Friday, March 29, 2013

Interesting piece on HumCPR

HumCPR Rising: How Lee Ulansey and his corporation moved from advocacy into county government - Ryan Burns/the Journal

Funny how there was never any teeth-gnashing about Lovelace's crew marching in lockstep - and, the push to make the BOS, in one day, with virtually no notice, and little public input, strip every property owner of their rights, collateral damage in the zeal to kill Palco.

And, btw - there's a comment at the Journal site by 'Rose' - a nasty comment directed at Steven Lewis. It's not me, but I bet I could tag who it is. And it's pretty childish to keep using my name.

Warren pleads not guilty to deaths of Humboldt State University instructor, Hoopa woman; judge grants gag order prohibiting attorneys, law enforcement from discussing case

Warren pleads not guilty to deaths of Humboldt State University instructor, Hoopa woman; judge grants gag order prohibiting attorneys, law enforcement from discussing case - Kaci Poor/The Times-Standard

The man accused of purposely running down three joggers on Old Arcata Road -- killing a Humboldt State University instructor and severely injuring two others -- and the death of a Hoopa woman, pleaded not guilty Thursday to two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He also denied special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, lying in wait and torture.

(Jason Anthony) Warren, clad in an orange jail jumpsuit with his hands shackled in front of him, appeared to listen without emotion as Superior Court Judge Dale Reinholtsen read the charges against him. He spent most of the short hearing staring straight ahead or looking down, except when answering the judge's questions.

The special circumstance allegations elevate the maximum sentence Warren faces, if convicted, from life in prison to life without the possibility of parole and the death penalty.

District Attorney Paul Gallegos -- who will be prosecuting the case against Warren -- was not at Thursday's arraignment. He said last week that he has not decided whether he will seek the death penalty.
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Not at the arraignment? On the most important case he has on his plate? A potential death-penalty case?

It will be interesting to see if he does push for the death penalty - the weasel words are already showing up in his statements. He does love gag orders.

”Property crime has gone up 32 percent, burglaries inside buildings are up 119 percent, vehicle burglaries are up 20 percent, and auto theft is up 61 percent -- these are shocking numbers”

Spike in crime; local law enforcement looks to close communication gaps in Humboldt County - Cora Vay/The Times-Standard

Local law enforcement are looking at using a nearly $123,000 grant to combat a spike in burglaries and property crimes by purchasing software that would allow officers and deputies in different parts of Humboldt County to share information about criminal activity and wanted suspects.

Since the rollout of Gov. Jerry Brown's prison realignment plan in 2011, jail officials have been shouldering the responsibility of holding serious criminals for longer periods of time instead of sending them to state prison. With fewer beds available, a larger number of offenders have been released from jail and into programs like post-release supervision.

”Property crime has gone up 32 percent, burglaries inside buildings are up 119 percent, vehicle burglaries are up 20 percent, and auto theft is up 61 percent -- these are shocking numbers,” Arcata Police Chief Tom Chapman said.

Officials will begin to evaluate the feasibility of using data-sharing software to store all police activity and expand access to information by different jurisdictions, Chapman said.

”We all, essentially, are on our own records and management system. If the sheriff is investigating a series of thefts happening outside the city, we wouldn't know about it,” Chapman said. “There is certainly some communication, but not enough. With data sharing, we can connect dots we weren't able to before.”

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No grant in the world is going to help you when criminals know nothing is going to happen to them. Your car burgled? You're mailed a form to fill out. Say the drug dealer gets busted, endures a couple days in jail and he's back out - they know, no one is going to do anything. Cops know, there's no point in even busting 'em, and, in many cases, in even arresting them.

Crime stats come up during the elections, and reporters have allowed Gallegos to skate on his responsibility. Now it's worse, because the craven legislators are looking to brush off state responsibilities.

It's past the point of being fixable. Grants make nice press, but it's the least efficient use of money, pennies on the dollar after it passes through the state middlemen. What a tragedy.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Warren charged with murder; deaths of HSU instructor, Hoopa woman, may bring death penalty

The man accused of killing a Hoopa woman and then later purposely running down three joggers on Old Arcata Road -- killing a Humboldt State University instructor and severely injuring two others -- has been charged with two counts of murder - Grant Scott-Goforth and Kaci Poor/The Times-Standard

The District Attorney's Office complaint filed against Jason Anthony Warren, 28, includes special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, lying in wait and torture. Warren faces an additional two counts of willful, deliberate premeditated attempted murder.

The special circumstance allegations elevate the maximum sentence Warren faces -- if convicted -- from life in prison to life without the possibility of parole and the death penalty.

District Attorney Paul Gallegos -- who will be prosecuting the case -- said he has not decided whether to seek the death penalty.

”That's a decision that will be made at a later time,” he said. “Certainly, we've spoken with family members and we will continue to have dialogue with them. Penalty is a matter that will be looked at more thoroughly as we progress.”

...Gallegos said the decision on whether to seek the death penalty requires more discussion and reflection.

”The taking of a human life is a profound act -- whether it's deliberative or compulsive,” he said. “I have been raised a Christian -- I take that belief.”

Gallegos said several factors need to be weighed: the desires of the families, the likelihood of a jury reaching a death verdict, and the facts associated with the defendant's life and “whether justice will only be met with another death.”

While his office has time to consider the penalty, Gallegos said he will be open about the decision when it's made.

”If it's something we're gonna seek, I prefer to let the defendant know and move forward at that time,” he said. “The decision should not and will not be gone into impetuously. It will be reasoned. In this business, we say the struggle is to remain compassionate without becoming sentimental. I guess that encapsulates it. We have to be realistic, compassionate to both parties.”

In the face of death: Special allegations change how a defendant should be represented - Kaci Poor/The Times-Standard