Spin and Reality

Quoted in the Times Standard's Year End Recap Paul Gallegos has this to say:
"While crime has continued to go down, we are still trying to catch up on the backlog of cases, especially homicides, from the past,” Gallegos said. “Hopefully, we will have tried all of them by the end of 2007.”

Gallegos described 2006 as a good budget year “because we were able to begin the slow process of rebuilding from the losses caused by the budget crisis. Unfortunately, it will take a couple of years of rebuilding to be where we need to be to do the job that we want to do. Morale is good despite the work load and the long hours.”

The biggest challenges have been dealing with the lack of resources and treatment options for the drug and alcohol addicted and the mentally, as well as the recent police shootings.

”My firm belief continues to be that if we can meaningfully address drug and alcohol abuse and addiction and mental illness, we will profoundly improve the quality of life for all people in Humboldt County,” he said. “My personal hope is that my office can assist Humboldt County in becoming ranked as one of the best places in the country to live.”

Really? The slow process of rebuilding from the losses caused by the BUDGET CRISIS?
C'mon, man. your office must be swimming in money - hundreds of thousands of dollars not being spent on all those unfilled positions, saved because all but three of your experienced prosecutors are gone. Maybe you better rehire the PR man to come up with some new BS line for the New Year.

Morale is good? IN the DA's Office? Is that why they are all leaving?

"The biggest challenges have been dealing with the lack of resources and treatment options for the drug and alcohol addicted and the mentally, as well as the recent police shootings?" Are you kidding?

The North Coast Journal is more in touch with the reality of the situation: "THE YEAR IN GALLEGOS - A take-no-prisoners election challenge from within the office, red-handed plagiarism, terminal short-handedness, high-profile cases ignored or overturned on appeal -- all in all, it was a pretty quiet year for District Attorney Paul Gallegos. But as the list would indicate, even Gallegos' down times pretty much out-Richter those of most anyone else you could care to name.

The first half of the year was taken up by the election. Gallegos was running for the office for the third time in four years, including the failed, Maxxam-financed recall attempt against him in 2004. This time, his challenger was Deputy DA Worth Dikeman, a veteran Humboldt County prosecutor, who had announced that he'd seek to oust Gallegos nearly a year previous, back in the summer of 2005. The race was not friendly, from either side -- Dikeman charged Gallegos with incompetence, Gallegos' proxies charged Dikeman of racism and bias toward the police. Gallegos won by a healthy margin -- 53-46 -- but not near as healthy as his 60-40 recall win.

A couple of prosecutors quit. Dikeman was fired. In August, news broke of a horrible case of animal abuse out in the hinterlands, with 41 dogs found dead or dying of neglect just over the border in Trinity County. It turned out that the alleged perpetrator, Roberta Bugenig, had just moved there from the Bridgeville area, where the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office had filed felony animal abuse charges against her in 2004. Gallegos' office had declined to prosecute the case. The discovery of these facts prompted condemnation from animal rights activists.

Seemingly in response -- in fact, it was never quite clear -- Gallegos published an opinion piece titled "Vigilantism A Force Of Anarchy" in the Times-Standard. The piece's odd phraseology prompted the Eureka Reporter's Heather Muller, who had originally reported the Bugenig case, to do a Google search; as it turned out, much of the op-ed had been lifted straight out of an academic paper on The Ox-Bow Incident.

Not all the post-election news was as embarrassing -- or not yet, at least. In November, Gallegos finally filed the long-delayed appeal of his office's sprawling fraud lawsuit against the Pacific Lumber Co., which had been tossed out of court a year and a half prior. The suit, along with Gallegos' generous medical marijuana policy, is the thing that first defined his tenure in the office, and gave him a reputation as a crusading people's prosecutor. Will the appeal bring back some of the magic?

Gallegos Loses FOUR More

Who's prepping cases? Jessica, the free intern from HSU?

Lost Investigator Kathy Philp
Losing Deputy District Attorney Andy Truitt
Losing Office Manager Linda Modell
Losing Investigator Chris Andrews

Kathy Philp chose to retire. She was a "half-time Domestic Violence Investigator, working out of the D.A. Criminal Division in the Courthouse and has been a detective at the District Attorney's Office for 22 years.

Linda Modell was the Office secretary and has "handled fiscal matters at the District Attorney's Office for over 20 years, and managed all of the fiscal needs of the District Attorney's Office such as grants and audits."

Chris Andrews was a Special Agent assigned full-time to the "Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force". He handled digital forensics for Humboldt, Del Norte, and No. Mendocino Counties and was the Macintosh expert for the entire NC3TF Task Force (13 counties).

You know the elections are over when....

Richard Salzman is reduced to writing letters demanding his MT-- ooops, I mean NFL Network.

Time for a new group. Hmmm. You'll need a name. The "Alliance for ___________________" or "Citizens Against ____________"

Help him out, guys.

Meth in every story lately...

Honda's toxicology reports in

Dinsmore
Probation sweep ends in arrest
Throckmorton
ER Defense indicates victims' use of methamphetamine may have played role in homicide
Three in Whitethorn case get probation
not to mention, Burgess and Cheri Moore (none in her system, but part of her history).

Baykeeper Signs

Baykeeper's posting signs? Public land? Or private land?

By the way: Photo source - Trees Foundation
Claims that the sign is on Mad River.
...Trees Foundation? The guys Earth First! sues for FRAUD Ya gotta love it.

http://activistcash.com

activistcash.com
Learn a bit more about Baykeepers' parent - the Waterkeeper Alliance... Excerpts below.
(Look up by organization, foundations, celebrities and key players)

The genesis: "The Waterkeeper Alliance has declared war on America’s pork industry, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is in charge of the battle plan. Officially, Waterkeeper is a coalition of more than 80 “neighborhood watch” programs for America’s rivers, bays, and shorelines. But this is thin political cover for the real coalition here -- one of big-money trial lawyers (many of them still counting their tobacco-settlement fees) who see billion-dollar payouts where most consumers see ribs, ham, and bacon."...

"It’s abundantly clear that money makes the world go ‘round for this group of Kennedy-led ambulance chasers. The world of class-action torts and nuisance lawsuits is based on the simple premise that attorneys get paid on “contingency” -- that is, they pocket a percentage of whatever a judge or jury awards their clients.

Kennedy’s legal dream team has loads of experience with this model. Among the products whose manufacturers they’ve sued: tobacco, diet drugs, asbestos, genetically improved crops, and diabetes medications.

The Waterkeeper Alliance will insist until pigs fly that their raisons d’etre are clean water and the environment, but consider this: every state, without exception, already has regulations in force mandating environmental standards for hog farmers. All pork producers, both big and small, must follow the law. If Kennedy really believed that America’s environmental laws weren’t being enforced, or weren’t strict enough in the first place, he would be suing the Environmental Protection Agency for better enforcement, or lobbying various state legislatures for tougher standards. And Kennedy wouldn’t need to build a war chest from 15 different law firms to get it done.

The problem with these approaches is that there’s no money in them. Suing the government sometimes gets results, but it seldom makes anyone rich. For much the same reason, Kennedy probably won’t bother suing any pork producers whose bank accounts aren’t big enough to attract the big-time trial lawyers in his corner. This kind of lawyering targets only the ripest fruit. It’s called extortion by litigation, and the Waterkeeper Alliance is raising it to a high art form.

Why Ask About Cooking Dungeness Crab?

(Note to cooks: If you're googling for instructions, this is not actually a site giving you instructions for cooking dungeness crab, though there are several methods and even a recipe included in the discussion here. I recommend the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission or this one This post is a discussion about the actions taken by the predatory litigious activist group called "Humboldt Baykeeper.")

Anybody know how to cook Dungeness Crab - and why it has to be prepared a certain way?

Yes. I had a reason for asking. And, yes, I know how to cook crab - and why. Or at least I thought I did.

But lo and behold - I got the Lawsuit-Happy Baykeepers' Christmas begging, I mean, greeting letter, and discovered I have been wrong all these years...

They care so much, they were kind enough to enclose "a pamphlet on safe preparation of Dungeness crab."

They "wish this information were unnecessary, but so long as we're still working to clean up the Bay, please follow the guidelines when enjoying local seafood to protect your health and the health of your family."

Oh really?

"They" felt it necessary to provide this little guide to killing the crab before cooking him, "because of increased levels of pollution in our bays and oceans."

What are you really trying to say, Mr. Sterling-Nichols? You just want to IMPLY it, you don't REALLY want to SAY it, because that would be incredibly irresponsible wouldn't it? Imagine the damage you can do the local fishermen, and local shellfish industry with an irresponsible implication like that. But anything to bring in the money and get people scared so they will turn to BayKeeper for Salvation - oh, and don't forget SEND MONEY to "help us grow stronger and more effective."

