Another murder case trial date set

◼ Benjamin Carter new trial date of April 27; defense filed demurred to Count 2 and request of dismissal - John Chiv/Words Worth

Today was the trial Confirmation hearing for Benjamin Carter. Michael Acosta represents Carter. Mr. Andrew Isaac is prosecuting for the People.... Benjamin Carter, is charged with Count 1 murder. Count 2 is possession of a firearm. Two firearm enhancement allegations were added for both counts and a special allegation of prior and serious felony conviction. He is the suspect in the murder of Zachery Chapman.
__________________
As noted earlier, things are moving instead of languishing forever.

C'mon. Was she not married to the Bear River Tribe's Attorney? Not just a waif who fell through the cracks.

It's disingenous to bemoan her "slipping though the cracks" and not mention that fact. They weren't "poor" either, we can guess, given his political donations. Poor people don't donate $1,000 to political campaigns. ◼ (In addition to the $10,000 contribution in the name of the Rancheria, Leonard and his wife personally contributed $100, the FPPC documents show. The same documents indicate Bear River attorney Michael Acosta contributed $1,000 (to Paul Gallegos's campaign).)

Where were the protecting and nurturing arms of the loving Bear River Tribe? At one with the universe, peaceful and beautiful, are they not?

◼ The tragic case of Maggie Jean Wortman: A woman who never had a chance gives her son the same fate - Thadeus Greenson/Times Standard

Some would say the deck was stacked against Maggie Jean Wortman from the very beginning, from the day her name was misspelled on her birth certificate.

By extension, those same people would say Wortman's son, Michael Phillip Acosta III, simply never stood a chance.

While many in the public have been quick to direct their ire at Wortman -- who was sentenced Monday to serve six years in prison for voluntary manslaughter stemming from the overdose death of her infant son -- experts feel otherwise. They say the Loleta mother's case underscores the cyclical nature of addiction, dependency and violence, and the need to better protect the nation's drug-endangered children.

After reading through Wortman's probation report, which details her broken upbringing, her addiction and ultimately her crime, experts said that, sadly, there's almost nothing unique about Wortman's story....

But there is.

Not even a plea deal. No evidence.

◼ Judge dismisses murder charge against Loleta woman - Thadeus Greenson/Times Standard

A Humboldt County judge has dismissed the murder charge facing a Loleta mother accused of killing her baby with methamphetamine-laced breast milk last year.

In a ruling filed Wednesday, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson threw out the murder charge against Maggie Jean Wortman, 27, finding that no evidence was presented at the case's preliminary hearing to establish that Wortman knew she was endangering her infant son's life when she breastfed him after allegedly smoking methamphetamine.

Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Ben McLaughlin said Wednesday he may choose to refile the murder charge and start the case over again from square one.

”We did not consider a murder count until after the testimony at the preliminary examination but thought there were sufficient facts to support such a charge,” McLaughlin said in an email to the Times-Standard. “Our investigation has continued since the preliminary examination, and we will meet as a group to consider whether or not to refile the murder charge. If we decide to refile, the preliminary examination will be considerably more involved.”

Wortman was arrested after her 6-week-old son, Michael Phillip Acosta III, was taken not breathing to a local hospital the morning of Nov. 21, 2010. Michael was pronounced dead that day, and a subsequent autopsy determined his cause of death to be “methamphetamine toxicity.”

Loleta mom remains behind bars; bail in manslaughter case set at $150K UPDATE: Charges dismissed

◼ Loleta mom remains behind bars; bail in manslaughter case set at $150K
Maggie Jean Wortman, 26, appeared in court Wednesday after being arrested last week when a probation drug screening came back positive for methamphetamine. Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson ruled Wednesday that Wortman be held on $150,000 bail and pending a probation hold recommended by the Probation Department.

Appearing to tread delicately around a sensitive issue, Lee said Wortman admitted in a pre-booking interview at the jail last week to possibly having a “substantial medical condition” that may have led the Probation Department to believe her release would pose a “danger to other people.”

