Instead of being stuck in windy and rainy weather in Humboldt next week, local California State Association of Counties attendees will be in sunny Los Angeles County.
Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo and most of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will be in Pasadena all week at the CSAC conference. Several Couty staff will also attend for continuing education and certifications.
Convicted felon Jackson Parrott is no stranger to law enforcement. His name is familiar to readers and anyone who pays attention to the jail log or local crime news. Just this year he was arrested twice in the last 4 months; in August 2024 and most recently on November 13, 2024. A search for Parrott's name in Humboldt Superior Court system comes up with 25 related searches.
I was in courtroom 3 on 11/14 covering several cases and Parrott and three cases on calendar. He was arraigned on information in in CR2403119C. Bail in that case is $1,500,000.
In April 2023, I reported on a lawsuit filed by Vickie Victorine lawsuit against Fortuna Elementary District.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2023/04/fortuna-elementary-district-sued-for.html?m=1
The case settled in October 2024 and future dates scheduled for 11/1/24 and 11/4/24 were vacated. There is a dismissal hearing scheduled on 11/18. The settlemental is conditional.
11/18/24: Dismissal hearing continued to 1/10/25 by Fortuna Elementary.
1/10/25: Dismisal hearing continued by Fortuna Elementary to 2/14/25 after status of settlement provided by Fortuna Elementary attorney, Mr Nicholas Kloeppel.
2/14/25: Dismisal hearing continued by this time by Vickie Victorine to 3/24.
Jury started deliberations yesterday came back with a guilty verdict in convicted felon Jesus Loza Zamacona's CR2300870 case this afternoon but did not stick around to talk to either attorney.
I have covered his case before. This wasa retrial. When Mr. Nims was Loza Zamacona's attorney, there was a mistrial. Judge Lawrence Killoran presided over both trials.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2024/04/deputy-public-defender-talks-to-witness.html?m=1
Ms. Rebecca Linkous took over the case from former Deputy Public Defender David Nims. Mr. Nims now works at Conflict Counsel. Deputy District Attorney Ian Harris is the prosecutor for the trial.
You are not allowed to take photos on the second floor of Humboldt Superior Court but just a few minutes ago, Presiding Judge Kelly Neel was walking on the second floor with Humboldt's next Judge. Ms. April Van Dyke who will her enrobing ceremony in January 2025.
Based on how previous court assignments have been handled and because Ms. Van Dyke previously worked at Conflict Counsel, I am sure she will be assigned to family law or juvenile dependency. Unless Assistant Presiding Judge wants a change from hearing civil cases.
In March 2024, I reported on a lawsuit filed by St. Bernard parishioner Josephine Silva against Redwood Acres. My last update was in September 2024. At that time, the only date scheduled was a Case Management Conference and trial setting on 1/10/25.
Silva is represented by the Zwerdling Law Firm. The defendant GMBE, LLC by Mr. Jeffrey Kramer.
I noticed the case was on calendar today. The hearing is on a motion filed by Mr. Nate Zwerdling on October 10 for preferential trial setting. He also filed a declaration in support of the motion. I have included both those court documents but not all the exhibits. I am not posting Silva's driver's license or the private investigator's memorandum but you can read the arrest, incident report and see photos of Silva's injuries.
Jack Wu owns Jack's Seafood in Eureka, has a partner and owns Ginger in Eureka and is opening a restaurant in Arcata. Jack took over the former Mazotti's location which reopened as Venicia. In my coverage of the lawsuit filed by Wallace and Hinz against Joe Mazzotti, Jack was subpoenaed to testify in that lawsuit. You can google the posts on the Wallace and Hinz lawsuits.
I just received a tip minutes ago from someone in the restaurant business that Jack is interested will be opening a Hibachi restaurant at the location of former Tres Chiles Picosos in Eureka. I spoke with Jack and he confirmed the news.
In October 8, 2024, I reported that Michael Acosta lost his appeal in his 2020 case. In my September post, I have more details about Acosta' s requests beibg denied by California's First Apellate District.
Today, Acosta's 2020 case was on for setting & status of remittitur. Visiting Judge Leonard LaCasse encouraged Deputy District Attorney Ian Harris and Acosta to discuss a possible resolution before the pre trial for Acosta's alleged Violation of Probation scheduled for 12/23. The VOP revocation hearing is scheduled for 1/10/25.
Hotel Ivanhoe in Ferndale was sold to former court reporter Jackie Musselman's brother, Geoffrey Musselman. The historic hotel, saloon and restaurant is expected to re-open in mid January.
I spoke with Fernade City Clerk Kris at the Ferndale City Manager office on 11/18/24 to see if a business license had been filed by the new owner and she has not received anything yet.
On 11/18, the news was confirmed by the realtor on this Facebook post.