Very Sneaky. And downright Despicable.

"Baykeeper" - LawsuitsRus

Baykeeper - doin' what they do, filing lawsuits.
Gonna have to keep an eye on these guys and their tactics.
Environment groups sue EPA

Related Stories:
Baykeepers present overview of bay-health group
Humboldt Baykeeper, others sue EPA
Humboldt Bay 'impaired' by dioxin
Historic land contaminated
Pete Nichols Op Ed
Another soil test for former mill site?
Pete Nichols letter to Editor
Local group intends to sue Union Pacific
Harbor District gets OK from EPA to start dredge work
Bay dredging delayed while contaminant testing continues
Dioxin testing postpones maintenance dredging in bay
'Balloon Track' lawsuit looming
Longtime Eureka flea mart to close
Supervisors ask state for second look at bay contamination listing

A busy week for the DA's office

A case overturned, plea bargains, the DA on the stand and all this:
ER - Throckmorton found not guilty
TS - Throckmorton found not guilty
Graham sentencing continues Friday
Prosecution in Dinsmore trial calls FBI doctor as expert witness

Former Deputy DA sues county for alleged wrongful termination
I've been observing this trial - what strikes me most is the contrast between the prepared, informed, knowledgeable, professional, straight responses from ADA Wes Keat, Co. Risk Manager Kim Kerr and Linda Modell from the DAs office and the disinterested, unprepared, uninformed "I don't know" "I don't recall" all over the map statements from Gallegos.

And, in Trinity County
Malcolm attorney requests charges be dropped

Another plea bargain - Churchill

.
Another plea bargain and confusion in the courtroom....
Churchill sentencing continued due to plea error

Gallegos' Rollins case overturned w/UPDATE

REVERSED ON APPEAL.

Ruling of man accused of causing the death of Orick woman overturned

Update:

In essence, there were several statements taken from the defendant. One was "Mirandized." One wasn't.

In the investigator's first interview, Rollin started talking before she had read him his rights. He denied any guilt.

In the subsequent interview, after having been read his rights, Rollin admitted guilt.

Instead of using the Mirandized admission of guilt, Gallegos made extensive use of the first statement. He used the un-Mirandized denial.

In other words, he used an illegal statement that was irrelevant and unnecessary.

In making its ruling the Appeals Court couldn't even consider it to be harmless error because Gallegos had made it central to his argument, playing both the videotape of the un-Mirandized statement, then contrasting it with the legally taken audio-taped Mirandized statement - and explicitly telling the jury to consider it as circumstantial evidence of Rollin guilt - apparently failing to understand the folly of using an un-Mirandized statement.

Read the full Ruling

The Appeals Court found that: 'Joseph Pierre Rollin appeals his conviction for abuse of a dependent adult. We reverse because a statement obtained in violation of the rule announced in Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 was admitted at trial as evidence of his guilt, and the error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. (Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24.)"

What will Gallegos do this time?

Because this time, people are watching.
Derek Bowman arrested on warrants

"Derek Bowman was arrested late last week on two warrants and remained in custody Tuesday.

On Friday, Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Bowman, 25, of Loleta, on no bail warrants for second degree burglary and forgery.

Bowman is the son of Leonard Bowman, the chairperson of the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria.

In July, Bowman was sentenced to 180 days, less time served, in the Humboldt County jail for a probation violation. However, according to jail personnel, he was released Sept. 11 to serve the rest of his time in the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program.

His most recent arrest violates the terms of his SWAP.

Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved."

Edited comments

The online version doesn't match the print version, so you'll have to get a hard copy of the TS to see their Editorial space running selected comments from this story.

It's interesting to note which ones they chose - as the most explosive comments were left out - comments from someone who claimed to be Jonni Honda's daughter talking about the child molestation charges against her father. She claims they were false, that the girls in question were lying, that they were foster kids who had been taken in by her parents, and who she claims manufactured these stories in retaliation against her father.

I do not know how to feel. Angry for killing my father, or relieved that he is in peace. My father is NOT NOT a child molester. Those girls used the system, just like everyone else. To get what they want. See my mom and dad did foster care, taking care of the children who had loser parents. They blamed my family for that and said that they would do what ever they had to do to go back to their family.

Well isn't ironic, they may have their family back, but now mine is gone. My dad would never hurt anyone in that way. You know the CPS law "Children never lie" BS, sometimes I wonder if they have children of their own. Chances didn't look good for him. Tell me, would you want to go to prison for something you didn't do. Something that serious?

I love my DAD so much, I know he was scared. He is a great man. He will be missed so very much.
Hon's Daughter | 12.09.06 - 10:08 am | #

I am just so shocked...children are engaging in sex at the ages of 10, they know what molestation. The system teach them. My dad went to court for almost two years...tying to have a fair trial. In a case like this, no evidence is needed. Just the word of the these kids. My family took in these kids to try and help them have a better life. F*** those girls. They will face God and be judged. I hope that the ones judging him will never have to endure what he has gone through the last two years. To Mr. Anonymous I pray that you will never have to be in my dad's shoes. He tried to go about it the legal way.

Stop judging and talking like you know what he went through.
Jon's Daughter | 12.09.06 - 12:57 pm | #

This is not a blog, but rather a place for people to leave comments on stories that appear on the TS. But this is interesting, and dangerous territory for a newspaper.

Is this person really who she says she is? Is there any truth to what she is saying? If there isn't, is it fair to the victims for this to be part of the newspaper record? Has the Times Standard or any other reporter interviewed her, and the others who claim to be family members on the site? Perhaps there is a story in the works. These are certainly important, if true, and if it isn't true, that needs to be clarified.

Either way - why not include these comments in the column?

Note: For those whose browsers are unable to load the TS comments on their site - I posted the first 113 comments here. Their comments run in reverse with the earliest at the bottom of the list and the most recent at the top, so to start from the beginning you have to scroll all the way to the bottom. The discussion degenerates as it goes along.

A question about PLEA BARGAINS

Last Wednesday, the 16-year old murderer Joaquin Angel Fitzgerald pled guilty to second degree murder of Tracy Daniel Reynolds.

He was charged with committing murder during the commission of a robbery, personal use of a firearm during a robbery, torture and cruelty to an animal. "Deputy District Attorney Allan Dollison said an agreement was reached that his other charges, including unrelated infractions, would be dropped if Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to second degree murder."

The charges against his sidekick, 15 year old Keyontae Lamar Taylor were dropped earlier in exchange for his testimony against Fitzgerald. Taylor was charged with murder during the commission of a robbery, committing robbery while vicariously armed, and with torture and cruelty to an animal.

"The two boys were accused of befriending Reynolds, 38, on the railroad tracks, drinking a few beers with him and then leaving and returning with a gun and robbing and killing Reynolds.

But before they killed him, “The investigation indicated that the victim was shot first in the leg. The painful character of that wound (was) intended to speed up his cooperation with the robbery,” Humboldt County Assistant District Attorney Wes Keat said in a previous interview with The Eureka Reporter." (Sixteen-year-old pleads guilty).

The complaints of torture and animal cruelty stem from incidents that allegedly happened prior to Reynolds’ killing, Keat said. Keat said the boys allegedly shot at cows in the area, killing one.

So you plea bargain two guys who committed premeditated murder, who shot the guy in the leg to make him give them his money before they killed him, and who tortured animals, shot cows for fun along the way.

He hasn't been sentenced yet, but had Fitzergerald been convicted of premeditated first degree murder he would have been looking at 25 years to life. Because he used a gun, he should have been looking at an additional 25 years to life - meaning he could have - and should have gotten a 50 year to life sentence...

Last Thursday, the Reggae Rapist accepted a deal from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office and pled guilty to sexual battery. (a non-strike)

"Ramon Roberto Klein, 28, of Daly City, was charged with assault with intent to commit mayhem or sex crimes, unlawful sexual penetration and unlawful possession of a specified controlled substance.

Klein also had two enhancements to his charges in that he has a prior strike for being convicted of making criminal threats in 2001 and serving a prior prison term. ...Per the agreement, Klein will be sentenced to four years in state prison and will have to register as a sex offender."

He'll be out in 2 years from the time he was first arrested - and "sexual battery" doesn't count as a strike. Had they tried him what he was initially charged with he was looking at 16+ years AND the strike.

No mention of who the prosecutor was.
Klein accepts deal from DA's Office

Earlier, three of four Whitethorn kidnapping/rape defendants were sentenced to three years of formal, supervised probation. Each of the defendants had many of the charges against them dropped as part of a deal with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office. Only Levi Garza, who pled guilty to kidnapping, false imprisonment and selling drugs was sentenced to eight years in prison, the longest penalty in a case that originally had four defendants facing life terms.