”That situation has proven not to be true,” Lee told the court, adding that the Probation Department's recommendation might change now that it is known Wortman is “not, in fact, pregnant.”

Deputy District Attorney Kelly Neel said that information should not change the court's decision regarding whether to release Wortman on her own recognizance or lower her bail.

”She is on felony probation and continues to engage in felonious conduct,” Neel told the court.

UPDATE: ◼ Judge dismisses murder charge against Loleta woman - Thadeus Greenson/Times Standard

A Humboldt County judge has dismissed the murder charge facing a Loleta mother accused of killing her baby with methamphetamine-laced breast milk last year.

In a ruling filed Wednesday, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson threw out the murder charge against Maggie Jean Wortman, 27, finding that no evidence was presented at the case's preliminary hearing to establish that Wortman knew she was endangering her infant son's life when she breastfed him after allegedly smoking methamphetamine.

Maggie Jean Wortman's manslaughter case dates pushed back UPDATE: Charges dismissed

◼ Dates pushed back in manslaughter breast milk case

Maggie Jean Wortman has pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and felony child endangerment. Prosecutors allege that Wortman passed a lethal dose of methamphetamine to her 6-week-old son while breastfeeding, resulting in his Nov. 2 death from methamphetamine toxicity.

...After Wortman's attorney asked for 30 additional days to consult a defense expert, she was asked to reappear in court April 18, at which point the court will set future appearance dates in the case.

No mention of who the defense attorney is or who the prosecutor is - a nice high profile case like this, it ought to be Paul himself, no?

UPDATE: ◼ Judge dismisses murder charge against Loleta woman - Thadeus Greenson/Times Standard

A Humboldt County judge has dismissed the murder charge facing a Loleta mother accused of killing her baby with methamphetamine-laced breast milk last year.

In a ruling filed Wednesday, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson threw out the murder charge against Maggie Jean Wortman, 27, finding that no evidence was presented at the case's preliminary hearing to establish that Wortman knew she was endangering her infant son's life when she breastfed him after allegedly smoking methamphetamine.

Maggie Jean Wortman due in court today UPDATE: Charges dismissed

◼ Documents shed light on manslaughter case; mother accused of killing infant son with methamphetamine-laced breast milk due in court today
A 26-year-old Loleta mother facing allegations that she killed her 6-week-old son by feeding him methamphetamine-laced breast milk tested positive for the drug during pregnancy, according to court documents in the case.

Maggie Jean Wortman has pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and felony child endangerment and is scheduled to appear in Humboldt County Superior Court today for a hearing to set future court dates in the case.

Humboldt County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested Wortman after a two-month investigation into the death of her son, Michael Phillip Acosta III...

Court records also indicate that Wortman has previously faced criminal charges relating to her care of children.

In February 2010, Wortman was charged with battery, causing or permitting cruelty to a child and committing an immoral act before a child stemming from an incident when she allegedly attacked her husband, Michael Acosta. According to the court documents, Wortman was holding an infant child while repeatedly hitting Acosta in the neck. Responding officers reported finding a “clear glass tube pipe” on the kitchen table of Wortman's residence, according to the court documents.

In May, Wortman pleaded guilty to battery, and the other charges facing her were dismissed. She was ordered to enter a 52-week domestic violence counseling program and given three years probation, according to the documents.

Those interviewed by the Times-Standard who knew Wortman and her family said they suffer great guilt that they didn't try to do more to protect Wortman's children and to have them removed from her care.


And again, who is the spokesperson for the DA's Office? Not the DA.

In the past:
◼ So, what DOES donating 10 Grand to Paul Gallegos get you?
The tribe and its attorney Michael Acosta, former big Gallegos donors.

So what will happen to the charges this time?

UPDATE: ◼ Judge dismisses murder charge against Loleta woman - Thadeus Greenson/Times Standard

A Humboldt County judge has dismissed the murder charge facing a Loleta mother accused of killing her baby with methamphetamine-laced breast milk last year.

