On 12/19, in CR2501633, forcible rape suspect Dakota Parker's trial setting and hearing on motion for pre trial diversion was continued defense to 1/2/26. In CR2502229, after preliminary hearing, Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum held Parker to answer as charged. Arraignment on information is on 1/2/26.
The screenshots are of two prior posts on this case.
Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm is the prosecutor. Deputy Conflict Counsel David Nims is Parker's attorney.
Just wrote earlier this week about one Fourth of July suspect Dylan Olivas bring arrested again. His co-defendant in that case, 23 year old Joseph Bradely Boxell was arrested yesterday by Fortuna Police Department for HS 11364(a) possession of drug paraphernalia and HS 11350(a) possession of a controlled substance. He was released on O.R.
Unlike Olivas who looks the same; Boxell is skinnier with lighter hair.
Kneeland homicide suspect Austin Medeiros who racked up more charges in custody thinks he is in charge.
There was a hearing on 12/18/25. Humboldt Deputy County Counsel Heather Durand was in court on behalf of the Humboldt County jail. Medeiros objected to the petition to put him on involuntary medication. Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum granted the petition.
Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo waived jury trial and wants a court trial on competency. Deputy DA Candace Myers did not waive jury trial, and requested a continuance to consider that option.
Readiness Conference is on 1/2/26 ; Competency hearing on 1/13/26.
I chose this specific image for this post. Those it is meant for do not need an explaination.
I am a city person, will always be.
Eureka is a walkable city offering the pros of downtown, urban city in a small, rural County. Yes, a car is convenient but not necesary and walking is healthy. With ride shares, if you can afford them, it is doable if you live anywhere in Eureka.
It is unfortunate that public transit is not convenient or safe and it is dirty but that is everywhere in the U.S.
The number one positive for me is Eureka Police Department. Granted, I know many at EPD through the work I do, previously from church but even before I had this blog or was politically involved; EPD has always been responsive.
If only all civil lawsuits settled so quickly.
The 12/19/25 Case Management Conference in Charles Slaughter's lawsuit against Best Western Plus Bayshore Inn et al, High Desert Hotel Investment LLC was not necesary because the case had settled. There is a dismissal hearing scheduled for 5/18/26.
This is the Best Western in Eureka by Bayshore Mall.
This has been happening since 2023 and we only hear about it now. More details at:
This location on 5th Street that most remember as Rita's has been empty since Las Michoacana's closed. Good news for Eureka. Bella Italia is returning to this location. They are still working on the place and hope to open by February 2026.
I already reported on Dylan Olivas' latest arrest yesterday with details about prior court cases and arrests. HCSO just issued a press release with details about 25 year old Olivas' latest arrest which included 37 year old his live in girlfriend. The drug house where they lived and allegedly operated was in Redway. The press release lists Jazmyne Roe. She is also known as Jazmyne Carpenter and was booked in jail under that name and it is also listed in the complaint.
Both were arraigned on 12/19/25. Charges and complaint and arraignment information are in yesterday's post.
Today, the California Commission on Judicial Performance issued a press release and statement regarding the public admonishment of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Debra R. Archuleta.
Jury found Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of the felony count of obstructing federal agents who were waiting outside her courtroom to arrest an undocumented immigrant.
The jury of seven men and five women deliberated more than six hours before delivering a split verdict.
They found the judge not guilty on the lesser misdemeanor charge of concealing a wanted person. Judge Dugan faces up to five years in prison on the obstruction charge.
Defense said they plan to appeal.
It was obvious from day one that the Brown University suspect knew the place. The delay in releasing the video and images was a big error.
48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente was the Brown University shooting suspect. He was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in New Hampshire storage unit. Valente was a former Brown University student from 2000 to 2001.
Tomorrow, there is a hearing on the demurrer in the wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Brandey Wheeler vs City of Eureka, Miles Slattery et al.
The demurrer was filed in August 2025 by Leibert Cassidy and Whitmore, the San Francisco law firm representing City of Eureka and Miles Slattery. Former City of Eureka Deputy Attorney Curtis Davis whose employment was terminated by the City of Eureka and news which I reported first is representing Wheeler. It was continued by stipulation on 11/10/25 to 12/19/25.
There is also a first amended complaint. On page 5, if this claim is true, why are City of Eureka department supervisors meeting employees at bars? The time is not listed but it is Dave's Place in Henderson Center. There is another claim on page 7 about people socializing at bars, the 707 bar is mentioned.
This is the Brandy Wheeler who worked as a homeless services coordinator at the City of Eureka from 2018 to 2022 in the Uplift program.
On 12/12/25, a partial dismissal with prejudice was granted for Slattery, 1st, 7th, 8th and 9th causes of action.
Humboldt Superior Court Presiding Judge Kelly Neel has been covering Courtroom 4 for Judge Timothy Canning this week. This morning the calendar was running late so I don't know if minutes will be up.
