the Does because Mr. Bareilles was confused and said the names out in court. That wasn't the only confusion. He couldn't remember what was testified a minute ago and Ward had to remind and assist him. Mr. Bareilles cited unpublished opinions to the court. Judge Canning had to admonish him on record. Mr. Bareilles is arguing about basic legal concepts a paralegal and even some lay persons would know. He has been given latitude no other attorney would unless it was their first day graduating from law school.

Mr. Bareilles told Judge Canning, the prosecutor and everyone present in the courtroom what the defense strategy is and admitted he cannot prove it at preliminary hearing. The defense is going to claim all these young children are taking drugs and conspired to set up Ward. I did look up Doe 1 and Doe 2 mother in Humboldt e court but I don't have the time nor am I going to look into the court cases because it is irrelevant to the charges in this case against Ward. If anything, it helps the prosecution because Ward targets women and children from certain families.

Mr. Bareilles wasted hours asking useless questions during cross examination of HCSO Det. Brian Buihner and having 98% of Ms. Schaffer's objections being sustained by Judge Canning. This in addition to delays and hours wasted for three days just this week because he is technologically challenged and needs someone else to use a computer and is typing motions on a typewriter in 2024. Ken needs to retire as a lawyer and drive a truck which he actually enjoys. He told me this himself. I have known him for years and before I started this blog.

I have no idea why Mr. Bareilles was hired instead of other attorneys yet. I suspect there is a church and a conservative connection. Ken Bareilles is the same man who told Ray Christie's attorney, Mr. Rick Richmond, at the courthouse, something to the effect that it is a good thing I have dumb clients.

I have a court document about more of Ward's biblical beliefs involving one of his children which I will add after my preliminary hearing post. Just as court testimony revealed, Ward likes to have relationships and befriends women who are homeless and vulnerable due to other reasons . The sad part about this case is that Humboldt's lack of housing, poverty and all the issues that I mentioned in Pamela Faye Millsap's homicide case are too prevalent in Humboldt.

All the pearl clutching conservatives and churchgoers and liberal elites are the reason people like Ward take advantage of other people including children and the only justice victims may get are in sex abuse and molestation cases filed by the DA.

First amended complaint:

The detailed first amended complaint has not been scanned into e court. I am sure there will be at least a second amended complaint filed based on testimony so far at the criminal hearing.

10/10 court minutes: