26 kids buried underground doesn't earn you life in prison?

◼ Gov. Brown allows parole for 2nd Chowchilla kidnapper - SF Chronicle

Economic resignation, blogs notice

◼ Jacqueline Debets resigns and moves to Auburn? - John Chiv/Words Worth

◼ County’s Economic Development Coordinator, Jacqueline Debets, Resigns - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost

◼ Ding, Dong, Jacqueline Debets is gone! - THClive

Suicide attempts, motions and pleas, oh my. Another day at the courthouse

◼ Another suicide at the Humboldt County jail? - John Chiv/Words Worth

◼ DA's motion for continuance in gross vehicular manslaughter case continued for input from victim's family; defense counsel tries to negotiate Lockhart's release to agree to DA's continuance - John Chiv/Words Worth

◼ Two defendants plead guilty, one proceeds to preliminary hearing in crow killing case
◼ Crow killing case results in a settlement of a misdemeanor - John Chiv/Words Worth

◼ Marissa Carlson arrested again is an understatement - John Chiv/Words Worth
◼ UPDATE ON YESTERDAY’S EARLY MORNING ASSAULT - Kym Kemp/Redheaded Blackbelt

◼ Preliminary hearing for William Jarnaghan, Hoopa softball coach charged with 6 counts of sexual acts against underage female victim set for September 29 - John Chiv/Words Worth
Links to ongoing coverage of this case at the link.

◼ Motion to continue in Stiglich case granted, new jury trial date is August 31 - John Chiv/Words Worth
Stiglich is charged with shooting Ryan Robinson.

◼ Leah Jarnaghan fails to appear in court, bench warrant issued for $50,000 - John Chiv/Words Worth
Today in Courtroom 5, Leah Jarnaghan was scheduled to be arraigned a felony, child abuse endangerment with possibility of great bodily injury and reckless driving.

We have a new DA. How's it going?

Chiv has some answers:

◼ What is it like to work for Maggie? Changes she has made since she took office and candid answers from our current DA on plea deals, Measure Z and more - John Chiv/Words Worth

...In the first two months, the most obvious changes I saw was that Maggie was very visible and active on the second floor, from day one. She was overseeing cases, especially the high profile ones, mentoring all attorneys and reaching out very pro-actively to the other partners in the criminal justice system. I also saw Mr. Andrew Isaac mentoring other younger deputy district attorneys. It was very obvious from the beginning that Maggie’s team had the support of their boss and the younger and newer staff could rely on the more experienced attorneys.

The difference in the demeanor of the staff is obvious. They are happier, given the stress and workload of a very demanding job, for me to notice that says something.

It was very evident from day one that the balance in the courtroom was not lopsided towards defense, anymore. Some prosecutors always gave input, but under Maggie’s leadership, there is a consistency with all deputy district attorneys with the presentation and procedure in the courtroom.... KEEP READING

Off Year elections...

They're not high-profile, and they don't pay much if anything, but really, this is what it's all about:

◼ Wanted: A couple hundred good candidates - Jack Durham/Mad River Union

Candidates are needed for more than 200 open seats up for grabs Nov. 3 on the boards of schools and special districts throughout Humboldt County.

There are several races in which the seats held by board majorities are open, meaning that power structures could shift in communities if residents so desire – assuming there are enough candidates willing to run.

ELECTION SEASON BEGINS!
Filing opened: Monday, July 13
Filing closes: Friday August 7 at 5:pm
If an incumbent in a race fails to file for a seat, the deadline for that race is extended to 5:pmm Wednesday, August 12
Humboldt County Elections Office
3033 H St. Room 20, Eureka
◼ http://humboldtgov.org/890/Elections-Voter-Registration

For example, there are three open seats on the five-member Manila Community Services District Board of Directors. There are also three seats – a board majority – open on the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District. There are many more scattered throughout the county, including the McKinleyville Union School District, which has four of its five seats up for grabs.
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Next Election November 3, 2015

◼ Election Calendar
◼ Candidate Guide
◼ Voter Information Request
◼ Fee Schedule
◼ School Districts: Available Positions
◼ Special Districts: Available Positions

You should run!

