Jan 31, 2018

23 years in law enforcement, Humboldt born and raised, Sheriff Honsal shares his priorities


Sheriff William Honsal's campaign kickoff is at noon on February 5 in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse on the 5th street side.

If you cannot make it, information on his website sheriffhonsal.com gives you the basics.

Reception for Judge Kelly Neel at the Eagle house well attended

A reception was held for Judge Kelly Neel at the Eagle House Inn. It was well attended.

Family law attorney Sarah Kaber summed up what everyone was saying about Judge Neel. "You are such a deserving candidate."


Quite an emotional experience to see someone sworn in as Judge who you briefly worked with & have known for her entire Humboldt career


Not too often you get to see someone sworn in as Judge that you actually worked with; this was at Child Welfare Services when I first met Judge Kelly Neel.

Humboldt County's newest Superior Court Judge to be sworn in at 4 p.m. this afternoon

As previously reported, this afternoon at 4 p.m. Ms. Kelly Neel will be sworn in as the newest Humboldt Superior Court Judge.




Bronson Townsend arrested the fourth time for violation of parole and other charges


On 01-31-18 at about 1:15 a.m. a Humboldt County Sheriff”s Deputy made a traffic stop in McKinleyville for a lighting issue.

Former Miss Hoopa charged with alleged sexual abuse of a female minor expected to testify at her jury trial



This morning, jury trial for former Miss Hoopa, Kayla Brown, was scheduled for June 18 at 9:15.

Brown is charged with  four counts of alleged abuse including abnormal sexual interest in children. Alleged victim is a female minor.

New discovery in Desiree Henley's case for alleged arson may lead to a resolution

Desiree Henley's preliminary was scheduled for today. She is charged with arson as well as aiding and abetting in the Blue Heron fire. Defe

Fernando Macias wanted for attempted murder and dissuading a Witness

Fernando Macias is wanted by the Mendocino Sheriff for:

* PC 664/187(A) ATTEMPTED MURDER
* PC 136.1(C )(1) PREVENT W V BY FORCE
* PC 12022.53( C) SA USE OF FIREARM
* PC 12022.53(B) SA USE OF A FIREARM

$350,000 BAIL

Jan 30, 2018

Stolen guns, mental illness history revealed in father-son death on Arrow Bear trail

Two bodies found dead yesterday on Arrow Bear trail were father and son. The San Luis Obispo Sheriff's office identified the deceased as Edward Chavez Mendoza and Edmundo Eduardo Mendoza, Jr.

Will Desiree Henley accept a plea deal like her co-defendant in the Blue Heron case?


Preliminary hearing for Desiree Henley, charged with arson as well as aiding and abetting in the Blue Heron fire, is still scheduled for tomorrow.

Time estimate is an hour and a half.


Hikshari Trail suspect gets private attorney; preliminary hearing rescheduled


Preliminary scheduled for January 31 for Hikshari trail suspect was vacated today.

Conflict Counsel's office declared a conflict; private attorney Mr. David Celli was court appointed to represent Willey.

Four counts, two Jane Does in complaint filed against Mark Alan Dare for alleged child molestation


Mark Dare is charged with four counts, one special allegation. Two alleged Jane Doe victims.

A woman was at the Courthouse earlier asking about the arraignment but the complaint had not been filed yet. She was not in court when Dare was arraigned.

Three cases in 2017, Wesley Starritt already charged with violation of probation before yesterday's arrest

19 year old Wesley Starritt, who was arrested yesterday for alleged assault with a deadly weapon, had three cases in 2017.

Another continuance in the Jesus Garcia homicide case

(Olivio, Jr)

Jan 29, 2018

Two men found dead on Arrow Bear Trail, gun found nearby


KSBY's Alexa Bertola reported at 5:13 p.m. today:
The sheriff’s office just obtained a search warrant to go inside this home in #CaliforniaValley. Two people were found dead inside. This is on Arrow Bear Trail off Highway 58. https://t.co/VUfID4kk6k

Two facebook profiles on Wesley Starritt may give some insight into today's arrest


Wesley Starrit of Eureka is being booked right now for assault with a deadly weapon

Arrest has been made by EPD for incident reported below. 19 year old Wesley Starritt of Eureka. Arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.
Earlier post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2018/01/epd-investigating-alleged-assault.html?m=1

EPD investigating alleged assault, initial call from 3rd and T, no arrest yet



EPD's Brittany Powell confirmed that officers and detectives are investigating an assault. The initial call  was from Third and T around noon.

