Joe Judge has left the Conflict Counsel's office

Today in court, on one of the cases, it was mentioned that Joe Judge is no longer with the Conflict Counsel's office.

Cory Fisher sentenced 106 years to life

Convicter molestor Cory Fisher's sentencing was continued to this morning. Fisher was found guilty of 9 counts involving sexual abuse of his stepsons and son on April 4. He was found not guilty of four counts involving inmates.

Now retired, Deputy Conflict Counsel David Lee was Fisher's attorney. He appeared pro bono today.

People requested Count 3 be dismissed before sentencing.

As he stated at sentencing, convicted child molestor Mario Alexander filed an appeal

Mario Alexander was convicted on 10 counts of child molestation and  sentenced on March 8, 2019 to 188 years to life. On March 13, 2019, he filed an appeal.

Another sexually violent predator housed at Coalinga that has a history of reoffending

Lenard Chester, a sexually violent predator, who was housed at Coalinga State Hospital was arrested last week for the unsolved murder of a 81 year old woman. She was also raped and beaten. He was taken from the State Hospital to County jail. Chester is being held without bail. Arraignment is on June 3.

HCSO deputies responding to domestic violence call on Maplewood Drive

11:28 : Some HCSO deputies are being diverted to Maplewood Drive for a domestic violence call from the home invasion incident on Holly Drive.

HCSO PIO Samantha Karges told me, "As for Maplewood Drive, we received two calls relating to this incident. One of which for an unwanted subject and the other for a disturbance. No crime was determined to have been committed and there were no arrests."

Home invasion call on 1968 Holly Drive in Mckinleyville

HCSO Deputy responding to home invasion call at 1968 Holly Drive in Mckinleyville, suspect fled in Silver Chevy pickup 2019 Enterprise Rental,no units on scene yet. Suspect wearing black mask and hoodie.

Address corrected to 1968 on scanner; first address given was 1978.

I reached out to the Sgt on duty and was able to talk to him briefly. I was able to confirm the incident but it was a burglary, not home invasion.

82 arrests, 17 victims in 8 state operation on child porn and sexual exploitation operation

A total of 82 people were arrested, and 17 children were rescued or identified as victims during a mutually coordinated operation between eight (8) southeastern states.

Mistrial declared in Chad Smith case, jury deadlocked on 13 counts

For majority of the counts the jury was deadlocked, the votes were 10 guilty and 2 not guilty. For one count  the votes were 9 guilty, and three not guilty. The jurors took 16 different votes.

Yesterday, the split was 7-5. The jury foreperson was not asked yesterday which way the votes were split yesterday.

The jury found Chad Smith guilty on three of the restraining order violations. Smith had already admitted to violating the restraining orders.

First note today from the Chad Smith jurors

For the first time today, the jurors in the Chad Smith case have called for the bailiff.

Attorneys inside courtroom. At 3:15, bailiff came out and the jury foreperson was asked to go into the courtroom by himself. Then each individual juror will go in by themselves. The courtroom will be closed.

3:25 p.m. DA Maggie Fleming went inside the courtroom.

Four days into jury trial, alleged domestic violence dismissed due to witness misconduct

Judge Kelly Neel granted the motion to dismiss this morning.  This was the fourth day of the jury trial.

The complaining witness was Richard Bray's ex wife. The CLETS protective order was withdrawn.

DA's witnesses were impeached and they violated motion of limine rules.

Bray's attorney was Deputy Public Defender Rory Kalin. Deputy District Attorney  Candace Bray. There had been no offer from the DA to resolve the case.

Jury trial for man charged with forcible rape of his own daughter starts Monday

Trial assignment was scheduled for Seng Yang this moning. Jury trial starts Monday. There will be motions in limine and if necessary, questioning of individual jurors privately before jury selection is done in a large group.

Yang charges include forcible rape of his own daughter and forcing her to participate in porn.

The prosecutor is Deputy District Attorney Stacey Eads. Yang's attorney is Deputy Public Defender Luke Brownfield.

No to transient release in Eureka for Joshua Cooley but Humboldt not out of the picture yet

After heartfelt testimony from the community, Eureka City Councilmembers Kim Bergel and Heidi Messner and EPD Chief  Steve Watson, the transient release in Eureka was denied, Tehama County is back as an option. Then defense threw in a possible and new Humboldt County placement. The Humboldt County option  won't be verified until June. This news was only shared after Judge John Feeney said all options in Humboldt have been exhausted.

Judge John Feeney denies DA's motion to reconsider his 2016 ruling

(Mayor Susan Seaman)

Judge John Feeney denied the DA's motion to reconsider his 2016 ruling. DA Maggie Fleming referred to the same Section 6608 mentioned in the Court of Appeals ruling that I wrote about after the last hearing.

Joshua Cooley hearing still not started, hallway is packed

District Attorney Maggie Fleming filed a motion today to have Judge John Feeney reconsider his original ruling to release sexually violent predator Joshua Cooley from the State Hospital into the community.

There has been resistance and outrage from the community. After denying placement in Freshwater and Garberville, Judge John Feeney ordered Cooley to be placed in Eureka on transient release.  Eureka community members,officials and law enforcement are against this placement.

If a mistrial is declared for Chad Smith, it would be Andrea Sullivan 3, DA 0 in three months

Ms. Andrea Sullivan has been getting retained in Humboldt and court appointed on more and more cases.

I did a post in February 2019 titled, " in less than a month, Andrea Sullivan is 2, DA 0."

In camera hearing on Pitchess motion for Kailan Meserve's writ of habeas corpus petition

There was a Pitchess motion for Kailan Meserve's writ of habeas corpus petition.
There was an in camera hearing. I have been checking on the case from time to time.

I will be your lawyer for a cigarette."

Frequently arrested J.D. Pittman did not make his album, "Drunk in Public" (see post below and there is video on Facebook for that post) but he is drunk in public, as usual. Sitting on the corner of 3rd and J in Eureka he yelled out to two transients walking by.

"I will be your lawyer for a cigarette."

They declined.

Danny Waters preliminary hearing a go

Intervention was scheduled for Danny Waters on May 1. Intervention was continued to May 2 by defense. Preliminary hearing scheduled for May 6 "remains set."