Death penalty brought up at Lincoln and Warren arraignment which is continued to this afternoon

 

Today is the fourth arraignment hearing for murder suspects Tselin  Lincoln and William Warren. Motion for first amendment complaint was continued today at the request of Lincoln's attorney, Mr. Ken Bareilles. Ms. Rebecca Linkous is Warren's attorney. Both are court appointed private attorneys due to the numerous conflicts in this case.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees is the prosecutor.

Mr. Bareilles completed arraignment for Lincoln. While Lincoln entered a general time waiver, that could change if there is another change in attorney. I don't think Mr. Bareilles is qualified to be appointed in a death penalty case.

When it came to Warren, 

Ms. Linkous brought up a very important point about whether this will be a death penalty case. The People have not made that decision. Arraignment is continued to 1:30. 

I already reported days ago that the one change is  that Count 1 is now murder instead of attempted murder. The two other changes are:  victims are named in Count 5 and 6.  Two victims named in the complaint are Donald Anthony Hostler in  Counts 5 and Carlos Anzara III (need to check spelling of last name) 6. More special allegations added which includes one for Counts 3 to 6.

Although Judge Steward spelled one of the last names,  Zoom was down and tech was fixing the computer and the usual noise from parties and attorneys in a very busy and packed calendar makes it impossible to hear.

Before Warren's arraignment could be completed, Ms. Linkous brought up that as alleged in the complaint, the special circumstances for murder and California law make this a death penalty case. "Unless people waive the death penalty," said Ms. Linkous.

"We have not complied with Marcy's Law and need to discuss it with the victim's family," said Mr. Rees.

The complaint may not be available until the end of the day. It is a very busy time in Humboldt Superior Court worse than any time in the 12 years I have covered courts and unless you are here every day, you have no clue. Attorneys in this case are doing their regular calendars, preliminary hearings and still having to appear on this case and there are daily developments all week impacting everyone imvolved.

I am not sure why HCSO chose to name 15-year-old Preston Lee Ruiz II but not the other two juvenile suspects. All juvenile cases are confidential. The two unnamed juveniles have different booking charges but as this investigation has shown; within days that can change.

All this creates conflicts and will there be more changes in attorneys in the future?

Yesterday, I reported SWAT was searching for a gun in the Hoopa river. HCSO has not responded to my inquiry.

Whether the preliminary hearing  scheduled for 4/28/26 will change depends on what happens this afternoon. I have never covered a case that has arraignment continued so many times but it is a complex case.

Related posts:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/03/two-juvenile-from-hoopa-arrested-for.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/03/hoopa-suspects-arraigned-for-6-felonies.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/03/if-this-older-preston-ruiz-has-any.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/03/third-hoopa-suspect-booked-into-custody.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/03/second-hoopa-suspect-booked-into.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/03/hcso-arrests-15-year-old-preston-lee.html?m=1