No arrests have been made. Officers are still contacting and interviewing witnesses.




Probation and six other cases with Humboldt Superior Court did not deter Jared Nelson


Jared Randall Nelson arrested on January 27 has three traffic infractions and three criminal cases listed in Humboldt Superior Court records.

Bail is $150,000.

Mark Dare arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a minor


DA investigators assisted HCSO in arresting Mark Alan Dare on January 26 for two counts of alleged oral copulation/penetration of a child 10 years or younger and two counts of alleged lewd and lascivicious acts with a child under 14.

Bail is two million.

Drowning victim in Lake Mendocino located two hours later



 

Jan 28, 2018

AFD determined "an ignited illegal firework container" to be cause of Humboldt Machine Works fire

On 1/28/18 at about 0202 hours, the Arcata Police Department was dispatched alongside the Arcata Fire District to 937 I St, Humboldt Machine Works building, for a reported structure fire.

"Arcata Fire had two commercial fires in less than 24 hours."



"Arcata Fire had two commercial fires in less than 24 hours. There was a potential to burn down two complete city blocks during this shift but thankfully we were able to prevent that from happening."

Jan 27, 2018

Former PenAir employee enters a plea in Federal Court for fraud in connection with computers

PenAir ended service in Humboldt County in August 2017. The comment below is from the article linked below.

Jamie Woodard · 

It should be way more. She screwed up my flights to and from Arcata CA and since they filed bankruptcy they had to quit flying into Northern CA and Southern OR.10 years is not enough


Are these numbers real or just certain people blowing a lot of smoke?



"By comparison, there are an estimated 15,000 illegal marijuana farms in Humboldt County alone."

http://m.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/After-California-pot-stockpiles-go-up-in-smoke-12530370.php

This is the "gag" order in former Corrrectional Deputy Cory Fisher's case with six minor male victims



Attempted murder suspect not released from custody yesterday


OR/Bail hearing was scheduled for Lee Conoboy on January 26. Visiting Judge Terence Boren denied supervised release.

Jan 26, 2018

Two EPD vehicles, initial call Code 3 headed towards 4th and R



Around 6:50, two EPD cars, Code 3 headed southbound on 4th Street. They were near 4th St and R around 6:52, according to reader who was driving by in that intersection. Reached out to EPD for more information. It wasn't EPD. Reader still says it was EPD.


Kailan Meserve's new case's outcome to be decided by Judge Wilson

Kailan Meserve's 2017 appeal was stayed pending outcome of this new case. On January 12, the case was submitted to Judge Christopher Wilson for ruling.



EPD spots stolen Toyota pickup, Nina Nicole Duncan arrested for auto theft & possession of meth

Conflict Counsel had a conflict so Public Defender appointed for Hikshari Trail suspect


Intervention was scheduled for Jennifer Willey on January 25. Intervention was continued to January 30. Preliminary still scheduled for January 31.

Judson Stiglich hires a private attorney; preliminary for latest case delayed


Judson Stiglich has retained  Mr. David Celli, an associate at the Clanton Law Firm. Mr. Russ Clanton represented Stiglich in a previous case.

Christian Shepard of Rio Dell accepts plea for 25 years in state prison


Today District Attorney Maggie Fleming announced that Humboldt County Judge Christopher Wilson accepted a guilty plea from 27-year-old Christian James Shepard of Rio Dell.

If it was not for California's sanctuary law, ICE would be dealing with Aguirre

Hugo Parral- Aguirre has a criminal past, he has been deported more than once, he has no prior mental health history. In addition to the deputies, he endangered the life of one citizen and put others nearby at risk

If it was not for California's sanctuary law, ICE would be dealing with Aguirre. Then, there are those "Humboldt court rules."

Mexican citizen Hugo Aguirre arrested in the Ferndale standoff did not look happy in court today


Appointment of a second doctor to evaluate Hugo Parral-Aguirre's competency to stand trial was requested by the People at the last court hearing. That appointment was expected to be decided today. It wasn't.

