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

Mar 20, 2026

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 Anzora III 6. More special allegations added which includes one for Counts 3 to 6.

Once again, the Lincoln and Warren families were very respectful.

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 Marsy's Law and need to discuss it with the victim's family," said Mr. Rees.

Ms. Linkous brought up that she meets the qualifications of representing a defendant charged with the death penalty. "The Court has to inquire" that criteria for Warren's attorney.

Ms. Linkous told Judge Steward she is prepared to put a team together.

I covered the Tyler Robinson case and while that is in Utah, if this is a death penalty case, there is funding and qualifications. Who will pay? It would be a combination of the courts and County and they are already crying budget woes.

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.

As mentioned from the beginning of my coverage of this case, juvenile records are confidential. Even Lincoln and Warren's attorneys do not have access to that information unless they file a court order. How is they supposed to be a fair trial when even the attorneys do not have all the information?

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.

The preliminary hearing scheduled for 4/28/26 could change. I have never covered a case that has arraignment continued so many times.

Afternoon update: In the afternoon hearing for Tselin Lincoln and William Warren, finally arraignment completed on the first amended complaint however Mr. Ken Bareilles relieved as Lincoln's counsel and Ms. Andrea Sulilvan appointed. She also has to do a conflict check so confirmation of counsel on 3/25.

Humboldt County Court Appointed Attorney Panel reached out to Mr. Bareilles after the morning's hearing. Mr. Bareilles said he had never tried a death penalty case.

While not related to this case; it will be in an update I will add to a civil case I am following. I spoke to Mr. Bareiiles this afternoon because that case was on this morning and told him he might want to explain why he was not there for that civil case. It was called twice, he will be listed as a no show because it is correct, he was not there in the other courtroom. The civil minutes should be available sometime next week. Mr. Bareilles is starting to take court appointments for criminal cases; he is going to have to learn to multi task in a very hectic environment going from courtroom to courtroom because most Humboldt attorneys do this daily. That client is not paying him through a court apppointment. It is a private client.

The panel reached out to Ms. Sullivan who is qualified. Judge Steward met privately with the attorneys in chambers before going on record.

While the preliminary hearing for 4/28 remains scheduled for now, Ms. Linkous has already indicated she will be filing a motion to continue.

3/25/26: The DA is not seeking the death penalty in the Tselin Lincoln and WIlliam Warren case. The other details from today's hearing are just remarks about discovery, a motion to continue that has been discussed previously and Ms. Andrea Sullivan confirmed as Lincoln's counsel. I will add more later after covering the other cases today.

First Amended charges:

Once again, I have to correct an error on RHBB. Whether it is by Ryan Hutson or Lisa Music, I don't know. The Public Defender does not recommend or appoint attorneys. In Humboldt, there is a conflict panel when the Humboldt County Public Defender and Humboldt County Conflict Counsel's Office has a conflict, the panel has private attorneys who are court appointed to represent the defendant. This was stated in court and it is correctly quoted in my article.

Ms. Andrea Sullivan is well known in Humboldt Superior Court and practices all over California. I just point out the errors in the court cases made by other media when I am also present. If they cover other cases while I am reporting on multiple other cases simultaneously in other courtrooms, who will correct the errors? Most attorneys just tell me privately when they notice.