Wow. Greg.

...

(For new readers, who aren't part of the debacle, who have no idea what's going on here, because so few clues have been given... sorry. The people involved know who they are, and OTHER people who know who they are and who are observing this whole unfortunate mess have taken note.)

(Liked by MOLA42 and Carol, who refuses to apologize.)

Turnover at CCVH?

◼ Richard Marks no longer affiliated with CCVH? - John Chiv/Wordsworth

◼ Richard Marks Resigns from California Cannabis Voice Humboldt - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost

After a busy year organizing local marijuana growers into a formidable political action group, Richard Marks has resigned as executive director of California Cannabis Voice Humboldt (CCVH).

Marks told the Outpost he parted ways with the group because he didn’t have enough time to commit the effort he feels is required.

“I think I was doing them an injustice by doing something part time when [the job] really needs a lot more,” Marks said. He added that there’s no ill will from either side, and he complimented the group’s board of directors, calling it “one of the hardest-working nonprofit boards you’re gonna find.”

◼ Richard's post on CCVH: CCVH: Love us or hate us we get stuff done! - Samoa Softball
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What is CCVH?

◼ Yesterday’s Pot Bust Involved Members of California Cannabis Voice Humboldt - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost June 23
◼ Despite Raids, California Cannabis Voice Humboldt to Release Draft Ordinance, Hold Rally on Courthouse Steps - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost June 25

Over the past year, local marijuana growers and activists, led by the political action group California Cannabis Voice-Humboldt (CCVH), have worked hard to legitimize the industry — drafting legislation, packing the Board of Supervisors chambers and urging “farmers” to come out of the shadows and be regulated. So when law enforcement this week raided grow operations on Island Mountain, including at least one belonging to a member of the group, activists viewed it as a betrayal of their trust.

The identity of the growers and/or property owners targeted in the raids have yet to be disclosed....

Meanwhile, CCVH still hopes to get a countywide outdoor cultivation ordinance on the books before the year is out. Local environmental leaders have pushed back against the group’s agenda and methods, comparing the situation to allowing timber companies to write their own rulebook.

Yesterday’s multi-agency marijuana raid at Island Mountain involved people currently active in the political action group California Cannabis Voice-Humboldt (CCVH), the group’s executive director, Richard Marks, confirmed this morning.

◼ ‘A Great Victory’: California Cannabis Voice Humboldt Unveils Land Use Ordinance - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost June 30
◼ Board of Supes Talk Weed Regulation, Part One - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost

Weed is littered across the agenda for today’s meeting of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, and during the morning session the board quibbled over two main issues: First was a letter of support for Assembly Bill 243, a piece of statewide legislation written by the North Coast’s own Assemblymember Jim Wood.

The bill, called the Marijuana Watershed Protection Act, passed the Assembly last month in May and is now being considered on the floor of the Senate. Wood has said his bill is aimed at addressing the environmental impacts of medical marijuana farms, in part by creating “a structure to tag permitted medical cannabis plants with a unique identifier for each plant.”...

◼ Board of Supes Talk Weed Regulation, Part Two: CCVH Ordinance Lands With a Splat - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost

Luke Bruner, the enthusiastic young co-founder and public figurehead of the political action group California Cannabis Voice Humboldt (CCVH), spent nearly two hours this afternoon outlining the major provisions in his group’s ambitious Land Use Ordinance to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. The document, more than a year in the making and now in its seventh draft, aims not only to bring Humboldt County’s rampaging marijuana industry into some semblance of order through a series of governmental regulations but also to serve as a template for regulation throughout rural California.

