Alejandro Zavala arrested by HCSO for false imprisonment, domestic battery and DUI

 

Alejandro Zavala was arrested last night by HCSO for PC 236 false imprisonment, PC 243(e)(1) domestic battery, VC 23152 (a) DUI and VC 23152 (b) driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or greater.

20 year old with 5 prior convictions, two 2024 court cases, arrested for the third time by EPD in less than a year for false imprisonment, criminal threats, domestic violence and child abuse

 

I covered 20 year old Henry Zaragoza's arrests last year and his multiple court cases. He had 5 prior convictions and already failed to appear for court. He had a preliminary hearing scheduled in one 2024 case for 7/10/25 and the other 2024 case is trailing. 

The Public Defender has hinted at mental health diversion for yet another criminal who was arrested for the third time by Eureka Police Department in less than a year.

At 3:01 a.m. this morning, EPD arrested and booked Zaragoza for PC 236 false imprisonment; PC 422(a) criminal threats, PC 273.5(a) domestic violence and PC 273 d (a) child abuse.

Brian Mitchell's removal from the Humboldt County Assessment Appeals Board is officially noted on this agenda item for the next Humboldt BOS meeting

 

Brian Mitchell whose arrest last year  has only been covered by me is on this Tuesday Humboldt County Board of Supervisor's agenda officially stating he has been removed from the Humboldt County Assessment Appeals Board. He is also a former Security National employee and former Humboldt Planning Commission member.

Other than the press release about his 2025, no other local media has reported on his 2025 court cases. In his 2025 cases, Mitchell's custody was changed on 7/2 by Judge Lawrence Killoran to no bail. On 7/3, DA filed a complaint with a third 2025 case charging Mitchell with  trespassing at a property located at Terrace Garden Way in Mckinleyville.

11 previous criminal cases, 3 restraining orders and Aunna Bollman arrested yesterday by EPD and booked for three felony charges of criminal threats

 

(previous booking photo)

Aunna Sophia Bollman was arrested yesterday afternoon by Eureka Police Department on a Ramey warrant and booked on three felony charges for PC 422 criminal threats.

According to the jail, her bail is only $25,000. I contacted EPD PIO Laura Montagna. These are new charges and the arrest warrant was from EPD. Each PC 422 arrest was for a different location.

She already has 11 criminal cases. There are three civil restraining orders against her which were granted for three years and were requested by the City of Fortuna, County of Humboldt and DANCO.

I knew mental health diversion would not work, recovery programs would not work and it was a matter of time before she would be rearrested. I have been adding updates to the October 4 2024 post. She had a diversion hearing on 4/18/25. I have covered her for years.

I wrote this in the October 4, 2024 post and it still applies.

As expected, Aunna Bollman was sent back from the State Hospital to Humboldt and booked into the jail on 10/2. She has 11 criminal cases. There are three civil restraining orders against her requested granted by the City of Fortuna, County of Humboldt and DANCO. There is a restoration hearing scheduled for 10/10 restoration of competency hearing.

"Based on covering Humboldt Superior Court for 10 years and how the Public Defender handles cases, this cycle will go on & repeat with several hearings, several continuances and reshuffling of dates and useless efforts for another mental health evaluation. Bollman needs to take responsibility for actions. She has already wasted too much time and tied up law enforcement and court resources." 

Bollman needs to spend time in custody, go through a trial or take a plea, spend time in jail or prison where she is in a controlled environment and takes any medication ordered by court. The State Hospital sent her back once; they are not going to fix this repeat cycle. I didn't buy the mental health excuse before; I don't now. Bollman and others like here in Humboldt are a danger to the public and need consequences not coddling.

These posts are almost 10 days old and "Right Angle News Network" regurgitates them on 4th of July?

 

RANN doesn't even report "news". It mostly summarizes what Fox News or what someone else reported or regurgitates social media posts. I always check the original source because RANN's summaries are heavy on hyperbole and you have to dig through to get complete facts from the original or several sources. To call yourself news, you need to have accurate and original content.

Teen male suspect fled Sequoia Park after attempted sexual assault of elderly female

On July 3, 2025, at approximately 1600 hours, Patrol and Community Safety Engagement Team (CSET) Officers responded to the report of a sexual assault inside Sequoia Park. While inside the park, a male reportedly grabbed an elderly female survivor from behind and attempted to sexually assault her. The survivor was able to escape and the male fled on a bike. 

Officers saturated the area but were unable to locate the suspect. The suspect is described as a white male, 17-19 years old, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, a knit cap, and a dark blue, smaller bike. This is an on-going investigation. 