And, of course, there was Derek Bowman, with nine felonies and a handful of misdemeanor charges ...dismissed or suspended sentence on all of them in a single day. Given probation.

Is it enough that they are doing SOME time?

Who's being defensive?

The Times Standard is on the defensive this morning, in reaction to Murl Harpham's telling it like it is when he said that "he requested a state Attorney General’s Office Justice Criminal Investigation team to look into the Honda shooting.

“This request by no means should indicate to anyone that I think our officers acted outside the law, outside of procedure, or unprofessionally,” Harpham said. “It is only because of the recent incidents our officers have been forced into, and the negative reaction by some people and the spin by some media, that I am initiating this.”

Why do things like this come in threes?

Sat. Standoff ends in shooting (interesting discussion in the comments that follow the article)
Sun. Standoff suspect shot dead
Police say fugitive was suicidal

Enough already

How long is the TS going to keep running Burgess letters?

Garbage cases...

From the archives:In the News NCJ 2/21/02

Just think Palco and Debi August.

"...Top on Gallegos' list is the proliferation of "garbage cases," small-time crimes and overcharged cases that he said are clogging up the court system.

Garbage cases, said Gallegos, come in two forms: Cases that would lose if actually brought to trial and cases that are overcharged for the crimes committed. The idea behind filing both kinds of garbage, he said, is to get the defendant to plead guilty, netting a conviction without having to go into court.

"Probably 95 percent of the cases that are filed plead guilty. In fact, there are a lot of cases that are filed on the assumption they will plead guilty, because of the time and expense involved in defending them. But these cases shouldn't even be filed in the first place, because if they were challenged, they would lose," Gallegos said. Better yet: If they weren't filed at all, it would save the county time and money...."

So-o-o-- - that's why you're appealing the Palco "case" - the one the judge tossed because it wasn't worthy of even going to trial?

Whistling in the dark

.
”We don't have a problem with attorneys wanting to stay,” Gallegos wrote. “Most district attorney's offices, just like most large- and medium-sized law firms, experience and expect a certain amount of attrition.”

Gallegos: Doing 'more with less'...TS...Chris Durant..1/18/06

Our loss, Their Gain.

Worth Dikeman accepts position in El Dorado County

What a loss for Humboldt County.

This is funny - The Gallegos Corporation?

Zoominfo - People, Companies, Relationships
http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=310152397

Richard Salzman This is Me
Campaign Manager

The Gallegos Corporation

Employment History
Founder
Alliance for Ethical Business

Web References View all 52 references for Richard Salzman
1. Humboldt D.A. fights to keep job / Lumber firm funds recall campaign after being sued
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/28/bag3e5am9b1.dtl
Published on: 2/28/2004 Last Visited: 2/28/2004

An artist's agent by trade, Gallegos' campaign manager, Richard Salzman, encourages the supporter to leave a donation.

This automatically-generated summary was created using 52 references found on the Internet. How did ZoomInfo compile this information?

Happy Thanksgiving

And Thank YOU - for reading, for your input, and for your moral support. It means alot.

Things you don't know...

Two stories today about Dave Parris retiring from EPD.
Senior Detective Dave Parris to retire this month
Eureka's top detective set for retirement

Dave Parris gave much more than 21 years to the City of Eureka and the people of Humboldt County.

He was one of the "movers and shakers" who brought innovative new programs to Humboldt County. Programs like SART, the Sexual Assault Response Team, and CAST, the Child Abuse Services Team.

Before SART was proposed and developed, rape victims - women, children, and sometimes men - who were raped were brought in to the Emergency Room, left sitting in the hallway with all the other ER patrons, waiting to be seen. Having just suffered unimaginable trauma, the rape victims were then put into an exam room, interviewed by different people, answering the same questions over and over again, examined by doctors who had no special training to deal with sexual assault victims, no particular knowledge of the type of forensic evidence needed, in the Emergency Room with no privacy, no counselor, no nothing.

Three people saw the need for a better way, Sister Ann of St. Joseph's hospital, Rob Wade from the D.A.'s Office and Dave Parris from EPD.

Together they got together and developed protocol for handling these victims, with compassion, and with full support services designed to help minimize the trauma and ensure proper gathering of forensic evidence... people from all departments on call, (law enforcement, the D.A.'s Office, rape crisis) a special room set aside in a private area, rape crisis counselors there to help guide the victim through the process, and help ease the pain and trauma, officers and doctors with special training in interviewing and evidence gathering.

Designed to help the victims through a very difficult time, the room was equipped with a bag of clothes - sweatpants, shoes, t-shirts, etc because the victims often had to leave their clothes as evidence. Small details, but important. Just one example.

Dave Parris did that.

Then, a couple of years later, the question of how best to handle child abuse victims came up. The McMartin Preschool case had shown what improper interviewing techniques could do to kids, to families and to the community.

Three people, Rob Wade, Dave Parris and Karen Lofts-Jarboe recognized the need for a multi-disciplinary team with special training in interviewing techniques and evidence gathering. Terry Farmer and John Frank agreed, and CAST, the Child Abuse Services Team, was born.

Before CAST was developed, children would be interviewed by a series of people, all asking different kinds of questions, with different criteria, police officers, the D.A.'s Office, then CWS, doctors, nurses, etc. Evidence was often lost, or not acquired at all.

With the development of the CAST program, the whole process became victim-centered, again with specially trained people from all departments on call, including mental health counselors for kids and their parents.

It was a new era in law enforcement, one geared towards victims rights, and on easing the pain of going through the terrifying judicial system.

It is a special kind of person that sees a need and helps bring about the solution.

***

It also takes real courage to stand up for what you believe in. It takes a special kind of courage to stand up to Paul Gallegos' destructive political machine.

When Dave Parris signed on as Worth Dikeman's campaign manager, he knew what he was up against. And he chose to do it anyway.

And of course, the Salzman machine went into action, demonizing Parris, denigrating Dikeman for being to close to law enforcement, weaving hate and suspicion into the equation, making the public believe that there was something wrong with a D.A. having the respect of the law enforcement community of which he is the head. That's what you've been taught to believe.

The truth is - Dave Parris' record is proof of the good things that can happen when the D.A.'s Office and law enforcement work together, with respect and compassion. The importance of that working relationship that has been so denigrated couldn't be more clear.

So, when you see Dave Parris, tell him "Thanks!"

What he has done for this community is HUGE.

These are the kinds of things the people of this community used to care about, protecting women and children, making the process more compassionate, and more efficient.

What happened?

WHAT'S THIS? Another lawsuit being planned?

Another case of filing a lawsuit that serves your campaign handlers and backers?

Was that Jeffrey "you gofree.com" Schwartz down at the old Flea Market site on the Bay with an unidentified woman and lawsuit happy Baykeeper, Pete Nichols?

Maybe its a Schwartz look-alike.

Surely we are not going to see a repeat of the DAs office taking over an EPIC lawsuit. Surely, the DAs office isn't planning to take over Baykeepers' lawsuit.

Maybe Schwartz is planning to apply for a job with Baykeepers. I'm sure they can use another lawyer.

Those cameras sure come in handy.

Gallegos telegraphed his intentions

Paul Gallegos had nine months between when he was elected District Attorney and when he actually took office. Plenty of time for his handlers to whisper in his ear - convincing him that he could only trust them, reinforcing the notion that no one there would like him, that he would have to fire a few to send a message, show them who was boss - and plenty of time to set him up to fulfill their agenda.

No one saw it coming, but Gallegos began to telegraph his intentions well before he took office. This was the precursor to his bringing Ken Miller in to draft the PL lawsuit. But they pretend that this never happened.

This article tells part of the story:

District Attorney-elect reaches out to enviros
By Daniel Mintz
McKinleyville Press
Nov. 13, 2002

Taking an unusual, proactive step toward inclusion, District Attorney-Elect Paul Gallegos has pleasantly surprised environmentalists by sending them letters that ask for their input and portray "maintenance of a quality environment" as a priority enforcement matter.

Gallegos takes office in January, and following a campaign last spring that focused on a more progressive approach to county law enforcement policies, he's been heralded by activists as the usher of a new direction.

Increasing the medical marijuana plant limits and downplaying the intensity of marijuana enforcement overall was part of Gallegos' campaign platform, and he's since reaffirmed his desire for those changes. But an Oct. 30 letter sent to a variety of Humboldt-based activists and environmental groups makes a pledge to environmental oversight that's assertive and probably unprecedented.