12/19/25 update: Davis no show for Brandy Wheeler this morning. Leibert Cassidy and Whitmore's Ethan Wickland not present for City of Eureka. Humboldt Presiding Judge Kelly Neel vacates the demurrer to the first amended complaint filed by City of Eureka. Judge Neel issued an order to show cause for both attorneys failure to appear.
There is a case management conference on 1/12/26.
I am the only one who reported on Ashley Neiman's lawsuit against the City of Eureka.
I contacted Eureka Police Department because this car has been in this parking lot behind the EDD parking lot in the same spot for at least a month. It just stays there in that enclosure taking up spaces.
I walk by every day on my way to the Courthouse. Thank you to EPD PIO Laura Montagna for following up on it promptly. "If it’s on private property it falls on the owner to have it towed." That parking lot is empty most of the time, even during the day. Whoever owns this parking lot does not monitor it and there are people camping out and throwing trash in the alley and other people's properties.
It is literally across the street from the Courthouse, Eureka City Hall and convenient to downtown Eureka. This does not fit the Make Parking Lots Again Humboldt contingent who have plenty to complain about but do nothing constructive about public safety, improving how Eureka looks or anything that does not serve their selfish interests. And many in that crowd are ungrateful McScrooges about those who are pro active in making this community safer. If parking is such an issue, those with the money and influence they have in Eureka can do something with these empthy parking lots privately owned and the City of Eureka parking lot owned by Security National.
On November 23, 2025, I did this post on Michael Luna's lawsuit against Fortuna Union High School District.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/11/in-small-community-disqualifying-judges.html?m=1#more
That post has court documents, background and details.
At the 12/5/2025, hearing Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran took the petition filed by Luna under submission. On December 15, Judge Killoran issued his ruling. It was not filed until 12/17/25 and entered in the system later yesterday after I checked the case. I have included the two page brief ruling. Technically, 10 lines on two pages. Luna's petition was denied. There are no future dates scheduled.
You remember Dylan Olivas, one of the two Fourth of July suspects arrested by Eureka Police Department in 2022. I followed that case from arrest to conclusion.
Olivas was arrested yesterday, this time by Humboldt County Sheriff's Office on a Ramey warrant and booked in the jail on a Ramey warrant for HS 11366 operating or maintaining a drug house, PC 211 robbery and PC207 (a) kidnapping.
Bail is $100,000. From the jail log, there is one case/incident number for the robbery and kidnapping charges and another for the drug charges.
I have reached out to HCSO PIO Erin Inskip to ask if it was HCSO or another law enforcement agency who requested the warrant. It was HCSO.
I did request a booking photo but with the Ninth Circuit ruling, that is a decision HCSO makes according to certain criteria for each suspect. PIO Inskip does not know yet if the booking photo will be released.
Olivas already has a 2025 case filed on 4/16/25, arresting agency California Highway Patrol CR2500851. He was arraigned in that case on 12/15/25, the Public Defender previously represented him and were appointed. He has a failure to appear in that case. Trial confirmation in that case is currently 3/4/26 and jury trial on 3/9/26.
12/19/25: DA filed charges for both Olivas Roe but only for maintaining a drug house. Meth and fentanyl are the alleged substances. Both were arraigned today. For Olivas in CR2503047A, OR bail on 12/23; preliminary hearing on 12/30. Public Defender has a conflict Conflict Counsel appointed by Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge Miles ,bail set at $25,000 bail. Next court hearing for Olivas' CR2500851 case set to coincide. Public Defender appointed for Roe; bail is $25,000.
The U.S. Attorney's Office of Northern Caliornia issued a press release about a San Jose Engineer sentenced to 10 years in prison for bombings of PG&E transformers reulting in property damage and widespread power outages.
George Zinn, the man who obstructed law enforcement the day Charlie Kirk was shot also has other cases; one is alleged sexual exploitation of a minor and the other is a theft case with two qualifying priors. The State had previously made an offer. Today is the fifth court date because his preliminary hearing keeps getting continued.
Zinn looks nothing like the day he was arrested. He has a full beard. He appeared remotely from jail.
His hearing just concluded a couple of minutes ago. I updated other platforms first.
Utah County Public Defender Carly Madsen told Fourth District Judge Thomas Low, "Mr. Zinn and I have talked. We have decided to waive preliminary hearing in all three cases."
As arraignment date was being set, Zinn interrupted thinking he was entering a plea.
"I'd like these cases to move forward," he told Judge Low. When the judge tried to explain what a probable cause hearing is and what was being waived today, Zinn responded, "It is all in the police reports."
Ms. Madsen took a break from court to call him. When court resumed, he waived preliminary hearing in all three cases. Arraignment is scheduled for January 7, 2026. Zinn indicated he wishes to enter a plea that day.
Judge Low asked Ms. Madsen if Zinn was competent to stand trial and she answered "yes."