John Chiv: "Lil E" aka convicted criminal Miguel Moreno is not just a repeat offender; he is a dumb criminal. He assaulted the wrong man with a glass bong.

Oct 25, 2025

"Lil E" aka convicted criminal Miguel Moreno is not just a repeat offender; he is a dumb criminal. He assaulted the wrong man with a glass bong.

(2023)

Miguel Moreno is not just a convicted repeat offender; he is a dumb criminal. He assaulted the wrong man. He was 19 years old when I covered his last case. At 21, he is racking up quite the record in Humboldt Superior Court.

Moreno was arrested on October 9 by HCSO for assault. He is another repeat offender who I covered before. Previous coverage on the 2023 case can be accessed via the search feature. I have provided a link to the last post I did on Moreno's conviction in a 2023 case in which Ruben Ramirez was his co-defendant.

Moreno has a 2024 case which was dismissed, a conviction in the 2023; he was represented by Mr Ken Bareilles in these cases. His 2016 and 2023 traffic cases were dismissed after proof of correction. He has an open 2025 traffic case.

Moreno's complaints have not listed his aliases. His jail record lists aliases "WOODY" "LIL E", "WOODE" and 18TH affiliated which I assume is the 18th street gang.

Humboldt Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm prosecuted Moreno in his 2023 case which resulted in a conviction. Mr. Timm is also the prosecutor for this 2025 case. Humboldt DA Investigator Greg Hill is the investigative officer.

Moreno is represented by Deputy Conflict Counsel R.J. Leohner. He is sick so the preliminary hearing was continued from 10/23 to 10/24. Humboldt Conflict Counsel Supervising Attorney Meagan O'Connell stepped in to cover the preliminary hearing yesterday.

Retired Judge Christopher Wilson held Moreno as charged which which is Count 1 assault with the deadly weapon on Julian Herrera. Moreno's choice of weapon was a glass bong. There is great bodily injury special allegation for Count 1. In Count 2, Moreno is charged with battery with serious bodily injury and a special allegation of prior convictions. I have provided a link to the previous post on the 2025 arrest and case and you can check out the details and penal codes.

The court minutes from yesterday's preliminary hearing are included in this post. A woman came in with Herrera. Other than that, there were two women. One was Nalani Martinez who was designated as a "hostile witness." She had to exit the courtroom after Mr. Timm's motion to exclude witnesses. The woman seated with her remained in the courtroom.

The alleged incident happened on October 9, 2025 at 7:50 p.m.

"Do you remember getting assaulted that day?" Mr. Timm asked Herrera.

"I do," he responded.

Herrera is an educator at Eureka City Schools. He lives in an apartment complex in Loleta in apartment #6. After getting a pizza from Costco, Herrera and his friend, Nicole, planned to walk to Loleta Market "to get soda." Herrera's wallet was in his vehicle. "The car automatically unlocks when I get near," Herrera testified.

The alleged assault occurred near the vehicle. Before he got to the passenger side of the car, "someone jumped out and started attacking me. The person called me Earl and swung at me."

Earl is a neighbor who lives in apartment #7. Herrera said the "car unlocks, the lights come on, he sees someone sprinting at him, with a glass bong in one hand." Herrera identified Moreno as his alleged attacker in court.