In a ruling filed Wednesday, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson threw out the murder charge against Maggie Jean Wortman, 27, finding that no evidence was presented at the case's preliminary hearing to establish that Wortman knew she was endangering her infant son's life when she breastfed him after allegedly smoking methamphetamine.

Whatever happened to Eddie David Lee? And Maggie Jean Wortman UPDATED

Almost a year ago Eddie David Lee pled not guilty to murder charges. Where is he now and where is Gallegos at on this case?

***

And how about ◼ Maggie Jean Wortman
Humboldt County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested Wortman at the jail... after a two-month investigation. She was in custody for an alleged probation violation stemming from a conviction for maintaining a residence for drug activities. The investigation spawned after Wortman's son, Michael Phillip Acosta III, was transported to a local hospital because he wasn't breathing on Nov. 21 and was later pronounced dead. The allegations are that she killed her 6-week-old son by feeding him methamphetamine-laced breast milk. ...charges of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of felony child endangerment.

UPDATE: ◼ Judge dismisses murder charge against Loleta woman - Thadeus Greenson/Times Standard

A Humboldt County judge has dismissed the murder charge facing a Loleta mother accused of killing her baby with methamphetamine-laced breast milk last year.

In a ruling filed Wednesday, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson threw out the murder charge against Maggie Jean Wortman, 27, finding that no evidence was presented at the case's preliminary hearing to establish that Wortman knew she was endangering her infant son's life when she breastfed him after allegedly smoking methamphetamine.

Paul Gallegos and Derek Bowman, redux - watch this one.

◼ Multi-agency effort leads to arrest of parolee at large in Arcata

Three people were arrested Monday after a multi-agency search for a parolee at large ended at a gas station in Valley West in Arcata.

Derek Bowman, 29, was arrested by officers with California Highway Patrol after the Eureka Police Department asked for assistance in locating Bowman, who failed to report to his parole officer. Bowman is on parole in connection to an armed robbery in Fortuna, said CHP officer Paul Dahlen.

Officers also arrested two people who were in the car with Bowman at the time, and reported finding a small amount of methamphetamine in the vehicle, Dahlen said.

Georgina Archambault, 29, was arrested and charged with possession of a hypodermic syringe, possession of burglary tools and a violation of probation. Officers also arrested Nachel Black, 32, for an outstanding warrant, said Dahlen.

Scanner traffic at the time reported a fourth suspect who fled the scene on foot, possibly with a firearm, but Dahlen said that officers on scene did not verify the reports.
◼ Multi-agency effort leads to arrest of parolee - Humboldt Beacon
Related stories:

Remember Derek? Whose nine felonies were swooped up and dismissed on a single day AFTER his parents, using the Tribe's money, gave Gallegos ten grand+ for his re-election campaign? After his parents, whose OTHER son MURDERED another Native American, stood on the Courthouse steps calling Gallegos' opponent, Worth Dikeman, a racist. (Worth put their other son away.)

◼ What will Gallegos do this time? DECEMBER 13, 2006
◼ ER - Bowman to undergo evaluation FEBRUARY 16, 2007
◼ Oh Great. Inmate escapes from county mental health facility in Eureka
◼ BREAKING NEWS - Derek Bowman Back In Custody AUGUST 14, 2007

Derek Bowman arrested on warrants
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
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
(note: Eureka Reporter articles are no longer available online - but hard copies are available - if you are a reporter who finally pays attention to this travesty - the info is out there.)

You're still left with $11,100 and a publicity stunt given to Paul Gallegos, and Bowman getting out from under all charges against him, free to return to his job as Bear River Casino surveillance (security).

That's Paul Gallegos making our communites safer. (That was in 2006)

Is he still working at Bear River Casino?

Maggie Jean Wortman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to allegations that she killed her 6-week-old son by feeding him methamphetamine-laced breast milk. UPDATED

◼ Loleta mom pleads not guilty to manslaughter charge; mother allegedly passed lethal dose of meth to infant son through breast milk

A 26-year-old Loleta woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to allegations that she killed her 6-week-old son by feeding him methamphetamine-laced breast milk.