It’s the product of considerable effort and organization from a group few had heard of a year ago, and the task they undertook — trying to entice a profitable black market into the bonds of regulation and taxation on the one hand while, on the other, trying to convince the government to let an industry draft its own regulatory laws — could aptly be described as Herculean....

As the Outpost noted in a previous post, the proposed ordinance hinges on the addition of “cannabis” to the county’s definition of general agriculture. Once that change was in the books, Bruner explained, cannabis could be grown on any parcel in the county where general ag is currently allowed — including land zoned for timber production (TPZ). The exception would be within the Coastal Zone since the California Coastal Commission won’t allow it.

◼ HUMBOLDT COUNTY CANNABIS CULTIVATION COMPLIANCE INITIATIVE

◼ Chiv has questions: Why should a group that won't identify it's board be trusted with input on an ordinance they seek to gain from? - John Chiv/Words Worth
◼ Chiv updates: California Cannabis Voice Humboldt's new site with board member list - John Chiv/Words Worth

Lovelace v Wilson?

...for Third District Supervisor?
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Mike Wilson is currently the Third District Harbor District Commissioner.

Will it be Wilson v. Lovelace? OR Is Lovelace not running for re-election, leaving the race open?

I'm betting Salzman backs Wilson.

◼ Matt's heard: Little birdies have been calling me this week asking who the heck Mike Wilson is and why he is asking for support (money and endorsements) for his 2016 3rd District Supervisor race. - Matthew In The Middle/LoCo

Vincent and Rodney Ortiz cases

◼ "Things escalated at the spur of the moment when the decedent called my client a white boy" - John Chiv/Words Worth Jul 3, 2015

Vincent Ortiz was not held to answer on the murder count of Daniel Colegrove. He was only held to answer for one of the attempted murder counts, that for Roger Surber. Mr. Elvine-Kreis' 995 motion seeks to dismiss charges against Vincent Ortiz for the jury trial.

◼ Defense motion to continue Rodney Ortiz homicide jury trial develops into a matter of laughter for defendants; 995 motion to dismiss certain charges against Vincent Ortiz will be decided by next week - John Chiv/Words Worth Jul 3, 2015

Rodney Ortiz was held to answer on all charges, one attempted murder and two attempted murder counts after the preliminary hearing.
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For detailed coverage and followup on cases that make headlines and cases that don't... ◼ BOOKMARK John Chiv's Blog. The attorneys, prosecutors, witnesses and juries, the day to day goings on in the courtrooms, it's all there. One of the more interesting blogs in Humboldt County, and well worth your time.

For the record

◼ Benjamin Carter jury trial date moved a week; People's offer clarified by DA Maggie Fleming in court - John Chiv/Words Worth Jul 2, 2015

In response to this post ... ◼ http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2015/07/people-make-offer-of-four-years-to-be.html, District Attorney Maggie Fleming told me today today's trial assignment calendar was called, that misinformation had been provided regarding the People's offer and that she wanted to correct the information.

On record in court, Ms. Fleming told the Judge that there has been "no other offer" made in the defense case. The People's offer "has always been that Mr. Carter plead to the remaining count and admit the prior strike and a six year term."

For detailed coverage and followup on cases that make headlines and cases that don't... ◼ BOOKMARK John Chiv's Blog. The attorneys, prosecutors, witnesses and juries, the day to day goings on in the courtrooms, it's all there. One of the more interesting blogs in Humboldt County, and well worth your time.

The murder charge has already been dismissed.

◼ People make offer of four years to be served at eighty percent in Carter case - John Chiv/Words Worth Jul 1, 2015

Earlier: Defense offer at time of trial confirmation was to stipulate to the upper term and to "strike prior strike",and "to serve 3 years at fifty percent" Mr. Michael Acosta told me outside court. Mr. Acosta is representing Carter.

◼ Benjamin Carter jury trial date moved a week; People's offer clarified by DA Maggie Fleming in court - John Chiv/Words Worth Jul 2, 2015