Based on feedback from readers and my own observations, these changes are effective today

Effective today, these changes are permanent. This note is Humboldt specific. Statewide and national readers can read it for content changes and information. 

The role of media is changing. Money has always been and will be a challenge to independent reporting and those with a traditional media background who utilize new media. Anyone with a cell phone today can record or report but people in power being challenged go after those who left the traditional media for freedom to report truth and hold power accountable. They go after those who have the background and the guts to investigate and know their First Amendment rights. It is a tactic as old as time.

The DA dismissed his 2022 case for domestic violence; in 2025 Logan Luster was arrested by HCSO for stalking

 

**This is a 2022 booking photo which was released before the Ninth Circuit ruling, local law enforcement do release booking photos of those who are a danger to public safety when they feel like it, Luster was booked and released when he was rearrested in 2025. There is a genuine concern in the community and the Ninth Circuit is not protecting anyone, the current administration for all their law and order claims has yet to take this case to the Supreme Court and I am fed up of having to struggle with local law enforcement administration and defense attorneys to get booking photos. The public needs to speak up, fund independent reporters like me and vote for candidates in both parties that are actually law and order and not doing photo ops and sound bytes **

I previously reported on Logan Glen Luster. He was arrested by Eureka Police Department for domestic violence in September 2022. The case was dismissed by the DA in December 2022.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/09/logan-luster-arrested-for-domestic.html?m=1#more

 There are so many repeat offenders these days and so many new arrests that on 8/21/25, I did report on another repeat offender but did not get a chance to do a post on Luster. 

I receive emails all the time from the community, victims out of state, victims from cases I have reported on and other concerned parties thanking me for the cases I report on or provide updates on because it allieviates concerns of those who have suffered or new targets.

A person concerned about the safety of other women emailed me yesterday. I verified that Luster was arrested on 8/21/25 by HCSO Deputy Shane Steele and was booked for felony PC 646.9(a) stalking.

HCSO arrests Merissa Miller and Siara Moon for aggravated battery

 

Merrissa Miller was arrested by HCSO today at 1.a.m. and booked into the Humboldt County jail for PC 243 (d) aggravated battery and PC 245 (a)(4) assault by means to produce great bodily injury.

I don't know if this is the same Merissa Miller who reposted the video on Facebook about Stephen Paiment's arrest because social media information can be inaccurate.

Siara Moon was arrested by HCSO yesterday at 11:08 p.m. for PC 243 (d) aggravated battery.

These are just two arrests of many in Humboldt County and between the cases I am already following for years, repeat offenders and new arrests; at this time, I don't know what kind of follow up I will do; if any on these two arrests.

62 year old Costa Mesa woman charged with five felonies by Orange County DA forillegally registering her dog to vote and casting ballots in her dog’s name in the2021 California gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary election

A Costa Mesa woman has been charged with five felonies for illegally registering her dog to vote and casting ballots in her dog’s name in the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary election. The dog’s vote was successfully counted in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election but was rejected in the 2022 primary.

Another plea by a Humboldt child pornography suspect who could get probation

 

On 9/2,  child pornography suspect Michael Kreider resolved his 2024 case with an open plea before a preliminary hearing. The "court will consider probation" according to court minutes. Plea agreement requires Kreider to register as a sex offender. Dismissal of Count 1 PC 311.11 (c) (1) possession of childpornography  by the People; instead Kreider pleaded guilty to Count 2 PC 311.11 (a) (1) possession of obscene materials depicting a child engaging in sexual conduct.

Court minutes do not list an Arbuckle waiver so Kreider's fate is in the hands of Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran. Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer is the prosecutor for this case. Mr. Joseph Judge is Kreider's attorney. Sentencing is on 9/29.

This is the previous post about his arrest and all updates before 9/2/25.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2024/12/michael-kreider-arrested-for-alleged.html?m=1#more

After 9 years, the DA is no longer opposing defense request for outpatient release for Ewa Misztal

 

I don't know what happened since my last update on 8/27/25 and the 9/2/25 hearing but this 2016 case for Ewa Misztal is finally over.

CA reaches settlement with City of Norwalk over unlawful housing ban

(CA AG Press Office)

(CA Governor Newsom Press Office)

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Governor Newsom offices both just issued a press release about a  settlement with the City of Norwalk over unlawful housing ban.

The settlement terms include requiring City of Norwalk to repeal its unlawful housing ban, create a trust fund for the development of affordable housing, pay $250,000 into the trust fund, meet reporting requirements, and notify stakeholders that ban has been repealed.

The websites for both offices have the press releases and more details. 

Jessica Engle, former CEO Of Tribal Telecom subsidiary pleaded guilty yesterday to embezzling over $500,000 from the Yurok Tribe

 

The U.S. Attorney's Office from the Northern District of California just issued a press release about the plea. "Engle faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of theft from programs receiving federal funds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666 and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1163."