Regardless of your political views or how you feel about affordable housing, California AG is hypocritical to call out the Trump administration when the CA Dems and Gavin Newsom have screwed up chances to protect renters

(AI overview on Google)

California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office issued a press release a few minutes ago. Bonta and a coalition of 20 other attorney generals sent a letter to HUD "opposing a proposed rule that would rollback critical fair housing regulations that prohibit discrimination in the marketing of affordable housing."

You can read the Bonta press release on the CA AG website and google the coverage on CA Senate Bill 436 which proposed extending the 3-day pay or quit notice period to 14 days. The bill failed to advance out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Regardless of your political views or how you feel about affordable housing, California AG is hypocritical to call out the Trump administration when the CA Dems and Gavin Newsom have screwed up chances to protect renters. Instead of daily lawsuits against the Trump administration which are lost with Supreme Court rulings, maybe California should use that money to fund those people and organizatons actually standing up and protecting people in reality.

Charges dismissed against Ryan Noble on second day of jury selection because alleged victim said she was not going to come to court

 

Yesterday was the second day of jury selection in the Ryan Christopher Noble case and after lunch the People dismissed the case because the alleged victim said she was not going to come to court. The protective order was terminated. Supervised release was terminated by Judge Kaleb Cockrum.

Unfortunately, this happens more frequently than you know in domestic violence cases. I have reported on cases I followed in the past from arrest to conclusion. Noble's is not a case I was following. I just happened to be at the courthouse to see the jurors walk out.

Noble was charged in this 2025 case with PC 243 (e) (1) battery on a non-cohabitating partner and PC 273 (a) (a) child endangerment. HCSO is the law enforcement agency. Noble has no other cases in Humboldt Superior Court.

Noble was arraigned on 6/11/25 by Judge Van Dyke. On 6/13/25, Retired Judge John Feeney granted Noble supervised release. Trial was confirmed on 6/23/25 by Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Buckley-Stein and Deputy Public Defender Emery Welton. It was scheduled to start 6/30/25 and continued to 7/1 because no judge and no courtroom was available.

DA receives more subpoenaed records in SVP Richard Stobaugh's hearing today

 

Yesterday afternoon, I checked the Richard Stobaugh case on a hunch.  No other media in court.

I had just checked with Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm on 7/1 if there was going to be a continuance of the 7/8 evidentiary hearing. She said no. She was correct.

There was a order shortening filed on 7/2 by the Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm.  Information about the motion was not in e court when I left yesterday late afternoon. I figured it had to do with subpoenaed records. It was and there was just a brief hearing this morning.

It is was mistakenly scheduled in front of Retired Judge Christopher Wilson in Courtroom 2. While we were waiting for a public defender, at 8:40 a.m., Humboldt Superior Court Assistant Operations Manager Scott Anderson came in and told Judge Wilson and Ms. Timm of the error and that it would be heard in Courtroom 1.

Public Defender Luke Brownfield is Stobaugh's attorney. Apparently, several people took off early for the 4th of July weekend or were not available for other reasons and as usual Deputy Public Defender David Celli filled in for his colleagues. My observation was also noted by Judge Cockrum.

Records were handed over to Ms. Timm. She will make copies and hand them to the Public Defender. No one was present from the Department of State Hospital and due to short notice, neither was Stobaugh.

The evidentiary hearing remains scheduled for July 8. Will there be a continuance? I doubt Judge Cockrum would grant one because of all the logistics and planning and community interest in the case but if there is good cause, it could happen.

Improper attorney argument, unjust enrichment and "defendants bombastic characterizations" are just some of the volleys in Janssen Malloy pleading responding to Dwivedi LLC motion to strike in the Hillsdale tenant lawsuit

 

I did a post on June 23 about Dhillon Law Firm filing another motion to strike in the lawsuit filed lawsuit filed against Anil Dwivedi and Dwivedi LLC by Hillsdale Apartments tenants Don Swall and Vanessa Vachon. A previous motion to strike by Dwivedi LLC was filed and withdrawn.

I have court documents and more details in the June 23 post. There is a hearing on 7/11/25 on that motion. 

I knew Janssen Malloy would file responses and they did on 6/27. Those documents were added this afternoon in e court. 

Janssen Malloy's Ms. Meagan Yarnall and Mr. Jeff Slack have been appearing in court and filing documents on behalf of Swall and Vachon. Ms. Yarnall wrote both the pleadings filed on 6/27. 

There are so many quotes I could have chosen for the headline. Instead of a summary of the filings written by Ms. Yarnall, you can read the court documents filed.

Yesterday, I followed up with Janssen Malloy about the responses filed. Janssen Malloy Senior Partner Mr. Patrik Griego is taking over the case and will be at the next court hearing. Ms. Yarnall and Mr. Slack work in the same law firm. In civil cases, it is not unusual for another attorney to take over or appear on a case.

