First, former court mediator Velda Gooden messed up the proof of service. Now, she filed an untimely peremptory challenge in her civil harassment restraining order request against local attorney Eddie Schrock. In addition to the minute order Del Norte Superior Court Judge Darren McElfresh, I have included two more court records.
Sentencing concluded today for convicted sex offender, former court mediator and former CWS employee Joe Hale on June 6.
Once again, no other media was there for former CWS employee and former court mediator Joe Hale's arraignment.. Even Mendocino Judge Ann Moorman did not know there was going to be a plea today until the last minute, everything was so messed up as usual in Humboldt Superior Court.
Hale ended up entering a guilty plea to all 4 counts. Sentencing is tomorrow but three of the victims made statements, the complaint was amended, one victim was a minor. Two incidents happened to victims Hale knew through his Beth El connections, one at a Seder meal, one outside the Temple, one involving a minor.
After a hearing that lasted two days from April 25th to April 27th, today Judge Gregory Kreis issued a written ruling in Decker Wolfgang Contreras' juvenile case denying transfer to adult court. This is a 2018 case and he is no longer a juvenile.
Ms. Andrea Sullivan is Contreras' attorney. He was charged with attempted murder and holds the record for one of the highest number of fentanyl busts, over 900 pills. Earlier in the day, before the bust, he had shot at 2 people.
There was nothing in e court when I checked Friday about rescheduling former Humboldt Superior court mediator and former CWS employee Joe Hale's further arraignment on the amended complaint for this morning. After everyone is gone for the weekend on Friday, the online court calendar did not show Hale's name. This is on first thing in the morning before the clerk's office on I street opens and the DA's office opens. Hale's name is not on the paper calendar's and e court still shows it listed.
Ronald Ray Payton was arrested yesterday by HCSO for PC 422 criminal threats, PC 245(a)(1) assault with a deadly weapon, PC 243 (d) aggravated battery causing great bodily injury, PC 591.5 damaging communication device with intent to prevent person getting help, PC 211 robbery and PC273.5 (a) corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant. Payton posted bond.
Last week, State Farm said they would no longer accept new applications for home insurance due to construction costs and wildfire risk. Allstate had stopped issuing new policies in California months ago for the same reason but didn't announce the move to the public until yesterday.
Nicholas Justin Hobart Brown was arrested by Eureka Police Department for PC 422 criminal threats, PC 243 (e) (1) domestic battery, PC 236 false imprisonment and PC 12022.5(a) personal use of a firearm during a felony. He posted bond.
There was a complaint filed 3/24/23 and an arrest warrant issued on the same date. Arraignment is on 6/5.
This is only partial footage as Sheriff William Honsal states on the video released today. You see and hear deputies give commands to drop the gun and one of the Widmark brothers on the ground after being shot. I am assuming this is part of the voluminous discovery given to Brandon and Jesse Widmark brothers' attorneys this week that I mentioned in yesterday's post.
Is James Leach a dangerous criminal or a paranoid delusional man in need of mental health treatment? Depends on who you ask.
Tyler Williams Ruise was arrested yesterday on a Ramey warrant by HCSO for PC 236 false imprisonment and PC 288.7(a) sexual intercourse or penetration, sodomy, or oral copulation with a child under the age of 10.
Ruise has a conviction in a 2018 domestic violence case. Arraignment for this case is on 6/5. The DA has charged him with two counts of PC 288.7(a) sexual intercourse and sodomy with a child under 10.
Due to court availability, preliminary hearing for two cases for James Leach did not start until this afternoon. This is the man arrested 4 times in 5 months who has a gun violence restraining order against him.
Arraignment is scheduled this afternoon for HCSO Lt. Sam Williams who is charged with criminal threats and exhibiting a firearm. I did a post on the criminal record of the alleged victim, Brian Edward Kelsey Jr. There was no other media present in court.
Mr. Michael Robinson is making a special appearance for Williams today. Can Williams can afford to retain Mr. Robinson? Or will he need to have a court appointed attorney after today?
According to sources, Williams is not in Humboldt and is coming in from out of state today for arraignment. Williams was with his kids when he caught his wife and her lover in flagrante. His wife and he were trying to work things out so he was allegedly blinsided by what he saw at the time of the incident. His wife's own sister has been vocal on social media defending Williams instead of her sister. Various people who know both Williams and his wife said this was "a very sad situation." There is video footage.
The post was originally written before arraignment. I have now added more details after the arraignment hearing.
Preliminary hearing scheduled today for CalPoly HSU student David Teller was continued to July 11. Teller is charged with transportation and selling of meth and possession of meth.
Brandon and Jesse Widmark had their preliminary hearing scheduled today. I was expecting a continuance. There was a lot of discovery and more given to defense in the past 30 hours. Deputy District Attorney Luke Bernthal told Retired Judge John Feeney that he is turning over discovery to defense as soon as he gets itbut there are multiple agencies involved and he is skeptical that the People and defense will be ready by the rescheduled date.
On May 22, I was the only one in court to report on former Humboldt Superior court mediator and former CWS employee Joe Hale's arraignment which was continued to amend the complaint. There are four Jane Does and each count pertains to a different alleged victim.
Like many exclusives on this blog, especially about Humboldt courts, I previously reported that one of the former court clerks was dating a Humboldt Deputy DA Ian Harris and this former court employee is the one who allegedly caught Hale in the act. I heard today that Hale had submitted an apology.