No attempted murder charge for Hillary Haskins; DA charges her with assault and violating a protective order

 

44 year old Hillary Jeans Haskins was arrested by HCSO on 8/29 for PC 664/187(a) attempted murder and PC 273. 6 (a) violating a protective order. arraigned on 9/3. 

The DA filed a complaint charging Haskins with Count 1 PC 245 (a)(4)  assault likely to produce great bodily injury as a felony; PC 273.6 (a) Count 2 violating a protective order. Alleged victim in Count 1 is Natalie Irene Harpe. 

Retired Judge Joyce Hinrichs set bail at $35,000 and appointed Conflict Counsel. OR bail on 9/5; preliminary hearing 9/12. There was no referral to supervised release, according to court minutes. Four other 2024 cases are scheduled for the same dates.

71 year David Flocchini who is on felony probation arrested for operating and maintaining a drug house

 

On Sept. 3, 2025, at about 7:30 a.m. Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a probation search at a residence located in the 1600 block of Hyland St., in Arcata and arrested the resident 71-year-old, David Eugene Flocchini.  Flocchini is currently on formal felony probation in Humboldt County for operating or maintaining a drug house.

Christina Higgins arrested again, this time by FPD for possession of a controlled substance and probation violation

 

Christina Higgins was arrested by Fortuna Police Department yesterday for two misdemeanors HS 11350(a) possession of a controlled substance and PC 1203.2(a) probation violation. She was released on O.R.

I am sure she will scream at me next time she sees me at the Courthouse  instead of looking in the mirror and facing the fact that she is a repeat offender. While I have covered her for years, that does not include all her arrests.

I have not been following her cases and as I said in my last post, it was a matter of time before she would be arrested again. There are way too many posts to link on Higgins. I have linked a couple. The rest you can access via the search feature on the blog.

Cal State Professor Jonathan Caravello indicted for violation of 18 USC 111 and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted

 

(KTLA and ABC7 ran this photo from a faculty page)

Traffic stop by EPD leads to arrest of repeat offender Jonathon Tucker for posession of meth, stolen property and firearm charges

 

In the early morning hours of August 29, 2025, at approximately 4:00 a.m., a Patrol Sergeant conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a bicyclist near 3rd and M Streets for operating a bicycle without the required safety equipment.

If convicted, tow truck driver Bobby Nunez faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison; he is charged with theft of government property

 

South LA resident and tow truck driver Bobby Nunez arrested yesterday is charged with theft of government property. More details in press release issued by U.S. Attorney, Central District of California.

58.07 pounds of marijuana en route to Barcelona confiscated at LAX

 

“Today’s ruling affirms that President Trump is not King, and the power of the executive is not boundless."

 

While this is not the final word because it is a ruling from the U.S. District of Northern California and I am sure the Trump administration will appeal, I posted a legal analysis by California Attorney Allan Dollison in June.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/06/retired-us-colonel-former-humboldt.html?m=1

The quote in the headline is from AG Bonta. You can read California Attorney General Rob Bonta's entire statement Bonta's on the AG website. You can also read California Governor Newsom's statements, including on the filing of the preliminary injunction after this ruling on the Governor's website. I added U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli's response to Governor Newsom.

9/4/25: The Ninth Circuit issued a stay while the Trump administration appeal is heard. Just three months ago, overruled another decision by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer and ruled in favor of California National Guard.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/06/ninth-circuit-grants-trump.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/06/us-district-court-judge-breyer-grants.html?m=1

If possession of child pornography is punishable by 5 years in custody, why did all these other Humboldt defendants get probation?

 

(Ryan Greenwood's 17 prior cases before his 2025 arrest for child 

Ryan Greenwood was arrested by Eureka Police Department on August 27 on a Ramey warrant for PC 311.11(c)(1) possession of over 600 images of child pornography which involved a minor engaged in or simulating sexual conduct.

He was arraigned on that charge on 8/29. Humboldt Superior Court Presiding Judge Kelly Neel set bail at $45,000 and appointed Conflict Counsel to represent Greenwood. Judge Neel stated in court that this crime is punishable by 5 years in custody and sex offender registration. OR bail on 9/3; preliminary hearing on 9/11.

Matthew Steele, Patrick Payton and Matthias Wilberger are all cases I covered for the same charge and they were all placed on probation. Judge Neel, (now retired) Judge John Feeney and .(now retired) Judge Christopher Wilson sentenced those defendants.

Greenwood has 17 traffic cases; checked most and every single case has bail forfeiture.

Convicted felon Joshua Teal who is on felony probation arrested by HCSO and booked into jail on firearm charges

 

On August 31, 2025, at approximately 1:50 a.m., deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to a report of shots fired at a residence in the 300 block of Big Hill Road, Hoopa.