Maggie Jean Wortman stood before Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Timothy Cissna clad in a blue jail jumpsuit Tuesday with her hands shackled in front of her and pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of felony child endangerment. If convicted on all counts, Wortman faces a maximum prison sentence of nine years.

Wortman was polite and respectful of the court, but reserved, throughout her brief court appearance Tuesday. When Cissna called the next case on his calendar, Wortman sat down and appeared to begin to weep until being led from the courtroom by a bailiff.

Humboldt County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested Wortman at the jail on Friday after a two-month investigation. She was in custody for an alleged probation violation stemming from a conviction for maintaining a residence for drug activities. The investigation spawned after Wortman's son, Michael Phillip Acosta III, was transported to a local hospital because he wasn't breathing on Nov. 21 and was later pronounced dead.

A forensic pathologist who reviewed autopsy and toxicology results on the infant concluded his death was caused by “methamphetamine toxicity.” A subsequent toxicology screen of Wortman's 19-month-old daughter also came back positive for methamphetamine, prompting Child Welfare Services to take her into protective custody.

Acosta?

UPDATE: ◼ Judge dismisses murder charge against Loleta woman - Thadeus Greenson/Times Standard

A Humboldt County judge has dismissed the murder charge facing a Loleta mother accused of killing her baby with methamphetamine-laced breast milk last year.

In a ruling filed Wednesday, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson threw out the murder charge against Maggie Jean Wortman, 27, finding that no evidence was presented at the case's preliminary hearing to establish that Wortman knew she was endangering her infant son's life when she breastfed him after allegedly smoking methamphetamine.

Campaign finances

◼ Full disclosure: Big money pours into supes, DA races in Humboldt County Times Standard
◼ Final Campaign Finance Statements In The Journal

Get real

On Measure T: "Large out-of-county corporations are corrupting the integrity of our local elections and undermining the confidence of citizens in our government," said Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, who is managing the campaign for the measure...

That was then.

Given what you know now - that Gallegos' Palco suit never passed muster, never made it to court, never had any legal merit whatsoever, and the influences that brought about the Palco suit...

Tell me. WHO is corrupting the integrity of local elections?

Hint... it ain't the corporations.

Oh, you Gallegos haters!

Oh it's just the Gallegos haters. It's not that Paul has done anything WRONG! Poor Paul. He can't do anything right. they just hate him no matter what.

Let's review.

If you read Paul Hagen's My Word in today's Times-Standard you received confirmation that Gallegos' suit was "politically motivated," Read that "filed at the behest of his handlers."

Now ask yourself, once again - If Paul's supporters and backers were the Aryan Brotherhood, and they wanted him to go after Kobe Bryant "get that black man" - would that be ok with you?

Now some people thought Kobe was guilty. Some defended him. Just like Palco. Some hate Palco. Some defend them.

Would it be ok? NO SANE PERSON WOULD SAY YES, yet Gallegos' defenders see no problem at all with him filing a suit, against the recommendations of the professionals in the DA's Office, whose knowledge of the law vastly exceeds his own, and FOR his backers. Trying to find a way to make it fly. And failing spectacularly, albeit so many years later that no one cares, to even get his case into court. Failed after multiple attempts to rewrite it and make it work.

His history of bad judgement, and of filing charges capriciously - as in the case of Penny O'Gara (to send a message), Sean Marsh (to send a message), and yes, the Palco suit (t send a message), the dismissal of felony charges against a campaign contributors son... the hiring of Tim Stoen... the firing and loss of virtually ALL the experienced prosecutors in his office... the corrupt campaign manager, the plagiarized My Words...

What's to like? And that is only part of the picture. It's not that any of these things were made up. HE DID IT ALL TO HIMSELF.

Face the facts. Stop making excuses for him like he is a little boy who needs protection for hiding his peas under the table.

