(Weapons recovered after Brandon and Jesse Widmark's arrest)
3/3/25 was a busy day in the Brandon and Jesse Widmark jury trial. The People had rested their case on Friday.
Evidence has concluded in the trial this morning. Jesse Widmark's defense case proceeded before Brandon Widmark's case.
Judge Steven Steward is presiding over the trial in this lead case. Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees is the prosecutor for the trial. Ms. Andrea Sullivan is Jesse Widmark's attorney. Ms. Rebecca Linkous is Brandon Widmark's attorney.
On 3/3/25, Ms. Linkous' motion to dismiss the attempted murder charge against Jesse Widmark was denied. Brandon Widmark did not testify. Jesse Widmark chose to testify. Brandon Widmark did not look at Jesse Widmark while he testified.
Big mistake by Jesse and he has only himself to blame. Ms. Sullivan can only do so much. Like Demetrius Coleman, Jesse Widmark made a stupid choice. Let's see how that works for him. I know how I felt, I looked around the room to see how others, including the jurors responded to Jesse Widmark.
Jesse and Brandon Widmark did not grow up together. Jesse Widmark was in foster care. They got to know each other as adults. After their father passed away, they got closer. Jesse was doing meth, fentanyl, was depressed. Ms. Sullivan said instead of being a big brother, Brandon Widmark led Jesse Widmark to make destructive choices. Jesse Widmark was using meth and fentanyl at the time of the incident.
Among the graffiti that the brothers left for each other on the wall were Brandon calling Jesse "fag" and "fat ass"; Jesse called Brandon "dipshit" and "down syndrome." Jesse also called Brandon a rapist and a "dropout" because Brandon used to belong to the 18th street gang. Jesse also made a dig at Brandon going from being in a Mexican gang referring to the 18th street gang to being a white supremacist because of a swastika symbol. All this is a part of court record that I covered and was in the courtroom when this information was stated.
Today, jurors were let go at 10:15 and asked to return on Thursday, March 6. The People are requesting to file a second amended information. The defense attorneys asked for time to respond to the People's proposed second amended information. After arguments on that request and Judge Steward's ruling; jury instructions will be finalized.
One of the changes requested by the People is to amend the information to charge both defendants with attempted murder and also charge both defendants with the attempted murder of inmate and alleged victim Shawn Gallagher. Mr. Rees mentioned co-conspiracy and abetting. Mr. Rees told Judge Steward he has two drafts if the second amended information and one of them is without the Shawn Gallagher attempted murder charge.
On 3/5/25, after arguments from all attorneys which were all persuasive and convincing with case law cited and Judge Steward asking important questions, the People's request for second amended information was granted. Ms. Linkous's request to reopen Brandon Widmark's case was granted due to the second amended information. Jurors will now return on March 7 instead of March 6. Ms. Sullivan said Jesse Widmark will not be re-opening evidence.
3/6: Jury instructions are being finalized today. Tomorrow morning, Brittaney Nunes will appear via Zoom. She is being recalled by Ms. Linkous. She has already testified and been cross examined. Nothing she is going to say is going to make a difference because Brandon Widmark's goose is cooked.
I am not sure what the point is of wasting more time but that has been the pattern throughout this trial by Ms. Linkous. I agree with Mr. Rees that there is no need to delay the trial for another week. Judge Steward had a brief ex parte hearing with Ms. Linkous to ask for proof about the witnesses Ms. Linkous intends to recall. That transcript is sealed until further order of the court. Nunes was the only witness discussed this morning.
Jesse Widmark's aunt has been at the trial every day. We had a brief respectful conversation. She basically confirmed a couple key facts from Ms. Sullivan's opening statement that Brandon and Jesse only shared a father. Jesse Widmark's mother is a member of a local tribe as was his foster family. She confirmed her sister was a drug addict and that Jesse Widmark had a rough childhood. She told me there were no issues with Jesse until high school and until.he started hanging around with Brandon Widmark. All this was covered in Ms. Sullivan's opening statement and Jesse Widmark's testimony in court. The aunt is not a witness. There were no jurors present. The aunt is a regular reader and follower of my blog. My readers know me and trust me and most familes are very respectful because they understand I am doing my job, appreciate the coverage. Still, I would like to thank Jesse's aunt for being so cordial because it isn't easy to read blunt facts and observations about family.
Brandon's mother in Arizona and could not be here for the trial but she is following my coverage. Brandon's grandmother also wrote to me and I am not sharing most of the contents of her email as requested. I will pass her message on to law enforcement. There is one line at the end of Brandon's grandmother's email that isn't the first time someone has written to me. "Again thank you. You have a tough job being around evil everyday."
Jesse's biological mother is the only one whining about my coverage and needs to look in the mirror. Many people have a rough childhood. They do not go around the County on a crime spree. Some parents hold themselves and their children accountable. And they can do so while supporting their children. Brandon's family is trying to do that under difficult circimstances. Jesse's aunt has been there for the trial. Where is Jesse's mother?
Others enable and make excuses for their own past behavior and their children. Facts maybe inconvenient to Jesse's mom who is misdirecting her hate and blaming others for situations she and her son and his brother created. Humboldt Superior Court cases are full of people who are unremorseful, in denial and have the audacity to vent anger at me for reporting the truth about the damage they and their children cause this community. The people who were injured on April 18, 2023 and law enforcement who almost lost their lives deserve justice. Law enforcement resources and time wasted because two punks decided they did not want to be held accountable for their violent and dangerous choices.
It is obvious from their courtroom behavior and refusal to take a plea that Brandon and Jesse have no remorse and are selfish. I won't hold my breath for them to apologize to the victims which include law enforcement. If they had an ounce of decency, they would apologize to their families.
