Plea deal in Limmie Curry case; 12 years total in prison to lesser charge of manslaughter

Chiv has the details: ◼ Before his case was called, Curry nodded to his dad. After the change in plea, his dad silently left the courtroom. - John Chiv/Words Worth 3/9/15 1:49pm

If you followed the Eddie Lee case on (Chiv's) blog, the resolution should not be a surprise. Former DA Paul Gallegos prosecuted the first Limmie CiCurry trial which was declared a mistrial and then Eddie Lee's trial where the Judge granted the defense motion of dismissing the case right before jury deliberations. Eddie Lee's attorney cited Penal Code 1118 as the reason.

Eddie Lee the only witness and previously the co defendant charged with murder has no reason to testify.

The loss of that case did impact this one.

◼ Curry Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter, Will Serve 10 Years - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost 3/9/15 5pm

DA'S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE: District Attorney Maggie Fleming announced today that Limmie Greg Curry pled guilty this afternoon to voluntary manslaughter, and admitted the use of a firearm in the shooting death on February 3, 2010 of William Charles Reid.

The defendant agreed he would receive the maximum term of 12 years. He will serve 85% of his sentence [or 10 years, 73 days]. Formal sentencing will occur on March 23, 2015.

At a previous trial of the matter, the jury deadlocked and was unable to reach a verdict on the murder charge but found he was guilty of cultivation of marijuana.

The resolution of the case was reached following discussions with the victim’s family.

The case was investigated by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kelly Neel.

◼ UPDATED: Curry pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in plea deal - Will Houston/Times-Standard

Curry, 24, pleaded guilty this afternoon to a charge of voluntary manslaughter and stipulated to the upper term of 11 years in prison as well as admitting to a special allegation of being armed with a firearm during the commission of the crime, according to Russo. Curry faces 12 years in prison with time credits being given due to him being in custody at the county jail since February 2010, Russo said.

Curry was accused of murdering 46-year-old William “Billie” Reid of Willow Creek on Feb. 3, 2010, at a property near State Route 299 near Willow Creek while allegedly trying to rob him and take over his marijuana growing operation. Curry was then alleged to have burned Reid’s body and then buried the skeletal remains at a marijuana grow on Reid’s property. Reid’s roommate Eddie Lee was also charged as a conspirator to the murder, but was acquitted last year at the Humboldt County Superior Courthouse by Judge John T. Feeney.

Judge Feeney grants continuance for Curry case, Eddie Lee released

◼ Public Defender files for continuance in murder suspect Limmie Curry trial - John Chiv/Words Worth
◼ Eddie Lee has to appear in Oregon for the case that he was on probation for when he was found with an ounce of marijuana he was trying to sell. Curry County requested that Eddie Lee be cited and released to appear in Oregon on 9/27 for this case. - John Chiv/Words Worth

ADA Kelly Neel and Limmie Curry's public defender, Mr. Casey Russo, agreed to a new jury trial date of January 26. The People did not oppose the defense's motion to continue the trial, and Judge Feeney granted the request for "good cause."

Pre-trial is Nov 10 at 2 p.m. and Trial Confirmation is January 12 at 2 p.m.
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Is Paul's calendar cleared?

Eddie Lee case dismissed, Judge Feeney grants defense motion

◼ Right before the jury would decide - John Chiv/Words Worth
__________________
All jokes that Paul would Fuck Up this case have been proven true I guess.

Is he gonna tank the Limmie Curry case, too?

◼ The Eddie Lee Trial: Murder, robbery, mutilation - September 2014
◼ Two high profile jury trials; one murder; another human trafficking scheduled for tomorrow - September 2014
◼ Jurors being questioned in Eddie Lee trial; first witness expected to be called around September 2 - August 2014

◼ Whatever happened to Eddie David Lee? And Maggie Jean Wortman UPDATED - February 2011

◼ One suspects pleads not guilty to Willow Creek man's murder - February 2010

Eddie Lee Case: Quentin Williams history of lewd act with a minor, choking his girlfriend and false imprisonment revealed on the stand

◼ If you believe Quentin Williams, he is an informant for the Humboldt County DA's office trying to help fellow inmates he befriends and get justice for victims of heinous crimes with his connections. In a courtroom, he performs and is very entertaining. - John Chiv/Words Worth

...The defense in the Eddie Lee trial painted him as a dangerous predator who rapes and hurts women.