I have not heard from Dwivedi LLC since I contacted them for comment in May on Judge Timothy Canning's ruling granting Janssen Malloy's preliminary injunction. I followed up during a phone conversation in June with Mr. Dwivedi.

Judge Canning will probably take the matter under submission on 7/11 after attorney arguments on the motion to strike and issue a written ruling. Unless there is something new either party adds that is not in the court documents already filed, I plan to just report on Judge Canning's ruling. There is a case management conference scheduled for 8/18/25.

7/7/25: A reply filed by Dhillon Law Group on 7/2/25 was added to e court today. I have added it to the post.

Pandering case dismissed for a guilty plea in Pa Cheng's drug case

 

Pa Cheng had two 2024 cases. One was a pandering case which was dismissed by the People on 6/27. She pleaded guilty to Count 1 in her drug case. Special allegation for Count 1 was stricken. Sentencing is on 9/24.

Judge Cockrum issued a detailed order about media access and requests granted for the Richard Stobaugh case

 

Judge Kaleb Cockrum issued a detailed order about media access for the Richard Stobaugh case. I have included a copy of all pages except the proof of service. The public would also benefit from reading the rules.

Jose Cruz found guilty on all charges except two; mother gets in trouble for trying to record

 

(2025 booking photo)

Breaking news, verdict just in and Jose Cruz has been convicted of kidnapping, criminal threats, domestic violence and battery.

Jurors just left. Jury found Cruz guilty on all charges except hung jury on Count 9 misdemeanor vandalism. Count 13 which is one of four domestic violence counts which was dismissed due to 1118.1 motion. There were 13 counts in the information. Sentencing is on 7/24/25. Custody status changed to no bail.

His mother just got in trouble for trying to record. I covered the case and trial. 

Ashley Nicole Bartles arrested by HCSO for assault and negligent discharge of a firearm at unpermitted marijuana cultivation site in Kneeland

On June 30, 2025, at approximately 7:00 a.m., deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to a report of a gunshot victim in the 8000 block of Kneeland Road, Kneeland. 

Brian Mitchell is back in the Humboldt jail with a new charge

I am not sure why the jail log keeps misspelling Brian Mitchell's last name but he was booked into the Humboldt jail yesterday on the two cases scheduled for preliminary hearing today. The only new charge on the jail log is PC 602(m) trespassing. He was most recently arrested with others on the 1900 block of Elmwood in Mckinleyville.

This is the former Security National employee, former Humboldt Planning Commission member and former County Assessment Appeals Board member.

Preliminary hearings were continued by defense to 7/2 because Mitchell is refusing to attend court.

Forcible rape suspect Brian Baldwin released from custody since charges were not filed by the must go date

Brian Keith Baldwin was arrested on 6/26 by Eureka Police Department for forcible rape. Yesterday Baldwin was on the must go list for yesterday which means he would be released from jail if he was not arraigned within the time required by California law.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/06/epd-arrests-brian-keith-baldwin-for.html?m=1

The DA's office had received the report. I checked on the case several times all morning and every hour since 11 a.m. When nothing was filed by 2 p.m., I went to the DA's office and was told Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer was reviewing the report.

I had a hunch what would happen all day. I still waited until the latest deadline for late arraignment. No charges were filed as of 3:02. At t 3:05 Ms. Schaffer just said, "no" when I asked her about Baldwin confirming no charges were filed. Baldwin was released per PC 825.

I don't know if this is due to lack of evidence or the DA not being able to file charges by the time required and I am not wasting any more time chasing down why.

Baldwin has 34 cases in the Humboldt Superior Court majority of them criminal. 

According to California Penal Code 825 a person who is arrested must be taken before a magistrate (judge) within 48 hours of their arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays.

One HBF firefighter sustained eye injury while battling Cutten structure fire yesterday

On June 30th 2025 at approximately 2:30 pm Humboldt Bay Fire responded to a significant residential structure fire involving a single story home with detached garage.  The fire, which caused extensive damage, resulted in a total loss of both structures, with estimated damages exceeding $200,000. 

"A life well lived, a heart well loved."

I do not usually run obituaries. I made one exception once before & this is the second one.

Rodrigo's wife Michelle sent this to me yesterday. It was her specific request that this be published July 1. Why that specific date is not something I am going to post on the blog. 

"John,

Thank you for running this for us, and for being a trusted source to Rigo."

A life well lived, a heart well loved.

Rodrigo Reyna-Sanchez, lovingly known throughout his life as Rod, Rigo, Dad, Papa, Roddio, Sarge, Officer Sanchez, 3L13, and 3B83, passed away unexpectedly at approximately 05:13 on Saturday, May 31, 2025,  just past mile marker 15, “15 and then some,” as he would say, on Highway 36 in Humboldt County, California.