13 minutes from report of robbery to arrest of Andrew Schwartz in McKinleyville


Sheriff Deputies arrested the suspect of a robbery in McKinleyville just minutes after it was
reported. On Jan. 26, 2018 around 1:18 p.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a report from an employee at the Mill Creek Cinema in McKinleyville that a robbery had just occurred.

Motorcyclist down near Christie's motel

Joshua David Grow's preliminary scheduled for April 5


Setting for Joshua David Grow's preliminary hearing was scheduled for January 25.

Intervention is scheduled for March 27. Preliminary for April 5.

Jan 25, 2018

POP undercover bust results in arrest for possession and transportation of heroin


On January 25, 2018, at about 11:00 a.m., Detectives with the Eureka Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing Unit (POP) conducted an undercover buy bust on the 400 block of W. Harris Street in Eureka. 

Humboldt Superior Court warns public about phone scam regarding court fines

Humboldt County Superior Court has recently received several calls from the public notifying us that they have received calls from persons identifying themselves as representatives from court and demanding payment for a fine, or “’mediation over the phone by the end of the day to avoid a much larger claim amount in court.

Instead of just complaining, Tina Mori organized a Business Watch meeting with EPD to get information on solutions


Like most business owners in Eureka, Tina Mori of Tina's Photography, located on 533 F street, was fed up. She has been dealing with the same public safety issues you have heard about over and over again. Some businesses have had a few break-ins resulting in no arrests.

Jan 24, 2018

Humboldt County gets failing grade on no tobacco control policies, why not cannabis?


Thank you to KIEM for reporting on this but it isn't just tobacco smoke, it is secondhand smoke from cannabis as well.

HCSO bringing Fieldbrook meeting into your home with facebook live


If you could not make it to the Fieldbrook community meeting tonight, this is the link to HCSO facebook live.

https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtCountySheriff/videos/1743815245638893/

Sheriff, William Honsal, DA Maggie Fleming, Supervisor Ryan Sundberg, Captain Kevin Miller and Lt. Mike Fridley.

Matthew Thomas McCarthy accepts 35 years plea for sexual molestation of three victims after DA's opening statement


A recidvist defendant, having listened first to the prosecutor's opening statement to the jury outlining anticipated testimony and knowing that all of the prosecution's witnesses were in the courthouse ready to testify, decided over the lunch break to cut his losses (overall prison exposure) by accepting a plea and sentence bargain that the prosecutor had placed on the table.

Fleeing from the police and having warrants out for his arrest is a habit for Cody Benjamin Sides


Today's press release:
Around 5:45 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2017, sheriff's deputies responded to a residence on the 300 block of Panther Ridge Rd. in Willow Creek following up on a tip that wanted felony warrant subject Cody Benjamin Sides, 37, was inside.

Preliminary for Michael Grant's attempted murder case scheduled for February 8


Setting was scheduled for two of Michael Grant's recent cases. Preliminary hearing for the attempted murder case is now scheduled for February 8. Setting of  the jury trial for another case (possession of a firearm) will be decided after the outcome of the preliminary.

No doctor's report for you! Kimberly Felder's not guilty by insanity evaluations still pending


Status of doctor's reports for Kimberly Felder was scheduled for January 24. Two doctor's were appointed to evaluate Felder after she entered an additional plea of not guilty by insanity.

It has already been two years, what's another month or so to set a preliminary hearing for a 2015 homicide


Setting for a preliminary hearing was scheduled today for Richard Dean, from Hoopa. Dean was charged with the murder of a 52 year old in Arcata in October 2015.

No doctor's report yet; continued to February 21st.

Lindsay Kaminsky, the woman originally charged with stabbing her husband, requests dismissal of her case


Lindsay Kaminsky, the woman charged with stabbing her husband, plead guilty to lesser charge in 2015 and received formal supervised probation.

Probation could recommend attempted murder suspect Lee Conoboy for supervised release

Attempted murder suspect Lee Conoboy was arraigned on information this morning.  The charges are the same ones he was held to answer after the preliminary hearing.

"This is not physical, it is about the visions you saw"

Criminal proceedings have been suspended for the Mexican citizen charged with the attempted murder of a HCSO deputy and assault of a HCSO Sgt.