Fighting back tears, the Hoopa community reads victim impact statements regarding Preston Ruiz disposition

While other local media went to the Richard Toledo arraignment as predicted; I made a choice to cover the Preston Ruiz case today which has concluded.

I chose to see if the courtroom would be open for Preston Ruiz' juvenile case. It was this afternoon. There are no court minutes or access to this case so live coverage and being in the courtroom is the only way to get information.

The courtroom was packed to capacity. In addition to the regular courtroom 7 bailiff HCSO Deputy Leslie Borges; HCSO Sgt. Tony Gomes was present.

Humboldt Superior Court Presiding Judge Kelly Neel allowed people to sit in the front row where usually attorneys or law enforcement sit.

It has been a hectic day . Senior Humboldt Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees who is prosecuting William Warren and Tselin Lincoln was in Courtroom 7 this afternoon until there was a verdict in the trial he has been busy with in Courtroom 5. It is my understanding that he is the lead prosecutor and presented evidence for a previous hearing against Ruiz.

Deputy DA Alison Herson is assisting with this case and today she appeared in court making arguments and reading additional victim impact statements.

Gregory Kreis is Ruiz' attorney.  Ruiz was in court in a green t shirt and black pants. A juvenile hall officer was seated in front of me holding cuffs and a belt. Probation, CWS and other juvenile attorneys were in court. 

I have the charge, the disposition and details that were mentioned today in court.I am not going to rush this post. I made a choice to cover 2 hours of this case while several other cases were going on and checking on cases from Friday continued to Monday.

Check back later for more details Judge Neel's remarks, attorneys remarks and some quotes from victim impact statements. It will take me some time to update this post with all the Friday and Monday cases to update and cover Tuesday and rest of this week's cases and news.

I am sure there be social media posts from the Moon family members and those related to four other survivors who were in that car. If you want what was stated in court, then come back and read my post. It is your choice to wait or not. Those who appreciate hard work and facts stated in court will check back. There was some misinformation addressed on record in court today.

Ruiz pleaded guilty and admitted to being a member of a criminal organization. He turned himself in, he helped with the investigation. He did not shoot and was not aware that William Warren and Tselin Lincoln had guns. He spoke today. Today, Judge Neel declared Ruiz was a ward of the state, he is going to the New Horizons program , he is leaving Humboldt County, going through mental health and alcohol treatment. He will be confined aka "house arrest" for 1 year 8 months and 19 days.

The DA requested 6 months instead of 4 months as agreed in the disposition at New Horizons and a ban on social media. That was not granted. Judge Neel followed the recommendations by Probation.

There are stay away orders and juvenile restraining orders the Humboldt County DA requested and there was no objection by defense.

Dylan Moon's father, Grandma "Robin", several aunts of the juvenile survivors made victim impact statements.

Fear of retaliation, the word broken was used by many and the impact on the community. The defendants and survivors and families know each other. Some requested anonymity. Others stated their names on record and I recognize those names from my Facebook news page and people who have messaged me. 

I want to remind all those affected by this tragedy that I took time to be there today. The other media made a choice to cover two arraignments. I already reported on the charges in the Richard Toledo and Ashley Pearce-Pifferini case previously so attorney and dates can be added later. Toledo is a misdemeanor case. 

The other local media picked a white woman and a white man and arraignment which is no big deal over covering the pain of the local Native American community. I chose to listen to your words despite the behavior of some people involved towards me and who wrote victim impact statements. 

Of course, maybe I was there because I pay attention to all cases on calendar and know when it might be possible to cover a juvenile case. Some community members walked out in reaction to the disposition today and some left at the same time I did when the hearing had concluded.

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