Taking steps
The letter begins by quoting a section of the California Constitution that defines the role of local officials as giving "priority to the provision of adequate public safety resources." Gallegos then quotes the state Environmental Quality Act, which calls environmental preservation "a matter of statewide concern" for health and safety of residents and further states that regulation of corporations and other entities be done "so that major consideration is given to preventing environmental damage. "I interpret this as a finding by the California Legislature that the maintenance of a quality environment for the people of this state now and in the future is a matter of public safety," Gallegos wrote. Reflecting the content of the legislation, Gallegos added that "the district attorney... has the obligation to work toward the maintenance of a quality environment... take steps to make actions necessary to prevent critical environmental capacity thresholds from being reached, take steps to contribute to preservation and enhancement of the environment and enforce regulations intended to prevent environmental damage while providing a decent home and satisfying living environment."

Gallegos wants environmental groups to participate in the enforcement process by "advising me of matters relevant to these concerns and educating me about the consequences of inaction." He informed the various groups that he's available for "individual and/or group discussions at any time."

Welcome correspondence
Local environmentalists and the groups they belong to will take Gallegos up on the offer, and view it as a stream of fresh air.

"It's absolutely excellent," said Tim McKay, executive director of the Northcoast Environmental Center, of the letter, "I've never gotten one like it, and one of the key issues that's concerned environmentalists is that we have laws on the books that are primarily unenforced."

McKay said he and his co-workers at NEC shared a "very positive" reaction to the letter. "We just said, 'Wow, this is long overdue,' " McKay related, "And I'm sure this will put Humboldt County in headlines nationally, because it's coming at a time when the environment has been degraded by the powers that be - the Bush administration."

McKay delivered mixed reviews of the County D.A. Office's performance on environmental enforcement. He pointed out that the county has a "very capable" environmental prosecutor, Paul Hagen, whose services are paid for through the California District Attorney's Association.

"I hope Gallegos retains him," McKay continued. "And the letter seems to indicate (Hagen) would be unrestrained in seeking prosecutions for violations of state law."

But some environmental damage has slipped under the enforcement radar here, McKay continued. He cited a developer's effort last year to engineer a cranberry bog at the lower reaches of Little River, a waterway at the northern end of Clam Beach.

"I hope that kind of egregious violation will not go unenforced again," said McKay, adding that "a number" of environmental law violations have escaped timely enforcement "primarily because of (outgoing D.A.) Terry farmer failing to give the green light."

Jan Lundberg heads the Sustainable Energy Institute and said Gallegos' correspondence is "very welcome" and nods to a new direction for environmental awareness.

"(Gallegos) is representing everyone with that letter because we are all citizens of this environment," Lundberg continued, "And we will be expanding the scope of environmental consciousness with his help and evolving the consciousness of the community."

Other groups that got Gallegos' letter include Northcoast earth First!, the Environmental Protection Information center (EPIC), Californians for Alternatives to Toxics and the Humboldt Watershed Council.

In Black and White
In an interview, Gallegos said he sent the letter to make it clear that crimes against the environment will be assertively enforced under his helmsmanship of the D.A.' s Office.

"I want to let people know that as D.A. for the next four years, I see environmental violations as a public safety issue," Gallegos continued. "Public safety is a dear concept to me and I need their assistance and will respond to what they tell me. I put that in black and white, so four years from now, if they say I'm not doing it, they have it in black and white."

He expects to make "significant policy decisions" on environmental enforcement and felt that local activists need to know that their participation in important, as they haven't been included to the degree Gallegos is seeking.

"They've been working hard and they don't know that the D.A.'s Office needs their help." he said. "The letter's overdue - I'm committed to learning, to reaching out to these groups that are actively involved, so I can do what's right."

Gallegos was asked what kind of policy changes he'd like to see on environmental prosecution. "At a minimum, the change I's like to bring is to have those who received my letter to realize they are part of the equation, and that I understand the role they play is important tot he community...we promise to be busy, and people should know that we're serious."

Gallegos has been engaged in many meetings, including those with law enforcement agencies. He's also met several times with Robert Manne, the president of Pacific Lumber Company, which has been portrayed by activists as a trouncer of environmental regulations.

But the meetings with Manne were geared to easing the safety problems stemming from forest protests, not the environmental effects of logging. And Gallegos said lots of people view him as a radical presence and are worried about what he might do.

"One of (PL's) - and everyone's - big concerns is that Paul's going to come in and be a super-liberal and not represent them," he said. "But my job is to do what's right, I'm not taking one side over the other. But I sent the letter to the environmental groups because they are the ones who wouldn't know that the D.A. might like to hear from the."

Forest protestors can expect a continuation on enforcement of trespassing laws, but Gallegos said his priority is "keeping people from getting killed or beaten up in the forest - when kids go up in the forest to protest logging, they are putting themselves in harm's way, but that doesn't mean we turn away if they're injured and say, 'Well, they asked for it.' "

Jonestown massacre

photo source
Today is the anniversary of the Jonestown massacre
November 18, 1978

Bear River members seek chairperson's recall

Bear River members seek chairperson's recall

I have to congratulate the Bear River Tribe members on this effort to clean up their act, getting rid of Leonard Bowman. "...the tribal chairperson had allegedly violated the Rancheria's own Code of Personal and Business Conduct conflict of interest/political contributions section that says tribal funds or property cannot be used for contributions to political candidates. A $10,000 contribution to the district attorney's campaign violated that policy, Bowie noted."

I hope Michael Acosta surprises me and does well by you. "...According to Bowie, the Rancheria's attorney has been investigating disappearance of funds from a fund set up to sponsor a stock car that races at Redwood Acres. The results of the attorney's investigation, she said, hasn't been shared with Rancheria members.

”They've been stalling and stalling,” Bowie said..."

This cleansing will go a long way to restoring trust and good will from the community.

Related stories:
ER - Bear River members seek chairperson's recall
ER - Gallegos sidesteps questions about possible conflict of interest in Bowman charges

ER - Questions without answers hinder our newsgathering
ER - Bowman story not accurate
ER - Contribution made because Gallegos was the better of the two
ER - Questions remain in DA's handling of Bowman charges
ER - Bear River official discusses financial contributions from tribe
ER - Tribe's contribution to DA's campaign was made by the Tribal Council, not Bowman
ER - Gallegos is 'public servant,' not Legal Spiegel
Ethical quagmire created by Gallegos' acceptance of casino's contribution
ER - It's telling that Gallegos witch hunt didn't start until firing of Dikeman
ER - Writer appreciates editor's note that identifies writers
ER - Residents deserve answers to questions asked of DA's Office
ER - Bitter? You bet!
TS - Donations not improper, says Bear River Band
TS - DA's office: State OK'd handling of plea deal
NCJ - Best enemies

Jonestown at the Minor?

The movie Tom, Kathleen and Les Kinsolving were talking about (see post below) is scheduled to come to Arcata, according to the producer's website.
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
Opens November 17th
Minor Theater

Salzman and the vote counting

From the oh-so-ethical "Alliance for Ethical Business"/well not local solutions anymore/Redwood Progressive AKA Richard Salzman/CREG/vested interest in HOW MANY candidates? comes this message:

In a message dated 11/16/2006 3:31:30 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, aebmail@cox.net writes:

VoterConfidenceCommittee info@voterconfidencecommittee.org wrote:
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 01:00:52 -0800
Subject: [VCC News] Help Wanted - Hand Count The Ballots!

With three local races still undecided more than a week after the election, we each have a significant opportunity to take action for fairness, transparency and accuracy of the impending results. Humboldt County is currently conducting a 10% manual audit - hand counting ballots to double check the accuracy of the discredited secret vote counting machines made by Diebold. All community members are encouraged to participate. To sign up, please call 707-445-7678.

The more people who count ballots...
the sooner we'll know the results;
the more the process belongs to the public;
the greater the reason to believe the outcome.

Democracy is not a spectator sport - Democracy is something we do!

The Voter Confidence Committee
www.voterconfidencecommittee.org
--
The following information is a reminder of your current mailing
list subscription:

You are subscribed to the following list:
Redwood Progressive

Gallegos v. Martinez-Hernandez (2004)

For many of you who read this blog this may be old news. Remember that part of the purpose of this blog is to include the old stuff. For those who knew what happened, it was a clear example of the way Gallegos approached his job, and how he handled difficult media attention.

It is also a clear example of a pattern which continues to this day, especially the immediate response and then the spin-doctored response which characterizes all of Gallegos' debacles.

The Martinez-Hernandez case received widespread news coverage during the Recall. But only part of the story was told. (see RELATED STORIES below)

This was no ordinary case. Veteran prosecutors called it one of the biggest miscarriages of justice they had ever seen.

