Laurie Barnwell PRA about Mercer Fraser; you won't see that on Rex Bohn's Facebook page

 

I have been covering these two related lawsuits since 2025 and was the first one to report on both. Brandon Barnwell is one of the parties and his family took on Mercer Fraser in the original lawsuit I reported on in 2025.

I noticed this PRA by Lauri Barnwell.

There was an exparte hearing on in the lawsuit the California Department of Forestry filed against Chalk Mountain and Mercer Fraser. The court minutes are in draft form and not complete as of the end of day on 5/28 or 5/29. I checked several times on 5/28 and 5/29. I checked again on 6/1 and court minutes finally entered after I mentioned it today in my post.

An Order to Show Cause - preliminary injunction is scheduled for 6/12. A Case Management Conference is scheduled on 11/2.

Most of my readers read me daily and have read these posts and know the relevance of the PRA.

If you haven't, you can google or search my blog for details and court records.

If you do not want to because you are lazy and refuse to pay me for a convenient summary, you can just look at the PRA. That alone should be sufficient.

Here are some of the declarations included for the 5/29 hearing. And some of the photos included. I checked and most of photos have a time stamp of 5/22/26.

This information from the PRA about Mercer Fraser is not something you will find on First District Supervisor Rex Bohn's Facebook page where he constantly sings the praises of Justin Zabel and Mercer Fraser. 

I don't have a problem with the May 23 donation by Mercer Fraser because it honors veterans but Rex only gives shout out to certain people. There are many who do good in Humboldt and quietly without recognition. 

The problem is that certain people get these "recognitions" from elected officials and other local "media." They are not held accountable when necessary or written about unless I call the other local media out who then do a token follow up and a sloppy, inconsequential "write up" after I took the risk and wrath.

I do my job and I pay the price every day.

Mercer Fraser and the Barnwell family are opponents in one lawsuit and the PRA is relevant not just to the lawsuit but it is Humboldt County in a nutshell.

One set of rules for the good ole boys and gals and another for the rest of us. Selective hate, selective enforcement and selective targeting and selective protection.

6/1/26: The court minutes are in draft form and were not complete as of the end of day on 5/28 or 5/29. I checked several times on 5/28 and 5/29. I checked again on 6/1 several times and court minutes finally entered this afternoon after I mentioned it today in my post.

Humboldt County has received two PRA requests recently about murder suspects arrested in Humboldt and extradited to other jurisdictions; why do they flee to Humboldt County is the real story TMZ or some crime show should investigate

 

Last week, I wrote about a request TMZ submitted to HCSO regarding Gabriella Gonzalez.

HCSO received another request from David Yupa recently, two years later after William Rickman was booked into the Humboldt County jail and extradited to Washington. 

This is the screenshot from 2022.

Richard Pomrehn and Stephen Kimberling testify in Kyra Kelly's criminal case; the civil lawsuits involving Pomrehn family, Big Oil and Tire and HCSO are scheduled for July

 

I did three posts on Kyra Kelly in April 2026. No one else has reported on her various lawsuits.

In addition to the screenshots, here are links to the three posts. They contain charges and details from the criminal case, court documents and details on related civil cases involving Brandon and Richard Pomrehn, Big Oil and Tire and Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/04/13-cases-pattern-of-loss-is-kyra-kelly.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/04/once-again-both-lawsuits-on-humboldt.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/04/what-do-slander-pra-ramey-warrants.html?m=1

On 5/29/26, Humboldt Superior Court Judge Steven Steward held Kelly to answer as charged. Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm is the prosecutor for the case.

Deputy Public Defender Emery Welton is Kelly's attorney. Why is it that he is the deputy public defender for so many problematic, "cray cray" defendants; especially the women whose cases I cover? 

People's witnesses included Richard Pomrehn and Stephen Kimberling.

There is a hearing on 6/1 on Kelly's Faretta motion 6/1. "A Faretta motion is a formal request by a criminal defendant to the judge, asking to waive their right to legal counsel and represent themselves at trial. Also known as going pro per or pro se, this right is grounded in the U.S. Constitution's Sixth Amendment--Google"

On 6/12, Kelly will be arraigned on information in the criminal case. Unless there is a significant development, those updates will be added here.

There are three different dates in July for the three civil lawsuits. 

6/1/26: Kelly will be representing herself.

Possible conservatorship for Josalyn Spagel

 

I was the first to report on Josalyn Spagel's arrest and the only one to cover her case and every hearing. By now, even new readers know I add minor updates to certain posts and you have a complete and chronological timeline to follow.

On 5/28, after Dr.Mark  Lamer's report, Spagel was found not competent by Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge Christopher Wilson. There is a review hearing on 6/23/26 for receipt of public guardian report to see if Spagel is eligible for a Lanterman-Petris-Short Conservatorship.

Lanterman-Petris-Short Conservatorshipis a legal arrangement in California where a court appoints a conservator to make medical, residential, and treatment decisions for an adult with a severe mental illness or chronic alcoholism.