If he worked for you, you would have fired him by now. For incompetence. For being late for meetings. For failing to show up for meetings.... long before you even got to the big stuff, and there's lots of that on the record now.

THINK! He DOES work for you.

You just have to laugh

Only in Humboldt County would they make a federal case out of "the push" - but let the guys accused of tying a woman to a tree for three days and raping her cop a plea... Only in Humboldt County could the DA allow his office to swoop up and dismiss nine felonies in a single day for the son of one of his donors, and not consider that a conflict of interest, but then pull this... But what choice does Gallegos have? This is another instance where his handlers are calling for blood, and he can't deliver.

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2007

CONTACT: Assistant District Attorney, Wes Keat
PHONE: (707)268-2554

DISTRICT ATTORNEY FORWARDS INVESTIGATION TO ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE

District Attorney, Paul Gallegos, made public his decision to forward the investigation into the allegations involving Robert Arkley and City Council member, Larry Glass to the California Attorney General’s office stating that “It is important that the Attorney General’s Office review the matter to determine whether the decision on whether to file criminal charges should be made by the Attorney’s General Office instead of ours.” He added further, “I was present that evening, was interviewed as a witness and have had or have a personal relationship with the involved parties and several witnesses. I have some concern that, even if I could decide the matter fairly and impartially without bias for or against any party, any decision I made would have an overwhelming appearance of an impropriety and have communicated that to the Attorney General’s Office. If the Attorney General’s Office determines that, despite the presence of these issues, it is appropriate for my office to decide this matter, I will review it for the possibility of filing criminal charges.”

In a criminal action, a defendant may move to recuse or disqualify the prosecutor on the ground of a conflict of interest that would make it unlikely that the defendant would receive a fair trial. This is done by showing circumstances that demonstrate a “reasonable possibility that the District Attorney’s Office may not exercise its discretionary function in an evenhanded manner”. The defendant must then show that the conflict is “so grave as to render fair treatment of the defendants in all stages of the criminal proceedings unlikely.” The conflict must be caused by factors extraneous to the prosecutor’s official duty. Although both actual and apparent conflicts can form the basis for recusing the prosecution, for a defense motion to recuse the prosecution to be granted, the likelihood that the defendant will not receive a fair trial must be real, not merely apparent.

Press: Gallegos forwards investigation report to attorney general

BREAKING NEWS - Derek Bowman Back In Custody

Found in Manila. (Better test him for meth)

TS Latest News - Semper Virens escapee caught
Chris Durant/The Times-Standard Posted: 3:40 pm
The Humboldt County Sheriff s Department said Tuesday that the jail inmate who escaped from the Semper Virens county mental health facility has been caught.

Derek Wendell Bowman, 26, was found and arrested in Manila. He escaped from the hospital Aug. 5, just before 6 p.m.

Bowman was in custody on suspicion of resisting arrest, drunk in public and for warrants for forgery and burglary.
***
ER Mental health escapee back in custody

A convicted felon who escaped Aug. 5 from Sempervirens, a locked, county-run mental health facility in Eureka, was found Tuesday in Manila, according to an official from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

Derek Wendell Bowman, 26, was re-arrested in the 100 block of Phillips Court, after Sheriff’s Detective Troy Garey received a tip that Bowman may have been hiding at a residence there.

Detectives accompanied by a U.S. Marshal “knocked on the door, and Bowman answered,” stated a news release issued by the Sheriff’s Office. He was taken into custody without incident.

Bowman was booked back into the jail on suspicion of a new charge — escape — and was booked again on charges pending at the time of his escape, which included forgery and resisting arrest, the release stated.
***
For the full story on Bowman, whose nine felonies were swooped up and dismissed on a single day, after his parents, through the Bear River Tribe, gave Paul Gallegos Ten Grand for his re-election campaign; after his mother, whose other son had MURDERED a Trinidad Rancheria Member, stood on the courthouse steps calling Gallegos' opponent a racist in an unrelated case - This publicity stunt is widely credited with turning the election in Gallegos' favor - for the unfolding story, including Gallegos denial, click on the Gallegos/Bear River label/link.