Not a traditional "molest" - this was a father forcibly raping his daughter every day for nine years, sometimes while the girl's young brother watched. This conduct started when she was five years old.

The case was brought in for charging on Christmas Eve. Wes Keat, the overworked Chief Charging Deputy (a position that receives no compensation other than a title) received the case.

Pedro Martinez-Hernandez was in custody, and because he was in custody, the case had to be charged immediately. Unfortunately, there were no other lawyers in the office to help because neither the DA (Paul Gallegos) or the Assistant DA (Tim Stoen) were around or cared enough to make sure the office was adequately staffed.

Charging molest cases is a very complex task even for an experienced deputy. It is usually turned over to someone who specializes in it.

Upon reading the preliminary report from the Sheriff's Department, Keat charged one continuous count of continuing molest covering the entire 9 year period. This was enough to HOLD Martinez-Hernandez in jail, knowing the additional charges needed would be added when the prosecutor looked at the case file.

Keat added a note that there were a lot of stackable charges which would put Martinez-Hernandez away for hundreds of years. "It's probably going to turn out that there are a lot of stackable 288b's [sex offense counts] that can get him into the century club" -- or 100 years in prison. NCJ

Mid January, Gallegos picks up the files, and because he is too inexperienced to realize there is a problem, and apparently fails to read the full report, he lets the guy plead to one count.

Martinez-Hernandez's lawyer can't believe their good fortune, and seizes the deal.

When a few people spoke out, the Times Standard reported that "The Sheriff's Department said investigating deputies found reason to believe Martinez-Hernandez had sexual intercourse with the child 1,900 times over a six or seven year period. Deputies also determined there were about 1,000 counts of crimes like fondling and oral copulation. The child was about 5 when the abuse began about seven years ago.

"Gallegos has said the continuous act charge was made to avoid the necessity of proving each count and to spare the child from testifying."

The Sheriff's Department provided to the Times Standard fifteen other cases with far less serious conduct. In each the guy got well in excess of a life term (like 29 consecutive 15-years-to-life terms). Paul's response was that the guy pleaded to everything that he was charged with so it wasn't plea bargaining and that the U.S. Attorney was going to charge him for being an illegal immigrant who was once deported and that this guy would never get out of jail. In short, Paul admits no error in charging or judgment.

The U.S. Attorney reportedly said that they hadn't received the case and did not know anything about it. A clear lie by Paul, and, an attempt to cover it up failed when Paul sent one of his DDAs down to try to get the U.S. Attorney on board, but was denied.

Then, when the Times Standard called the DAs office, they were told Paul was out of town.

Did the Assistant District Attorney answer questions on the case? No.

He turned it over to Salzman, who acted as the defacto spokesperson for the office. He says that it was handled correctly but, he hinted that if it wasn't charged properly that Wes Keat was at fault.

"Salzman maintained that while Gallegos appeared in court, the actual charging was done by senior prosecutor Wes Keat, using a law passed by the Legislature that allows for instances of long-term abuse to be consolidated into a single, continuous act." TS

And thus began the decline in child abuse prosecutions in the Humboldt County District Attorney's office.

RELATED STORIES:
TS - Plea bargain made with molester - Jan 24, 2004
TS - Gallegos responds to molester's plea - Jan 27, 2004
TS - Albin Sheets accuses Gallegos of incompetence - Jan, 2004
NCJ - MOLESTATION CASE TAKES CENTER STAGE:
...a copy of this article is also at watchpaul-articles
TS - Investigating deputy speaks out on molest case - Feb 13, 2004

Do not forget

Interesting points in James Faulk's Bully Pulpit today, chastising those who question Bonnie Neely's sister working in the Election's Dept.

You know, I agree with you James. But I gotta ask you - WHY the scruples now?

Where were you when folk-hero Gallegos claimed that the fact that a judge was dating a niece of Bonnie Neely's meant that he should be disqualified from the Palco case?

Remember that? Remember those nasty little maneuvers?

Paul Gallegos is on vacation again...Gone surfin'

So Gallegos mailed off his Palco Appeal, and left for vacation. Word is he's gone til after Thanksgiving. Where is it this time? Hawaii or Mexico?

He's lost half his staff and he takes off for yet another long vacation. How many does this make since the election?

Who is driving the bus?

A matter of priorities

Stay with me now - don't let the numbers put you to sleep. And read 'em all the way through.

In 1997, CAST, the Child Abuse Services Team, opened its doors.

In 1997
There were 137 CAST Child Interviews
There were 56 cases of alleged child abuse RECEIVED by the DAs office
There were 37 child abuse cases FILED by the DAs office

In 1998
There were 142 CAST Interviews
There were 52 cases received by the DAs office
There were 37 cases FILED by the DAs office

In 1999
There were 194 CAST Interviews
There were 81 cases received by the DAs office
There were 49 cases FILED by the DAs office

In 2000
There were 194 CAST Interviews
There were 66 cases received by the DAs office
There were 48 cases FILED by the DAs office

In 2001
There were 196 CAST Interviews
There were 65 cases received by the DAs office
There were 46 cases FILED by the DAs office

In 2002
There were 215 CAST Interviews
There were 66 cases received by the DAs office
There were 47 cases FILED by the DAs office

In January of 2003, Paul Gallegos took office

In 2003
There were 205 CAST Interviews
There were 67 cases received by the DAs office
There were 40 cases FILED by the DAs office

In June of 2004 Paul Gallegos fired our top child abuse prosecutor, Allison Jackson.

In 2004
There were 146 CAST Interviews
There were 50 cases received by the DAs office
There were 23 cases FILED by the DAs office

In 2005
There were 155 CAST Interviews
There were 35 cases received by the DAs office
There were 17 cases FILED by the DAs office

In the first four months of 2006
There were 40 CAST Interviews (on track for 120 interviews)
There were 4 cases received by the DAs office (on track for 12 cases received)
There was 1 case FILED by the DAs office.

ONE.

ONE child abuse case filed. January to April of this year.

It's now November.

While Paul Gallegos has been busy working on the Palco appeal, what has been happening to the children in Humboldt County?

RELATED STORIES:
ER - Former deputy DA speaks out
ER - Candidates spar over child abuse team
ER - DA's Office yet to respond to request for child abuse records
ER - CAST established with child victims in mind
ER - CAST needs support Gallegos is not providing

UPDATE:
◼ A decrease in child abuse cases?
I'll say. You decide

Gallegos v. Palco - Here we go again w/update

Wonder why all the bad guys have been getting plea bargained? The DA has been too busy.

County appeals Palco fraud suit
John Driscoll/The Times-Standard
11/11/2006 04:32:49 AM PST

Palco APPEAL Timeline: (After the judge threw his case out)
Date.............Description/Notes
11/18/2005 Exempt filing fee.
11/18/2005 Notice of appeal lodged/received. People of the State of California filed 7-26-05
11/18/2005 Notified parties of local rules and procedures.
11/18/2005 Received: Designation of Record (CRC, rule 5) filed 9-29-05
12/12/2005 Default letter sent; no case information statement filed.
12/29/2005 Civil case information statement filed. Judgment/order needed & ** is here **
12/29/2005 Letter to counsel - 15 days to file case information statement. judgment/order needed
01/31/2006 Filed document entitled: Judgment/order needed to attach to DKT filed 12/29/05.
07/11/2006 Record on appeal filed. c-7 r-2
08/04/2006 Requested - extension of time.
08/04/2006 Granted - extension of time.
09/06/2006 Telephone conversation with: Belinda from the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office stating that an eot for the aob is on its way.
09/11/2006 Requested - extension of time.
09/13/2006 Granted - extension of time.

For more information:
The People v. Pacific Lumber Co. et al. Division 3 Case Number A112028
Case summary

Sign up for email notification of any progress in this case:
E-mail Notification 1st Appellate District

UPDATE
Case Number Case Activity Date Registered
A112028 Brief Filed 11/12/2006
A112028 Record on Appeal Filed 11/12/2006
A112028 Remittitur Issued 11/12/2006
A112028 Disposition 11/12/2006
A112028 Calendar Notice 11/12/2006
11/13/06 the following transaction has occurred in:
The People v. Pacific Lumber Co. et al.
Case: A112028 1st District, Division 3
2006-11-13 Event Description: Appellant's opening brief.
Notes: 40.1

The truth v. the talking points

The truth:
Writer believes Gallegos, DA's Office are a sham
11/11/2006

Dear Editor,

This letter is in reply to a letter from a Lynn Pettlon. I just hope you or your family never has a crime committed against you, (but if one does occur I) hope D.A. Gallegos will prosecute the villain, especially if the villain is one of Humboldt County’s methamphetamine users. Gallegos will let them plea bargain for probation.