Deputy DA Andrew Truitt appeared on the case for the People. Weaverville attorney Ms. Kristiana Wright is Spagel's attorney.

Three more local businesses

Three more well known local businesses will be making the same announcements as City Cab and Humboldt Towing. At least, one of those businesses this summer.

Until the owners make it public, I cannot tell you who they are. When they make it official, I will remind you where you heard it first. Getting scoops and exclusives is discretion, respect and timing. The real story is that the complete failure of those who have been in charge of Humboldt to allow more loss of jobs. What we need is an environment where private industry and entrepreneurship flourishes on talent and hard work. It is the employees that are impacted the most and in a small County, we all know them.

Small claims case filed against former Deputy DA and current Humboldt Deputy Counsel dismissed

 

In March, I did a post on this lawsuit filed by a Sacramento couple. 

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-humboldt-small-claims-lawsuit-filed.html?m=1

The defendant is former Humboldt Deputy DA Victoria Reierstad who now works at Humboldt County Counsel handling juvenile cases.

A request to dismiss with prejudice was requested by Alyssa Wilson on 5/11 and granted on 5/13/26. I have included the court document filed by the Wilsons. 

The small claims hearing for May 29 was vacated. E court did not list the case was settled. 

Two more lawsuits, County of Humboldt won't win

 

I did many exclusives on HCSO, County of Humboldt vs Humboldt Superior Court and in some instances, Humboldt Sheriff William Honsal did not respond to me.

In April 2024, I was the first one to report on a lawsuit filed by former court reporter Kay Gibbs. No one has covered that lawsuit. I did several posts on that case and my last post was on March 2025.

Regulars who read me daily and often have seen every post. You can search the blog for free. Or you can use one of the paid options for convenience.

Why is Security National or Rob Arkley interested in Ray Christie's land in Arcata?

 

I was the first to report on Security National's community and housing development and the last to provide an update.

Have not heard from Security National since 2024 about my inquiry. So, they are not going to be contacted by me again.

I recently learned that Land X realtor Nathan Baxley, who is also a Battalion Chief with Humboldt Bay Fire, inquired about purchasing land belonging to Ray Christie in Arcata for Rob Arkley.  Nathan Baxley is a realtor doing a job and I am not going to put him in the position for answering for SN/Rob Arkley.

I did reach out to Ray Christie and he confirmed he was contacted by Land X about his property and he said Rob Arkley.

It could be someone from SN who contacted Land X but my source told me Rob Arkley. Same difference. Last I heard Ray Christie had not sold his land to Rob Arkley or Security National. 

The land belonging to Ray Christie that is of interest to SN/Rob Arkley is near this housing project. SN has not updated their website about this project.

Knowing the family that owns the business, knowing the employees and only using them when I needed a cab, this makes me sad

 

Knowing the family that owns the business, knowing the employees and hearing only positive from them; this makes me sad. I only used them when I needed a cab. Humboldt needs more local businesses like City Cab. I reached out to Catherine.

Josue Diego Aguilar Garcia resolves case, pleads guilty to assault, attempted murder charge dismissed

 

No one else reported and followed this court case. As you can see from the screenshot, I added updates until today's plea. HCSO press release is in that post.

Today, Josue Diego Aguilar Garcia entered a plea to Count 2 assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury on Lee Kelly Long and special allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury upon Long. Count 1 was dismissed by the People.

Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum took the plea. Deputy DA Candace Myers is the prosecutor. Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo is Garcia's attorney. Sentencing is on 6/23.

Of all days for Humboldt court to have "communication" issues, Friday is the worst

On a Friday, with several criminal and civil cases I am following, there have been tech issues. Looks like e court is fixed for staff but public computers were still iffy all afternoon. Computer freezes, won't shut down and the screen just spins with a black screen.

Court Tech  is aware. County of Humboldt IT issues happen on Fridays, the weekends and Monday. This is rare for courts which are on a separate system.

I still managed to check most of the cases from today but had to be at the Courthouse until they closed. I have posted on some cases. Others will be updated over the weekend. Minor updates such as continuances are added to the previous post I did on the case.

Rosalyn Klock sentenced in two criminal cases today

 

Today, Rosalyn Klock was sentenced today to in two cases by Humboldt Superior Court Judge Steven Steward.

In CR2601648 to 93 days in jail which are covered by custody credits, probation was denied, Klock had entered a guilty plea to Count 1, possession of meth.

In CR2600624B, also to 93 days in jail which are covered by custody credits and two years probation. She had entered a guilty plea to Count 2 maintaining a place for selling or using meth and fentanyl. There is a review hearing on 7/9/26 about determination if Klock is eligible for treatment program. 

Deputy District Attorney Brandon Boozari is the prosecutor for both cases. Gregory Kreis is Klock's attorney.

I have covered Klock since 2021. You can look up the previous posts via screenshots provided.