Ryan Robertson's preliminary hearing was a Humboldt version of Catch a Predator

 

This morning the preliminary hearing scheduled for alleged molestor Ryan Roberson was continued to this afternoon. It was continued from yesterday because defense was given some discovery.

I was in Courtroom 1 when Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum called the case and was ready to send it to Courtroom 7. Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo disqualified Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge John Feeney. 

Did that disqualification have to do with Judge Feeney denying Robertson OR and supervised release? My readers are smart enough and familiar enough with how Humboldt works to answer that question themselves.

Judge Cockrum then tried to send the preliminary hearing to Courtroom 3 but due to another preliminary hearing scheduled that afternoon and Judge Steven Steward's morning calendar; it was determined this preliminary hearing may not conclude by noon. Judge Cockrum asked attorneys to return to Courtroom 1 this afternoon for the preliminary hearing.

There tends to be a lot of judge "shopping" in Humboldt and disqualifications; mostly by local Humboldt public defenders. Besides delaying hearings for hours or days; it is russian roulette for public safety.

The time estimate for the preliminary hearing was 45 minutes. Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm is the prosecutor. DA Investigator Ryan Hill was the People's only witness. The hearing took over 2 hours with a break for Judge Cockrum to look over exhibits before hearing arguments and making his ruling.

Robertson is charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor.

Judge Cockrum held Robertson to answer to all the charges and denied the defense 17 (b) motion to reduce the three felony charges to misdemeanors. His remarks included Ms. Timm's arguments.

At first, it seemed Judge Cockrum was going to grant bail reduction. After Ms. Timm's arguments; there was no bail reduction but a decision to put Robertson on supervised release which makes no sense. Judge Cockrum outlined some of the terms of release. There is an OR bail for 3/6/26 and arraignment on information is on 3/18/26.

I am going to do a detailed post on today's hearing but since there is a hearing on Friday, I may wait until the weekend. There was no other media in court. The only other people in the courtroom were Robertson's parents and another female family member or acquaintance. She was very distracting during the hearing with the shaking of the head and dramatic entrances. After the hearing, she left in a huff.

Unlike Judge Lawrence Killoran telling the audience in the Destinee Rhamy trial "not to make audible responses to questions"; Judge Cockrum did not admonish her behavior. There are always cases in Humboldt you can smell drama from the beginning and family members who think acting out in a court of law "helps" the victim or the defendant. Keep your Real Lives of Humboldt in your living room.

There are details from today's preliminary hearing that are not in the complaint. I made a choice to cover this in person because it is now harder and more time consuming to get access to certain court documents and information.

This case has some differences and some issues than other cases. There is another Jane Doe from 2024 who has left Humboldt County and refused to do a CAST interview. DNA from Jane Doe's clothing has been sent to the DOJ. Judge Cockrum did not consider the Jane Doe information while making his ruling. There was testimony allowed about and you will have to wait why until the detailed post.

Mr. Russo argued that his client had been catfished. Judge Cockrum used legal catfishing. Judge Cockrum said there is no victim in this 2026 case. Robertson was chatting and texting with "Emmy", a 13 year old who is actually Humboldt DA Investigator Ryan Hill with a fake Facebook account and an AI generated photo of Investigator Hill to appear female.

Ms. Timm cited case law, what the California legislature allows so law enforcement can keep the public safe and going over count by count, using Robertson's own text messages and words presented the case at preliminary hearing and why Robertson should be held to answer.

The preliminary hearing will give you an insight how social media, apps and  law enforcement interact and arrest predators.

I don't know when and if this case will go to trial. I don't know when DOJ will have DNA results from Jane Doe's clothing. All that can impact the outcome of this case.  If it goes to trial, can 12 jurors come to a decision? Some may agree with the DA; it only takes 1 or 2 to be persuaded by Mr. Russo's argument.

I agree with Ms. Timm. 

The defense that he was catfished fails when you carry on a conversation with someone who has said they are minor for 5 days with explicit sexual photos and texts. Men who are not attracted to minors dont "test"; suspect someone of being a cop or a bot unless they are wary of being caught. They also dont need go on communicating for 5 days and then agree to have a clandestine meeting. Not only is Robertson an alleged predator but cheap. He wanted "Emmy" to take a bus from Eureka to Fortuna.

If you did not read the February 14 post about the arrest, charges and other hearings; here is the link.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/02/da-issues-ramey-warrant-for-ryan.html?m=1#more

Shout out to new clerk Molly S who had these court minutes up immediately after the preliminary hearing concluded. She has a good trainer, Michelle assisting her and came across as an experienced trainer today.

3/6/26: Robertson's parents were in court.