We had a case where a methamphetamine user and ex-felon stole 38 rifles and one pistol — plus 30 diamond wedding sets — from a 90-year-old World War II veteran.

This ex-felon and methamphetamine user admitted to using drugs to the district attorney, but was able to plea bargain for probation for the third time in the past nine months. And you think Gallegos has only lost one out of 11 cases? The Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department had witnesses who would be willing to testify against this thief. A slam-dunk case on this ex-felon.

I called Paul Gallegos and had a talk with him about his case. I told him that the Probation Department, law enforcement and a private investigator we hired sent his office e-mails about this case.

His reply was that his office didn’t receive them. I think Gallegos owes an apology to all law enforcement in Humboldt County for the hard work they do.

And I do believe you, Lynn Pettlon, should get your head out of the sand if you believe that Gallegos has integrity and excellent judgment.

John Hay
Rio Dell
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved

And, then you have Salzman's talking points:
Gallegos has the support of the majority in county
10/30/2006
 
Dear Editor,

Rarely does any candidate survive relentless media smear campaigns like those waged against District Attorney Gallegos. Amazingly, Gallegos did prevail, twice. I believe he prevailed because he spoke more thoughtfully and fairly. He prevailed because, in marked contrast to his opponent, he advocated equal treatment under the law. Heather Muller gave us the opportunity to see that.

Heather Muller wrote interestingly and gave both sides. By the time I read through her compelling accusations, I was actually interested in Gallegos’ responses, which I found, thanks to Heather’s extensive and unadulterated quotes, to be professional, fair and thoughtful.

Post-election accusations have been interesting also, albeit outlandish. For example, the accusation that Gallegos fired Dikeman because of politics isn’t reasonable when you consider that Dikeman lost 10 of his last 12 cases, whereas Gallegos won 10 of 11.

Also interesting but unreasonable were the September attacks against a tribal member for a tribal donation to Gallegos. First, the tribal member was presumed guilty of charges that were dropped. Aren’t we supposed to presume innocence? Why would the tribal member be charged with rape for having consensual sex with his wife and mother to their two children? Heather alleges favoritism when prejudice is evidenced.

Gallegos was elected to fulfill equal treatment under the law. It is absurd to suggest that he recuse himself whenever justice involves a group that donated to his campaign. The tribe sought equal treatment and it should not be denied it. It is Dikeman whom the higher court found to be unfair, not Gallegos.

I believe that Gallegos brings integrity, excellent judgment and commitment to fair and equal justice for all. Thank you, DA Gallegos. You have the support of the majority.

Please stay the course.

Lynn Pettlon
McKinleyville
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.

Some good points

Some interesting questions raised by Leo Sears in this article Caring about our community.
In 2004 the media reported that the FPPC “has confirmed the receipt of a complaint from Humboldt County Elections Officer Lindsey McWilliams.” And quoted him as saying: “The California Government Code requires income and expenditures of more than $100 to be itemized ... the league did not do that.” Will McWilliams file complaints against HBC and CREG? What about the media that said, “Voters have a right to know where the money is coming from to support or defeat a candidate or an initiative” and HTL's “deliberate obfuscation shows either ignorance of or contempt for campaign disclosure laws.” Does media consternation over transparency apply only to HTL?

Apprently so, Leo - HTL and some people wearing Marina Center sweatshirts on election day. I'm betting Lindsey didn't file any complaints against the so-called Alliance for Ethical Business either.

RELATED STORIES:
ER - CREG WILL NOT DISCLOSE CONTRIBUTORS

50/50

In looking at the 50/50 vote splits here and across the nation, I can't help but look at the genesis of the partisan polarization that continues to afflict us. With all the screaming about the "stolen election" I have my own take.

When George Bush and Al Gore were running for President, no one really cared all that much for either of them. Gore was wooden, and Bush was, well, a Republican. Polls showed a near 50/50 split right up to the election. Magazines wrote about it, astrologers made note of it. Pundits discussed Gore's unlikability and debated Bush's intelligence.

Incredibly, the election turned up exactly that, a REAL 50/50 split, such as no one could have imagined.

Then all the shouting began. Gore suddenly became beloved, when he had not been. And conversely, Bush became hated.

Gore's people asked for a recount of only the heavily democratic counties, when the only right thing to do was recount the entire state, but every recount came up with the same thing, a virtual tie.

Of the two only one could emerge a winner, and in this case it was determined by an unbelievably small number of votes, but there was a "winner" nonetheless.

Proof that every vote really does count. Same thing is true in Humboldt County today.

It is going to be interesting to see what happens when all the votes are counted.

But for now, it looks like the Salzman/localsolutions golden touch has turned to lead.

It's a sign that bodes well for future elections.

The Knifepoint Robber (NOTATION ADDED)

What is the effect of losing your experienced prosecutors?

Interesting story in the Arcata Eye this week... your first chance to see Gallegos' new hire, Allan Dollison at work.

Alleged Knifepoint robber set for trial.
Kevin Hoover
Nov. 7, 2006

The case of James Phillip Geth of Eureka, arrested on multiple felony charges last month, is somewhat untidily proceeding to trial under the stewardship of the county's newest deputy district attorney.

Police say Geth, 22, went on a robbery spree the morning of Wednesday, October 18, beginning at a McKinleyville convenience store and ending up chest-deep in a north Arcata marsh.

Deputy DA Allan Dollison detailed the charges at a preliminary hearing last week before Judge Reinholtsen. The judge threw out some of the charges, but agreed to several and set an arraignment for Thursday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.

During the prelim, Dollison questioned Arcata Police officers about the eventful October morning. They related the following:

Sometime after 4 a.m., Geth allegedly held up a minimart in McKinleyville at knifepoint. Video surveillance tapes from the store, which were stolen, but later discovered in the car Geth was apparently using, show a similarly dressed individual performing the stickup.

Three hours later, police say, Geth held up the Gas 4 Less mini-mart at Alliance Road and Spear Avenue, then proceeded down Alliance Road to the Union 76 mini-mart.

There, the robber, wearing a big hat and with his face obscured, is seen on video surveillance tapes pointing a knife at the clerk and a customer. The two were forced into a back room at knifepoint, but the clerk fought the robber off with a stool. The suspect then fled in a car with the store's cash drawer just as APD Sgt. Bart Silvers responded to the scene.

A vehicle pursuit ensued, with APD officers breaking off the chase due to unsafe high speed. A short time later, the vehicle was spotted by a passing California Highway Patrol officer on West End Road and clocked at 87 mph in the 25 mph zone.

The suspect's vehicle ran off the road near West End Road at Aldergrove Road. Police checked the area for the suspect, and found Geth in a tussle in Ericson Court with Sacred Ground employee Scott Birk. Geth then ran off toward Aldergrove Pond with APD Sgt. Dave Brown in pursuit.

Brown followed Geth 75 yards into the marsh, wading at times chest-deep through muck, with the suspect refusing to halt. Eventually, another officer subdued Geth with a Taser and he was taken into custody.

Geth had recently been released form jail and was on probation for a drug conviction.

Nonetheless, Reinholtzen walked through the charges and found that Dollison hadn't adequately linked Geth with the McKinleyville robbery and threw out those charges. He also dismissed an evading arrest charge, since Dollison hadn't established that Police used required flashers or siren in the car chase.

Robbery charges for the two Arcata holdups, plus one count of false imprisonment were accepted by the judge.

Dollison, who has served mostly as a defense attorney rather than as a prosecutor during his career, said he would re-file the dismissed charges.

Geth's relatives listened somberly through the morning and afternoon hearings. During a break, his father, also named James Geth, offered the following statement:

We, his family, are working desperately to keep our child and loved one out of the criminal justice system. What we're trying to get him is qualified psychological hlep for his childhood trauma that few people seem to want to address."

He described his son, known as Jamie, as industrious but troubled. Young Geth, A Eurekan, held three jobs, the father said, and was a popular DJ known as "JP Jesus."

An expanded version of this story will be available at arcataeye.com.
I'll post the link as soon as it is available. Apologies to Kevin if there are any typos in this story, I transcribed it from the paper.
____________

ADDED: Allan Dollison served Humboldt County's DA's office for 6 years and 4 months. He details his record, and his reasons for leaving here - ◼ My record at the DA's Office - Allan Dollison/for the Times-Standard
__________________

NOTATION: 7/13/2013 - It's an interesting aspect of this blog that other people often get caught in the net, based on their entrance into the Gallegos saga. And so their names live online, to be unearthed whenever they apply for a job. Sometimes the searches that lead people here are for other reasons, but it usually has to do with a job search.

