Matthew Kapono arrested by Fortuna PD for lewd and lascivious on a minor

27 year old Matthew Sonny Kapono was arrested by Fortuna Police Department yesterday for PC 288 (a) lewd or lascivious act upon a child under the age of 14.

Kapono is charged with PC 288 (a). Alleged victim is John Doe. The DA filed a complaint on 8/26, Kapono wa arraigned the same day. Senior Deputy DA Whitney Timm appeared on the case for the People. Public Defender's office was appointed by Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran;  bail is $75,000; criminal protective order filed and served at arraignment. OR bail on 8/28; preliminary hearing on 9/8.

8/28/26: Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran granted supervised release. Deputy DA Ian Harris appeared on the case for the OR bail hearing. Deputy Public Defender David Celli for his office. Preliminary hearing is on 9/8.

I do not know if this is the case Mr. Celli was discussing with an older man and younger woman outside Courtroom 5 in the afternoon but they were headed to the jail. I heard parts of the conversation about services, programs and Mr. Celli telling them to talk to Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo. If it does end up being this case and Kapono is granted some sort of treatment or diversion, you heard it here first.