Alleged molestor Trinidad Gomez' jury trial started today.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timn is the prosecutor for this case. Deputy Conflict Counsel Owen Tipps is Gomez' attorney. Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge John Feeney is presiding over the trial.
11:48: Ms. Timm finished her opening statement. Defense reserved opening statement. First People's witness is HCSO Deputy Megan Hwang who just started testimony and is the People's first witness.
No media here. I have a list of witnesses who all may or may not testify in this trial because I was in the courtroom today and took notes before Ms. Timm's opening statement.
Humboldt County DA Investigator Chelsea Brewer; Investigator Paul Morris (last name was hard to read), Chantel Harris, Child Welfare Services and Karen Sargent, CWS.
This is a case involving alleged sex crimes and molestation of a minor victim. Court testimony will include language and graphic details. It is your choice to read beyond this point.
Ms Timm's opening statement:
"Children do not get to pick the adults around them."
Jane Doe is 15 years old now. She is the oldest daughter in her family. She was 11 years old when Gomez "first started abusing her."
Jane Doe's mother was dating Gomez at the time. Her full name was stated in court but I am not going to include it for Jane Doe's privacy. The initials are HJ and she is one of the People's witnesses and mentioned in the opening statement.
Jane Doe lived with her biological dad. Gomez had access to her through her mother.
Jane Doe woke up one night to Gomez lying in bed besides her and he was "fondling her breasts. After 10 minutes, Gomez left to go to the bathroom and that is when what he was doing to Jane Doe "stopped."
When Jane Doe was "12 to 13 years old," after a cheerleading event, Gomez "took her out for a late night treat to celebrate."
"He drove to Toni's." On the way home,Gomez stopped the car and asked Jane Doe to kiss him. Scared, she complied. "She kissed him on the lips. Then wiped her lips. " Jane Doe was "grossed out." Gomez asked her," Why did you do that."
"As she got older, Jane Doe realized what happened to her was wrong. "When her mother asked her about a sleepover at Gomez', Jane Doe burst into tears" and disclosed the abuse.
"You won't like what you hear from Ms. J." Ms. Timm said that Jane Doe's mother confronted him but she did not report the molestation to the police.
Gomez told Jane Doe's mother about his sexual fantasies about her daughter. "While having intercourse with HJ, Gomez pretended to masturbate someone else in the bed and told HJ that he was pretending to masturbate Jane Doe.
Gomez asked HJ if "they both had the same ass." This was referring to mother and daughter. "Same tits, same ass."
Gomez told HJ, "Ugh, why can't she be 18 years or older? Gomez was talking about Jane Doe.
Gomez to HJ: "Would you guide her to suck my dick?" Her being Jane Doe.
Jury was shown screenshots of texts between Gomez and HJ.
Ms.Timm told the jury about more examples of sexual fantasies that Gomez had told HJ about Jane Doe.
Jane Doe disclosed to her mother in 2024. Besides being initially upset, HJ did nothing and did not go to law enforcement.
In 2025, Jane Doe told her friends who told their parents and those adults went to CWS and that started the investigation.
HCSO Deputy Hwang did the initial interview with Jane Doe at school.
"Children are not always supported by the adults in their life," said Ms. Timm. "Despite Ms Jenkins,you are asked to decide about the actions of Trinidad Gomez."
I added these live updates on Facebook throughout this morning only on Facebook until the courtroom opened for jurors and opening statements.
11:20 Still no media. No one in court other than one man and a woman and Victim Witness Representative.
6 men, 6 women, regular jury. Three male aternates.
Attorneys and court clerk just left for their morning break, returned at 11:12. No other media here so if they show up after this post, as usual.
As I reported earlier this morning, motions in limine were scheduled for 9:30, jurors were asked to come in at 11. Opening instructions will be provided by Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge John Feeney and then opening statement by the Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm. The defense has a choice when to give an opening statement so whether and how much evidence will be presented today will depend on that decision.
Humboldt County Sheriff Investigator Destry Henderson testified after the mid-afternoon break and looks like he is going to be the last witness for today.
In my May 18 post, I said that post would be the last time, I provide links to all my coverage including exclusives on this case including noticing two well known names as potential jurors. One is an alternate juror so I cannot say who he is; the other potential juror has been excused and that person is local attorney Ms. Jennifer Dixon.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/05/individual-jurors-being-questioned-in.html?m=1#more
For those of you who have followed me from the beginning, especially my coverage of molestation cases; you know that the mother knowing, not being there for the victim and being the person that allows the molestor access is not a one time occurrence. If you have read my prior coverage HJ is the same as Seng Yang's wife. Google that case on my blog.
Court minutes for 5/26 were finally added after lunch on 5/27/26. Jane Doe testified yesterday.
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