And, so it is that Allan Dollison appears here. His time with the DA's office has come and gone, he rose through Gallegos' ranks, and was slated, some said, to become Assistant DA. He was a loyal player, and, I believe, a true believer.

Through my work here, I am often kept informed about cases, how they're handled, how the various Deputy DA's do their job, interact with victims, and so forth.

And I feel it necessary to say this. I have come to the conclusion, that, for all his past mistake, Allan Dollison turned out to be one of the best and most honest of the bunch, far surpassing his boss, Paul Gallegos.

He has since left the DA's office, and, as is often the case when people leave, I get the chance to talk to them. I have talked with Allan Dollison. And, to his credit, he never once asked me to remove any of this info, as damaging as it is to him. I respect that, and I think it's noteworthy.

If you're looking to hire him, it's worthy of consideration.

I'm not pulling anything down, as that would be a disservice to the facts as they have unfolded, but I am adding this, to mitigate that online-lives-forever reality.

Election coverage

Thank you to KHSU: 90.5 f.m., (Elizabeth, Hank Sims and Mike) and Captain Buhne for the play by play election coverage. You were a better source of information than the County election site and Ch. 3. by a long shot.

Negative?

What is negative campaigning?

Revisionist History - DISTURBING CONTENT

I recently saw a portion of a Jonestown documentary. I didn't see the whole thing, but in the segment I saw, the red haired lady who wrote "the Voices of Jonestown" seemed to be the sole expert - and she had it all wrong - talking about the beauty of the Temple until they got to Jonestown... Either I missed the part where they got it right, or she completely missed, or the filmakers intentionally ignored, the fact that the "White Nights" practice sessions had been going on for months long before they left the States...

According to the other books, the survivor's accounts, it started with Jones offering them wine, which was normally forbidden. AFTER they drank the wine, he told them they were about to die. That the wine had been poisoned. As his sermon droned on, and the time passed, he said that it had all been a test, a test of their loyalty and devotion.

It became a regular occurrence, and the sermons focused on the notion of mass suicide - to send a message. Some of the accounts claim it was Tim Stoen who introduced the notion, who came up with the idea and researched the means of poisoning large groups of people.

Conditioned as they were, having gone through the drill as many times as they did, many of Jones' followers went along willingly at the end. Others pled for their lives. But they were trapped. They stood in line to drink the Kool-Aid. Those who refused were injected or shot. They killed the babies and children first.

This 45 MINUTE YouTube tape, titled Jonestown 'Deathtape' lets you listen to "The complete tape found in a tape recorder under Jim Jones' chair after the mass suicide in Jonestown on November 18, 1978." (Update: 1/4/07, the link has gone dead)

It is very disturbing as you listen to the children and babies in the background. They are being killed.

It's hard to listen to, BE FOREWARNED.

Some 910 people died that day, 287 of them were children.*
* The facts about
the children of Jonestown

***
A recent Berkeley Repertory Theatre play "The People's Temple" also ignored or left out astoundingly relevant material - Tim Stoen, the second-in-command-right-hand-man never got more than a brief two-line mention, when it was the battle over the son he signed away, and arranged to have sent to Jonestown to keep him away from his wife, it was Stoen's custody battle that led to Congressman Ryan's fateful trip to Jonestown - the absence of any mention of the systematic torture, abuse and rape, not just of women and children, but men, too - the catharsis sessions - and most importantly, the White Nights rehearsals that culminated in the final grotesque murder-suicides...

***
The revisionist history portraying Jonestown, and People's Temple as a happy loving place tends to ignore Tim Stoen entirely, and is being perpetuated by a new docu-ganda - Stanley Nelson's Jonestown documentary at the Rafael Film Center in downtown San Rafael, today, Sunday, November 5.

Les Kinsolving and his son confronted Nelson in Silver Spring, MD, back in June, Les' daughter followed suit in San Rafael today.

Les talks about it here: Jonestown: Low point in American journalism.

***
RELATED STORIES:
NCJ - Standing in the Shadows of Jonestown
* The facts about the children of Jonestown
Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple
(Search Stoen - go to Transcript Q800)
Madman in our Midst - Jim Jones and the California Cover Up
wp - Signing away his kid
wp - Stoen's "Diversions Department" AKA "the Dirty Tricks Department" - plots to murder Les Kinsolving and poison the water supply of Washington DC
wp - "Paul can't trust anyone in that office except Tim."
SF Chronicle & Examiner - $3 million for hit list, says ex-Jones aide
Press Democrat - STOEN APOLOGIZES TO REPORTER'

It's nice...

"“Are those donations made with an eye for a payoff? Are there strings attached?"”

Gee, that's funny. Those are the questions the the Times Standard should be asking and Eureka City Council candidates should be asking THEMSELVES about their association with Richard Salzman, who the Times Standard now champions as a "local political gladiator"

You gotta be kidding me. What a short memory they have. Then again, the Times Standard has continually turned a blind eye to Richard Salzman's political dirty tricks, with a lukewarm, less than convincing pooh-poohing of Salzman's phony letters to the editor, ignoring, excusing or alternately enabling his backroom attacks. They have allowed Richard Salzman to spread his divisive message of class warfare, pumping the "Good Old boy" message for him countless times.

Because they share a common foe? Yes, the TS was talking about Rob Arkley when they asked the question above.

No mention of Salzman's obsequious devotion to Rob Arkley when he was getting large donations from him. No examination of the price of crossing Salzman.

"It's nice that we have a new theater, it's nice that we have a donation to the zoo, but it should not entitle a person to overrule the will of the people at large,"” said Richard Salzman, an Arkley critic and local political gladiator..."

No, it doesn't, Richard, but since that is exactly what YOU are trying to do, let's talk about what Richard Salzman has done for the community. What have we got to show for HIS time here?

Any ideas?

Related stories:
TS - Two in the eye of the storm

And... a reminder, a glimpse into who we're talking about here...

NCJ - WEB OF LIES - Richard Salzman and other e-mail phonies
NCJ - Another Salzman alias?
Gallegos, Kerrigan, others react to phony e-mail campaign
ER - Witnesses say Salzman put stickers on city property
McKinleyville Press - From the Editor

Jeffrey "yougofree.com" Schwartz DROPS OUT of the race

A little good news:
ER - Jeffrey Schwartz withdraws from Arcata council race
TS - Schwartz drops out of Arcata race

Surprise, surprise.

ER - CREG WILL NOT DISCLOSE CONTRIBUTORS

Just like the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business," The "Citizens for REAL Economic Growth" won't tell you who's backing them.
How much of their money has come from "Non-Local" sources?
Think they got a substantial donation from Ester Saunoras?
Think they're not involved in this election?

So much for campaign finance reform.

"...CREG spokesperson Larry Evans said his organization does not have a strict accounting of who donated what and when.

Nor will one be forthcoming, he said of the group that is calling for a full cleanup of the Balloon Track and what it calls a “true public process” in planning for the parcel....

“Everything is on the Web site for everyone to see,” Evans said.

However, a check of the Web site — www.saveeurekawaterfront.org — Wednesday morning did not indicate who has contributed what amounts. All it listed were some of its supporters.

Evans said all of CREG’s supporters’ names may not be on the Web site. He also said it is possible that individuals who have donated money are also not listed on the Web site.

CREG supporters who want to donate to the organization can do so by utilizing the Web site, mailing in a donation or making donations when, Evans said, “a hat is passed at our events to collect money.”

He admitted that no accounting of who donated what is made at those events, so even a person who has made a large contribution will not be recorded by CREG..."

Well, at least we know who CREG's Communications Coordinator is.

Richard Salzman
Communications Coordinator
Citizens for Real Economic Growth
post office box 738
Eureka, CA. 95502
www.SaveEurekaWaterfront.org
cregmail@cox.net
707.267.8878

New Feature - watchpaul-ARTICLES

New Feature: An ARCHIVE for ARTICLES relating to Humboldt County Paul Gallegos and his handlers...
Articles that relate to the topics addressed on this blog, will be posted, in their entirety, complete with links and urls on http://watchpaul-articles.blogspot.com/ (there's a link under the archives listing of this blog). It's just started, and I'll be adding to it - volumes and volumes of articles to be added. Where possible, it will include FULL TEXT as well as LINKS and urls in order to create a permanent one-stop resource, with full credit to reporters and publications.

The New Religion

James Faulk makes some interesting points today Enough with October surprises about some of the zealots who have been setting the tone of the last few elections.

