John Chiv: Day 3 of Daryl Jones preliminary hearing testimony includes threats to Starbucks, Rainbow Junction, Trish's Out-of-the Way Cafe and several schools

Jan 5, 2026

Day 3 of Daryl Jones preliminary hearing testimony includes threats to Starbucks, Rainbow Junction, Trish's Out-of-the Way Cafe and several schools

(Jones with his attorney, Photos from today John Chiv)

After two days of testimony in terroristic and criminal threat suspect Daryl Jones' preliminary hearing in August, it was continued and resumed today in the afternoon. Tomorrow and Wednesday have been set aside all day for the hearing.

I was the only one who had a media request granted by Humboldt Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Timothy Canning and the first one to take photos of Jones in the courtroom in August. No booking photo was released due to the Ninth Circuit ruling. I provided those photos to other local media. Due to the restrictions, it is difficult to get another angle, while taking notes.

An amended complaint was filed on October 13, 2025 consisting of 35 counts. At the request of some alleged victims, their names are now listed as Doe. I will add the amended complaint and charges later and in a future post.

KAEF filed a media request later on October 27 which was also granted. KAEF was not in court today. I was in court by myself for a few minutes until LOCO's Ryan Burns and Humboldt Freelance's Ryan Hutson came in around 1:40 p.m.

While I was by myself and before court started, I heard there will be at least 10 People's witnesses including officers and possibly civilian witnesses.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees is the prosecutor for this case. Conflict Counsel Supervising Attorney Meagan O'Connell is Jones' attorney.

Before testimony, Mr. Rees made a request that Eureka Police Department Sgt. Cory Crinch and Arcata Police Department Officer Celeste Villarreal be designated as investigating officers since multiple agencies were involved.

Ms. O'Connell objected saying DA Investigator Martin Morris had already been designated as investigating officer when the preliminary hearing started.

Mr. Rees said that was "before we got all the discovery."

Ms. O' Connell said "I would object to multiple investigating officers being designated."

Judge Canning ruled Morris would remain as investigating officer.

On the first day, Judge Canning overruled more of the defense's objections than the ones he sustained.

So far Fortuna Police Department Officer Bryce Sancho and FPD Detective Thomas MacLeod testified.

On March 9, 2025, Officer Sancho was dispatched to take a phone report from Fortuna Starbucks. Employee Jessica Perez told him, "someone called and threatened to shoot everyone inside the store." Perez was "in fear that the threat would be carried out." Perez said she was going to close down the business for the day. Jones called from a 707 number.

When Officer Sancho called the number, amale answered and said, "Police Department." Officer Sancho said he was "thrown off." When he asked why, the male "spoke nonsensically about pursuing charges and hung up."

The second time Officer Sancho called, he addressed the male as Daryl based on information from APD. "The person hung up."

Officer Sancho took a similar report from Trish's Out-of-the Way Cafe and spoke to Patricia Mannix. "There were non stop.calls of threats to kill people inside the store."

Jones threatened to shot everyone inside Starbucks and "to shoot up the school," according to testimony. This is the first time two numbers with a 707 area code were mentioned in court.

On March 10, 2025 Det. MacLeod responded to Rainbow School Junction for "threats to the school campus." All four officers of the Fodtuna Police Department except for the Chief of Police responded. School Resource Officer Ryan Richardson was present. Humboldt County Sheriff deputies assisted. "School worker Dannielle Petersen said she received a call and "he said he was going to shoot up the school." Kelsie Bazan relayed similar information to officers.

Quotes about the threats during the testimony by APD are chilling and disturbing. If you chose to read further; that is your choice. This is court testimony, some language is graphic.

Former EPD Officer and current APD Sgt Abraham Jansen, APD Officer Robert Duggan and APD Officer Kasey Burke testified about the multiple calls at Arcata schools.

APD testimony was excellent and bolstered the People's case today. Jones is going to be held to answer.

Sgt. Jansen who worked formerly at EPD and San Jose PD spoke with Andrea Romero. The male caller "threatened to kill children at her school" and "said she was snitching on him."

APD was responding to several schools who had received threats.

Officer Duggan is a former HCSO Deputy. On March 19, 2025, he was dispatched to Jacoby Creek Elementary and spoke with Karen Roberts who is the secretary. The male caller said, "I really want to rape all the little girls."

The male threatened to cut the girls' skin, peel it to see their ribs.

On March 20, 2025, Officer Burke responded to "Sunnybrae school" and spoke with secretary Erin Marney (spelling I will check when I can).

The caller said, "I am going to kill you and all the students in school."

"I am going to be there in two minutes to kill you all."

"Hello Tasha, I am going to kill you; you arrogant bitch."

Officer Grive spoke with Matthew Bigham and he also spoke with Heather Pearce at Coastal Grove Charter.

Officer Burke who worked all night, waited most of the day was the last People's witness for today.

APD Officer Casey Burke testified suspect "Daryl" who he spoke with made comments directly to him about "raping children" and the male suspect said he "wanted to do this because he was sad."

Jones also threatened Officer Burke who was not afraid because he felt Jones was doing this for attention and possibly had mental health issues.

This preliminary hearing is a waste of time. The cross examination is not going to make a difference and it is dragging out a preliminary hearing unneccesarily. Even the couple of minor points that defense may argue from cross examination were handled very skillfully by Mr. Rees during redirect. The probable cause standard is met and we aren't even done with the preliminary hearing. This is not a jury trial. If Jones and Ms. O'Connell want to nit pick and lose, they can do it at jury trial. Jones should waive the preliminary hearing and focus on working out a deal with the DA or he can take it to trial and risk getting convicted.

There are no mental health issues or the defense would have filed something by now. Jones is an obsessive narcissist sociopath who terrorized this community. That can be characterized as "mental issues" and there is always a defense expert or doctor that can testify to anything because they are paid.

If Jones wants to pursue option, then why are we wasting three days of court and law enforcement resources and time and my time in which could be spent covering other news listening to what is already in court documents that I have posted and what community members experienced for themselves.

I did detailed coverage in August. I have provided links to all prior coverage in today's post.

Compare my post to court minutes.