The Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday it would not pursue some of the charges against a man who had been accused of shooting at a Humboldt County sheriff’s deputy.
The announcement came at a preliminary hearing for Jason Ryan Omholt, 29, of Eureka, who was arraigned in January on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession and transportation of methamphetamine...
...Omholt and Cooke, with a third man identified as Waymond Hiat Kelly, are suspected of a string of armed robberies in Eureka and surrounding areas during a four-month period in 2006.
Cooke was shot and killed Jan. 4 in a vacant Albee Street residence during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officers.
That same day, Kelly was arrested after a high-speed chase in Mendocino County.
Omholt was arrested the previous day at a Spring Street residence following a standoff with police.
As Klein told the court Thursday he would not move forward with three of the charges against the defendant, Omholt smiled, bobbed his head repeatedly and even stuck out his tongue at Braud, who was seated in the audience.
But the dismissal of charges Thursday did not in any way spell the end of Omholt’s legal troubles.
By one estimate, more than 80 charges are still pending against him, many of which stem from his suspected involvement in the string of seven armed robberies of local gas stations and markets in 2006.
And in the case under consideration Thursday, Omholt will still be held to answer for the methamphetamine charges...
We'll see. Will this play out like the Whitethorn Rapists? Another case of criminals get a pass while regular citizens get prosecuted?
***
2009 UPDATE:
Repeat Offenders, armed and dangerous
☛ TS Shotgun brandished in home invasion robbery
photo source☛ Rio Dell Times Home Invasion
Once again Klein caves in, folds like a cheap suitcase, when it's time to actually go to work. If it ain't easy, Klein doesn't do it. But is anyone really surprised about this? Dumping charges at the last minute just before court!
ReplyDeleteBut even PVG's crew can get at least one of the (is it seven?)armed robbery charges on Omholt to go the distance?! Let's hope so. I wonder where Mr. Omholt will be sticking out his tonge in San Quenton or Folsom?
Disagree. Klein took the attempted murder of Braud to trial and is gearing up, yes, for retrial on the actual attempted murder (jury hung on that sole charge). He's not
ReplyDeleteperfect, he slides work onto other
dda's whenever he can, he sucks up
(job one at the DA's office)
but he knows his way around a courtroom and is not afraid of a trial.
So who is defending Omholt and what is his/her relationship to PVG.
Someone needs to ask hard questions with document demands on these dropped cases.
I try to keep up on these - if you have any specific info, or suggestions, my email link is in the sidebar.
ReplyDeletedisagree 7:58 - Klien has arranged to dump the other attemt murder on Braud also.
ReplyDeleteoh. Well then 1) away with him and
ReplyDelete2) again, who is defending Omholt
and what's the agenda here?
How does the Sheriff feel about
the DA giving people who shoot at his troops a pass on that charge? HMMMMM? When will we hear from that constituency? Or maybe we have some idea why Braud jumped
from HCSO to EPD.
There's good reason why EVERY SINGLE law enforcement group in the COUNTY endorsed Worth Dikeman against Gallegos. It was an enormous vote of NO CONFIDENCE.
ReplyDeleteDiplomacy aside, if Philp expects anything to improve, he is going to have to take a stand, as Garr Neilsen appeared to do recently.
It's like the "Take Back the Night" marches. If good people stand up and speak out for what is right, they will have an effect.
OK, Klein seemed to do a good job on the Dinsmore case, but that was high profile. Know's his way around a courtroom maybe, but that can't make up for being lazy. Sucking up to PVG ?! BIG time, but that's what you have to do in that environment. PVG is a not so bright, not so experienced, mediocre politician that needs his fragile ego stroked continually. When the Grand Jury slammed PVG for weak leadership and poor managerial skills they were being too kind.
ReplyDeleteThe comments on who is the defense attorney and what his or her relationship to PVG is right on point.
I am very surprised, almost amazed that there are no comments on PVG's ............ plan for next week! It's no big secret around the courthouse (and beyond). Yet no comments? If I know about it I'm sure Heraldo does too. So why no comments?
ReplyDeleteYou can bet heraldo does too - the question is if this trial is going to get in the wqay of Klein's plans to convene that Criminal Grand Jury to go after the cops.
ReplyDeleteIt probably wouldn't make a difference now - but it would have way back - all the people who care about things being done right - should have stood up and walked out and staged a protest, stood on the courthouse steps in a massive demonstration of no confidence. That's exactly the game these guys play and it works. Too late now.
Being quiet allows this to go on. Pretending it will go away or doesn't matter hasn't helped one iota.
Here's my question - is PVG convening the grand jury because he wants an indictment or because he doesn't?
ReplyDeletemassive demonstration and then get fired. good idea. you do it. me, i'll leave on my own terms when it suits me, my family, my career. it's no part of a dda's job, and no part of a dda's moral or professional duty, to go on a self-sacrificing crusade to save a county from its own self. In fact, it's arguably anti democratic. you vote a moron into the corner office? fine. it's a democracy. the voters made a choice, the dda's don't have any obligation to try and overturn an election. vote with your feet, said mr. hoeg. many did.
ReplyDeleteas well they should have.
4:10PM
ReplyDeletePVG probably doesn't care that much. By going through with the Grand Jury against EPD PVG will make his controllers and supporters happy. I'm talking about Dr, Ken Miller, the marijuana industry, copwatch, certain criminal lawyers, and phoney progressives. If the Grand Jury fails to indict, PVG can claim to be the hero for trying. If the Grand Jury does indict (and remember that a Grand Jury is a one sided show)and PVG (or one of his henchmen) takes the case to court and lose, hey he's the hero because he tried. If by fluke the cops get convicted of anything he would really be a hero. A conviction even in the event of a grand jury indictment is very unlikely. PVG will win support for his next re-election just because he went after EPD.
Maybe PVG's abuse of power will finally piss off the everyday working person in Humboldt County? Even if PVG is voted out in the next election the damage that has been done to the DA's office and the county is monumental.
I agree - and whoever steps up to the plate must be a leader, smart and ethical. The list is short, but obvious.
ReplyDeleteI have seen Klein in action in the courtroom before. Aside from the little gossipy court personnel, I've heard Sheriff's detectives say really good things about Klein. I've also noticed a willingness, on Klein's part, to put his ass on the line to fight for a case even if it means he has to deal with the consequences of the DA's Office clique.
ReplyDeletePeople who know little shouldn't bitch much. But, hey, what are us little people without our Freedom of Speech, right?
It's sad though that some people on Rose's blog have nothing better to do than to nitpick about the most mundane crap. Why does it feel like a little hen-house, high-school crapfest here?
Rose started this blog, I believe, for serious intellectual conversations (and yes Schwartz is a total dipshit), not for idle gossip and unfounded accusations.
Like I wrote, before going off on my tangent, Klein is not a lawyer to "fold like a cheap suitcase." Just because Klein and Schwartz are both Jewish names, that doesn't mean they are the same types of lawyers. Klein fights for law enforcement and for the public. I highly doubt he "kisses" PVG's ass.