For more on the topic, read Michael Crichton's
Environmentalism as a Religion

Job Requirements w/update (NOTATION ADDED)

Salary: $3,586 - $5,213 / Monthly Position Description: The Humboldt County District Attorney is accepting applications on a continuous basis for immediate openings in the Criminal Division. Under general supervision, a Deputy District Attorney performs legal work of a routine to complex nature. Provides public prosecution and related work as assigned. Position Requirements: Knowledge of legal principles, philosophy and practice of criminal law. Judicial procedures and Rules of Evidence. The duties, powers, limitations and responsibilities of the District Attorney's Office. The methods and practices of prosecution, grand jury functions and procedures; the role and operation of related agencies in the criminal justice system. Minimum Qualifications: California State Bar member in good standing; Graduation from an accredited law school. Application Information: Send cover letter and resume to:
Humboldt County District Attorney's Office
Attn: Paul V. Gallegos, District Attorney
825 5th Street, 4th Floor
Eureka, CA 95501
Application Deadline: Continuous Until Filled

UPDATE: Correct me if I am wrong, but it looks like Gallegos' new hire, Allan Dollison does not even meet the Minimum Qualifications: for the job - It turns out that Dollison did not graduate from an accredited law school,

Western University School of Law, like Gallegos' own "law school," was only very recently "provisionally accredited"
________

ADDED: Allan Dollison served Humboldt County's DA's office for 6 years and 4 months. He details his record, and his reasons for leaving here - ◼ My record at the DA's Office - Allan Dollison/for the Times-Standard
__________________

NOTATION: 7/13/2013 - It's an interesting aspect of this blog that other people often get caught in the net, based on their entrance into the Gallegos saga. And so their names live online, to be unearthed whenever they apply for a job. Sometimes the searches that lead people here are for other reasons, but it usually has to do with a job search.

And, so it is that Allan Dollison appears here. His time with the DA's office has come and gone, he rose through Gallegos' ranks, and was slated, some said, to become Assistant DA. He was a loyal player, and, I believe, a true believer.

Through my work here, I am often kept informed about cases, how they're handled, how the various Deputy DA's do their job, interact with victims, and so forth.

And I feel it necessary to say this. I have come to the conclusion, that, for all his past mistake, Allan Dollison turned out to be one of the best and most honest of the bunch, far surpassing his boss, Paul Gallegos.

He has since left the DA's office, and, as is often the case when people leave, I get the chance to talk to them. I have talked with Allan Dollison. And, to his credit, he never once asked me to remove any of this info, as damaging as it is to him. I respect that, and I think it's noteworthy.

If you're looking to hire him, it's worthy of consideration.

I'm not pulling anything down, as that would be a disservice to the facts as they have unfolded, but I am adding this, to mitigate that online-lives-forever reality.

FIVE GRAND apiece. For what? w/update

Who is PETROLIA resident Ester Saunoras, and why is she giving $5,000 to Larry Glass and $5,000 to Nan Abrams in their bids for EUREKA City Council?

The same Ester Saunoras who gave at least $2,000 to Local Solutions, and (with Richard Cogswell) gave $7,000 to Paul Gallegos last time around. R.B. Cogswell gave Gallegos $10,035 during the Recall.

Almost Thirty Grand in all.

TS - Last call for money
TS - DA candidates bring big dollars to county race
Local Solutions' 460 Campaign Statements
ER - Campaign finance statements filed for District Attorney candidates
ER - Candidates disclose finances
ER - Bear River official discusses financial contributions from tribe

UPDATE: Reports coming in indicate that NEITHER ESTER SAUNORAS nor RICHARD COGSWELL are REGISTERED TO VOTE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

I just have one question (NOTATION ADDED)

"As part of one case Dollison was handling, he agreed to file a motion to set aside a default that had been entered against his client. After not responding to his client’s inquiries, Dollison told her he had filed a motion that was denied by the court. He provided a copy of the motion, a notice of ruling which stated an attorney had appeared on behalf of the other party.

In fact, Dollison never filed a motion, there was no hearing, he fabricated the notice of ruling and forged signatures on documents he sent to the client. His misrepresentations were acts of moral turpitude.

He never refunded his fee.

Isn't that, like, STEALING?

And, ok, more than one question... if it is STEALING, how is this guy supposed to have any credibility as a prosecutor?

And another question - are prosecutors held to a higher standard than, say, defense attorneys?

***
Times Standard New deputy DA has a troubled history
State Bar Association Allan Lee Dollison
________________

ADDED: Allan Dollison served Humboldt County's DA's office for 6 years and 4 months. He details his record, and his reasons for leaving here - ◼ My record at the DA's Office - Allan Dollison/for the Times-Standard
__________________

NOTATION: 7/13/2013 - It's an interesting aspect of this blog that other people often get caught in the net, based on their entrance into the Gallegos saga. And so their names live online, to be unearthed whenever they apply for a job. Sometimes the searches that lead people here are for other reasons, but it usually has to do with a job search.

And, so it is that Allan Dollison appears here. His time with the DA's office has come and gone, he rose through Gallegos' ranks, and was slated, some said, to become Assistant DA. He was a loyal player, and, I believe, a true believer.

Through my work here, I am often kept informed about cases, how they're handled, how the various Deputy DA's do their job, interact with victims, and so forth.

And I feel it necessary to say this. I have come to the conclusion, that, for all his past mistake, Allan Dollison turned out to be one of the best and most honest of the bunch, far surpassing his boss, Paul Gallegos.

He has since left the DA's office, and, as is often the case when people leave, I get the chance to talk to them. I have talked with Allan Dollison. And, to his credit, he never once asked me to remove any of this info, as damaging as it is to him. I respect that, and I think it's noteworthy.

If you're looking to hire him, it's worthy of consideration.

I'm not pulling anything down, as that would be a disservice to the facts as they have unfolded, but I am adding this, to mitigate that online-lives-forever reality.

More exposure w/update

This story in the Arcata Eye is really incredible, as it also appears to expose more behind the scenes machinations, and shows what can happen when one person speaks up and puts a stop to it.

Humboldt Dems endorse an incumbent Dem for Arcata council - despite Green opponent's lobbying
Oct. 17, 2006
Kevin L. Hoover Eye Editor

EUREKA – The Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee (HCDCC) last week endorsed Arcata City Councilmember Mark Wheetley’s reelection bid.

The endorsement came after of Arcata resident Rick Greene raised questions about the committee’s endorsement of a single Democrat, Alex Stillman, in September. Greene and other Democrats had expressed concern after City Council candidate Dave Meserve, a Green Party member, addressed the HCDCC in June asking that it endorse a single candidate for the Arcata council. The committee subsequently made the sole Stillman endorsement.

Suspicions of some sort of unseemly arrangement were fueled by the subsequent endorsement of Meserve by activist group Local Solutions Political Action Committee, of which HCDCC Chair Patrick Riggs is a member.

Appearing at last week’s HCDCC meeting, Greene questioned why a well-regarded incumbent Democrat wasn’t endorsed by the committee.

“The simple reason is that no member of the committee made a motion,” Riggs told Greene.

Greene responded by citing Wheetley’s endorsement by Supervisor John Woolley, State Sen. Wes Chesbro and Rep. Mike Thompson. “I find it rather odd that my Democratic Commitee, which endorsed Mark in March of 2005. has not come up for consideration.” Greene said. He further questioned why “members of this commitee” – referring to Riggs – were working for the election of non-Democrats. “I believe if you’re a Democrat, you’re a Democrat, and you work for your party’s candidate,” Greene said.

Sheryl Esparza, a voting member representing Arcata, then made the motion to endorse Wheetley.

“Mark has an extensive background in natural resources, is a critical thinker, a consensus builder and a family man,” she said. “He’s a progressive Democrat with a common sense approach to taking care of business in Arcata and has done a good job on the council thus far. We deserve to have him working for Arcata.”

Barbara Carolan, also representing Arcata, seconded the motion. She said failure to endorse Wheeetley would be “a tacit endorsement of Mr. Meserve.”

Humboldt County Supervisor John Woolley, though not a committeemember, was allowed to speak in favor of the endorsement.

Milt Boyd spoke “reluctantly” against Wheetley’s endorsement, saying HCDCC by-laws prevent endorsement of only two candidates. He said it would be “somewhat divisive” to endorse Wheetley since Michael Winkler, whom he supports, is a “strong candidate.”

After more discussion, Wheetley was endorsed by voice vote without any nays.

“I was disappointed that the Dems endorsed Mark Wheetley, but I’m proud to have the endorsements of Patrick Riggs and Chris Beresford and many other Democrats,” Meserve later said.

Riggs didn’t respond to requests for comment.

***
I wonder why.

***
Also in the Eye Related story:
The first Arcata public opinion poll regarding Arcata City Council Candidates and other local issues and institutions has been conducted
...Arcata Opinion Poll – Oct. 17, 2006
UPDATE:
Dem leaders' backing of Green candidate brings complaint