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.

This is more on Derek Bowman - the kind of guy Gallegos lets off -
"Derek Bowman, 23, testified that he was in a vehicle behind Suarez’s vehicle when the shooting occurred and left Justin D. Andersen dead..." Witnesses identify Suarez as shooter in 2003 drive-by. 4/14/2005

"Bowman, a convicted criminal who has served time in the California Youth Authority, said he is associated with the Nortenos gang. He confirmed that he was granted immunity by the District Attorney’s Office in the trial, so that none of the information he provides in his testimony against Suarez can be used against him..."
And: Officer's testimony differs from that of some witnesses 4/16/2005

Bowman was caught violating his probation, and now he is caught escaping. What will Gallegos do now?

Oh Great.

Inmate escapes from county mental health facility in Eureka
8/5/2007

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday that a man in custody at the Sempervirens mental health facility in Eureka escaped at approximately 5:47 p.m.

Derek Wendell Bowman is described as a 6-foot-4-inch-tall 26-year-old American Indian male weighing approximately 200 pounds with short brown hair.

He also has numerous tattoos on his body — particularly his arms, according to police.

Bowman has not been considered dangerous while he has been in custody, but county officials stated that he does have a history of violence-related charges.

At the time of his escape, Bowman was believed to have been wearing dark blue “scrub”-type pants and was traveling on I Street in Eureka in a maroon-colored Caravan being driven by a woman.

The method Bowman used to escape is being investigated.

If anyone sees him or knows of his whereabouts, they are encouraged to phone the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department at 707-445-7251.
***

Remember Derek? Whose nine felonies were swooped up and dismissed on a single day AFTER his parents, using the Tribe's money, gave Gallegos ten grand+ for his re-election campaign? After his parents, whose OTHER son MURDERED another Native American, stood on the Courthouse steps calling Gallegos' opponent, Worth Dikeman, a racist. (Worth put their other son away.)
***
Related stories:
Bowman to undergo evaluation
Derek Bowman arrested on warrants
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
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

For example...

If Gallegos himself decides to prosecute the Kesser case - will he be able to call all of the witnesses who testified at the previous trial?

Debi August was one of the witnesses.

Conflicts of interest

Murder retrial begins Monday

Gallegos should not be involved in the Kesser case. He should give it to Max Cardoza, or another qualified Deputy DA in the office, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the politicization of this case during the election.

Case in point:
Elections should focus on the good record of candidate
5/27/2006
Dear Editor,

I realize that in writing this letter it is not helping my cause in trying to keep my family’s name and the circumstance regarding my son’s 14-year-old trial out of public scrutiny. That is not possible now, as Ellie Bowman and Madison Ayala have taken it upon themselves to pass out fliers in front of the Courthouse regarding this case.

They have not taken into consideration, nor have they contacted me as to how this would affect my feelings or the feelings of my grandson, whom I have been raising since this tragedy.

They state that this is not politically motivated. Why then, after this length of time, have they taken it upon themselves to bring anything about this case up now? Yes, Mr. Worth Dikeman was the prosecuting attorney in the case and yes, he obtained a conviction and yes, it is something I have to live with every day, but he was doing the job he was appointed to do and I will never fault him for that, not as it seems Ellie Bowman is doing because of the conviction of her son.

During the trial and for all the years that have gone by, Mr. Dikeman has shown me and my family the greatest respect and compassion. He has shown interest in how my grandson was doing in school, how I was doing and always had a great concern for our family. I doubt if there are many attorneys on either side who do that. I deeply resent the fact that to win an election people have to use tactics that can hurt other people instead of running on their supposedly good record.

Joanne Kesser
Fortuna
***
There are other serious conflicts as well.
***
Update:
Retrial drudges up past for longtime Fortuna residents

ER - Bowman to undergo evaluation

Bowman to undergo evaluation
by Kara D. Machado, 2/16/2007

Derek Bowman is back in the news.

Related stories:
collected here

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."

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