**This post contains graphic language of alleged crimes charged which are from court records. It is your choice to read beyond this note**
While Kip Branson was arrested by HCSO on May 16, the complaint filed by the Humboldt County District Attorney shows it is a merged case with the Rio Dell Police Department. The DA has charged Branson with 6 felonies; one misdemeanor and a special allegation.
On May 27 and 28, 2025, the Northern District will conduct a two-day in-person workshop, in partnership with community restorative-justice practitioners and survivors of serious crime. Workshop participants include defendants, surrogate victim-survivors, experienced facilitators, community members, probation and pretrial services officers, prosecutors, and defense attorneys.
Another exit from Cal Poly Humboldt. This time it is Acting Vice-President of University Advancement Mark Johnson. On May 19, Cal Poly Humboldt announced VP of Administrative Affairs & Finance, Sherie Gordon stepped down from her position.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/05/cal-poly-humboldt-vp-of-administrative.html?m=1
Humboldt County Sheriff deputies made two arrests yesterday for PC 290.012(a), failure to register as a sex offender. One was for Bobbie Otho Lemmons and the other was Richard Paul Wright. Lemons was released on O.R.
I added court minutes and an update from today's hearing to my previous post on sexually violent predator Richard Stobaugh's case. I had already reported that the evidentiary hearing was continued to June 11.
After going to hearing after hearing on Stobaugh, I knew today's hearing would just be receipt of records or another continuation.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/05/hearings-rescheduled-in-stobaugh-case.html?m=1
In my media request, I wrote about my blunt coverage and I wrote about how Judge Kaleb Cockrum treated KRCR differently and me as well as the DA's office. The law he cited in court and as a reason to deny my media request applies to everyone and all media. I am the one who has helped many other reporters including those from KRCR with media request procedure and information. Compare the media requests and orders for yourself and read Judge Cockrum's remarks in my May 16 post.
If Judge Kaleb Cockrum thought the community would not notice, he was wrong.
Convicted sex offender Shawn Lee Perrot has filed yet another appeal in 2025 . I have written about Perrot's cases, lost appeals, lawsuits against Humboldt County. The last detailed post I did was in May 2024. There is not much to report yet except the filing of this appeal. The appeal is for his 2025 case for felony parole revocation.
The County of Humboldt is excited to announce that Ryan Cooley will be appointed as the county’s new Director of Aviation at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, June 3.
This press release was issued today. The same day an imate in jail in Los Angeles was transferred to ICE custody under Operation Guardian Angel. While the press release refers to Central District counties in one paragraph, most of the press release refers to California's sanctuary policy.
I reached out to Humboldt County Sheriff Honsal and Humboldt County Board of Supervisor Chair and Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell for comment.
Sheriff Honsal sent me this response, "Yes, this is true, and its exactly what the state sheriffs have been asking for. This is my directive sent out last week to my deputies:
Good afternoon,
As of late, the federal government has begun entering both criminal and civil warrants into NCIC. Under SB 54, we may only enforce criminal or “judicial” federal warrants. A judicial warrant is one issued by a federal judge or magistrate based on probable cause for a violation of federal criminal law, including immigration law. The Values Act does not prohibit us from responding and taking action on criminal warrants in NCIC.
Procedure:
When an NCIC check returns a federal warrant, confirm it is a judicial warrant signed by a judge or magistrate.
If confirmed, arrest, transport, and book the individual into the jail.
The jail will notify federal authorities, and ICE will arrange pickup within 36 hours.
Supervisor Bushnell responded, "We don’t have a meeting for two weeks and I’m not sure what stands are Board is going to take personally we don’t get in the way of Sheriffs dealings, especially federal law being a sanctuary county however I’m not sure how the board will feel about it all."
28 year old Mervin Lewis George III was arrested by HCSO on May 12 on a Ramey warrant for PC 243.4(e)(1) domestic battery. He posted bond.
I cannot post his 2025 booking photo but in 2025, the only difference from his 2022 booking photo is that he has some hair and a shirt.
Kip Branson was arrested by HCSO on May 16 on a Ramey and booked into the Humboldt County jail for two counts of PC 422 criminal threats, PC 273.5 (a) corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant, PC 22210 illegal manufacturing sale or possession of leaded canes, batons, billyclubs and similar weapons, PC 30305(a) felon in possession of ammunition, HS 11364(a) possession of drug paraphernalia, HS 11350(a) possession of a controlled substance and HS 11378 possession of meth.
Cal Poly Humboldt Interim President sent a letter out to the "campus community" with more details.
This is a developing story. I received a tip and have reached out to Christine Damiani who is the project director.
The Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation was one of the groups instrumental in getting grant funding to protect endangered butterfly populations. Word on the street is that the local butterfly conservation project is on "the chopping block" due to federal budget cuts.
Eureka Police Department Commander Leonard LaFrance CIT Award being named Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Law Enforcement Executive of the Year by CIT International is the best news this Monday. Commander LaFrance is one example of the many EPD officers promoted who has the respect and trust of this community including mine.
You can read the HCSO press release for all the booking charges for each individual but one of Elizabeth Hayes' charges is committing a felony while out on bail. Nicholas Arbuckle's charges include probation violation and multiple arrest warrants. Holly Carlson was released on O.R.
I reported on Ellis's arrest in 2023.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2023/05/robert-ellis-was-arrested-last-august.html?m=1
HCSO just issued a press release about Ellis' May 14, 2025 arrest.
Tom Wheeler sent out legal filings and a press release. I have not seen it yet on other media with a message. The press release is lengthy. You can find the two documents online so I am only including the first page.
"Yesterday, EPIC and a coalition of environmental groups filed an amicus brief in a lawsuit brought by 17 states + DC and the wind power industry against Trump's executive order against offshore wind. We believe that Trump's order is hostile to the truth—that wind energy, when responsibly developed, can be a significant public good—and inappropriately weaponizes environmental laws in order to further the interests of fossil fuel companies."
The City of Eureka will provide up to three hours of public comment during the City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 2025, regarding Item H.1 — Bill No. 1040-C.S., the proposed Camping Ordinance.