Depending on how long you have read my blog, you may remember my extensive coverage of the Ewa Misztal case. I covered that case for years, going to hearing after hearing. The rest of the local media covers a random case here and there, goes for the initial views and then loses interest. Every case is different and meaningful to those involved.
It is an extremely busy day and week for me as well as the HCSO PIO and everyone working at the courthouse so I am not wasting the PIOs time with a media request. This would be Eureka Police Department jurisdiction and I am not wasting EPD PIOs time either.
Here is what I have pieced together from different people at the courthouse "in the know." Sometime between 5 p.m. yesterday and 7 a.m. this morning when some HCSO, County and court employees came to work this morning, they saw this cone covering a hole in the sidewalk and tire marks leading up to the Sheriff's sign by the 4th street entrance. I was told that around 2 a.m. deputies heard the noise and went out to discovered a guy with half a pound of meth on the front seat of his vehicle decided to give the sidewalk a makeover. If I find out more details, I will update the post.
After sitting in court for hours this morning, once again with no other local media present, I watched the members of Jennika Suazo's family and their reaction to the fifth continuance granted in murder suspect Anthony Hamilton's case today. Two women who have been at every hearing, polite and waiting eight years for justice. At least, this time it was somewhat justified. I have no idea why the paperwork was not completed; am guessing Deputy Conflict Counsel R.J. Leohner and small Conflict Counsel staff has been swamped with work.
I found out that a plea had been finally negotiated during a court break this morning.
One of Suazo's family members asked Deputy District Attorney about Hamilton already serving another life sentence. He responded, "yes."
Then the two ladies asked Mr. Rees, "So he won't get out and kill anyone else." Even while they deal with their own pain, Suazo's family is thinking of others.
"This is California. Nothing is for sure," said Mr. Rees.
Further setting and change of plea is scheduled for 11/22 to allow Mr. Leohner to fill out the plea form and get the case number. After discussing with both attorneys, Judge Steven Steward granted the short continuance to next week due to the court's impacted schedule this week. The attorneys were willing to come back later this afternoon or tomorrow
Many of you who follow this blog and read it regularly don't even need to read the the rest of this to know why I wrote this post. We talk, you know. Most of my readers know me and have met me. I appreciate those unexpected chats and your feedback about how much you like the blog at the courthouse and other places when we unexpectedly see each other. That support was very helpful, especially last week and this week.
These images are also for you because we all have a lot going on that people don't know.
I have been very open on the blog about the challenges I face in Humboldt, especially in the last four years. It has not been easy to do this blog; ever. The last two weeks, there have been additional challenges. Some you know about; some you don't. The ones who were there for me last week and this week, you know who you are. Thank you.
Those who care. Those who bothered to ask. Those who understood why there are typos; the grammar in some of my posts that get fixed later in most cases after posting live and covering more daily, original content by myself than any other local media. Those who know of the daily challenges and onerous conditions I go through to do this blog every day because they cared enough to ask and listen. Those who see and know the daily survival and hardships I have endured including not being able to take care of myself and my health because of the retaliation from toxic, narcissistic, incompetent, abusive local bufoons whose think they are the House of Cards cast when the reality is that they are propped up by weak, miserable, petty losers just like them. Those who did what they could to be kind without judging me in the last 10 years knowing what I have to do every single day to pick myself without the basics of survival because of repeated, hateful anonymous attacks and unwarranted threats by miserable losers who cannot look in the mirror or take responsibility for the harm they do . To all of the decent,compassionate people. Thank you.
To those, especially the crestfallen faces since the end of August, last week and this week who expected me to fold and cower. To those who cannot even look me in the eye in the last couple of months and since last week. To those who said, "I got your back" and then were MIA when it mattered. Pick any image below that applies. Or all of them. I don't give a damn what you think or do.
When I checked this yesterday, all the comments were positive. I mentioned this to the staff at jury duty and a few court staff members earlier today. Of course, when I checked it later tonight, there had to be the typical Humboldt negative troll who just had to sully the positive thread. You can read the rest of the comments.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Humboldt/comments/1gq1g41/jury_duty_shout_out/?rdt=52416
The Yurok Tribe and Del Norte County Superior Court and Del Norte District Attorney’s Office recently signed an agreement that will allow adult Yurok citizens facing certain criminal charges an opportunity to defer prosecution and instead enroll in the Yurok Wellness Court’s comprehensive, culturally centered Wellness Diversion program.
Today is the first time I saw former Security National employee, former Humboldt Planning Commission member and former County Assessment Appeals Board member Brian Mitchell since I reported on his arrest for domestic violence in September.
I last reported on this appeal filed by Eureka Housing for All on 9/12/24.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2024/09/eureka-housing-for-all-appeal-dismissed.html?m=1
