Arson suspect Stephen Paiment was restored to competency

 

Arson suspect Stephen Paiment was arraigned on information today. There is a hearing scheduled for a petition on mental health diversion but no filing in e court. The court will not have a hearing if documents are not filed timely. If this hearing proceeds tomorrow, it is selective rules. If it is continued; more waste of time and court resources on taxpayer dime.

This is the kind of nonsense, often last minute by the Public Defender's Office or Conflict Counsel that results in me checking 40 or 50 Humboldt cases. Paiment was restored to competency on 8/13/26. He isn't the first defendant who is a clear danger to the community who the public defenders will still pursue mental health diversion for and if you read my reporting, it has been a failure. Same with CARE court, while those cases are confidential and press releases have been issued about their "success", if data was available to the public; the real story would be revealed. Readiness Conference is on 12/1; jury trial on 12/14.

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