Today he exited stage left, maybe his swan song as an informant, after Eddie Lee's attorney, Mr. Darryl Stallworth, was done examining him on cross. Williams testified yesterday that Lee confessed to aiding in the murder of William Reid and that "he bbqed" Reid's body....

The Eddie Lee Trial: Murder, robbery, mutilation UPDATED

You know, this one doesn't have the oh-so-famous lawyer involved, but it really is a very interesting case, on a lot of levels - one of them the effect of Pot on a good student, who could have made something good out of his life.

◼ Witness and DA in Eddie Lee case make an oops in Lee case; Judge has to fix it - John Chiv/Words Worth Sept 4, 2014

◼ Father-son like relationship triumphed over Lee's past heroin use, victim's past cocaine use - John Chiv/Words Worth Sept 3, 2014
◼ Judge Feeney clarifies sexual penetration charge in Lee case - John Chiv/Words Worth Sept 3, 2014

(Essentially, the statute has to do with mutilation of remains - in this case, burning)

◼ Limmie Greg Curry trial set for November 10; defense requests daily transcripts of Lee trial - John Chiv/Words Worth Sept 3, 2014
◼ Eddie Lee "fell in love with this area" and chose HSU over other options; the story of a dreamer who ended up accused as a murderer - John Chiv/Words Worth Sept 2, 2014

Mr. Stallworth ended his opening statments by telling the story of Eddie Lee. A young child of bi-racial parents with blue eyes and wavy black hair that everyone loved. A kid and a young man who never got in trouble, even being raised in Michigan, in a city of crime. Lee was recruited into a mentor program, "I had a Dream" as a youth, got great grades. Lee chose HSU instead of UC Davis or Sacramento State and pre-med major in biology because he "fell in love with this area."...

He had problems finding affordable housing in Arcata. Mr. Stallworth said that at this point he met Moriah Foster, a cocaine user who "smoked a lot of marijuana" and "she changed his life." Lee was in love for the first time.

◼ Eddie Lee to "take the stand" ; "He has waited 41/2 years to tell you what happened and he will tell you what happened" - John Chiv/Words Worth Sept 2, 2014

"This is not a ID case. Limmie Curry killed William Reid. Eddie Lee was present. My question to you is did Eddie Lee know? Did he aid and abet? That is your task."

"Eddie was 21 years old when he was arrested and charged. He has been waiting 4 1/2 years to come and tell you what happened. He will fill in the gaps in this case; everything else is conjecture."

◼ Crime of murder, murder committed while commission of robbery, mutilation of grave remains and special allegation of sexual penetration of human remains are the alleged charges the District Attorney's office filed against Eddie Lee, whose jury trial started today. - John Chiv/Words Worth Sept 2, 2014
◼ "In a society where personal worth is equated with economic growth and guns are readily available, it is surprising we don't have more violence" - John Chiv/Words Worth Sept 2, 2014

◼ DOLLISON’S DOCKET: Marijuana, Violence and Greed - Allan Dollison/Lost Coast Outpost

Gallegos' Opening Statement

◼ Whatever happened to Eddie David Lee? - On Feb 23, 2011, we asked: 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?

EARLIER:

◼ Eddie Lee and Limmie Greg Curry cases to be tried separately - John Chiv/Words Worth Jun 2, 2014
◼ Eddie Lee and Limmie Greg Curry pre-trial conference update. Will Curry's attorney make an appearance? - John Chiv/Words Worth Apr 4, 2014
◼ Limmie Curry and Eddie Lee - Times-Standard Jul 24, 2013

Jurors hear closing arguments in Curry case; defense: Evidence points to other murder suspect...

After listening to more than two months of testimony in the case, jurors on Tuesday heard two distinctly different arguments as to what story that evidence tells.

In the portion of his closing statement that jurors heard Tuesday, Fletcher said evidence in the case clearly indicates someone else is guilty of William “Billie” Reid's murder, and that Curry has been set up to take the blame. Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos, on the other hand, told jurors that evidence in the case points to only one conclusion: That Curry shot and killed Reid on his rural property off State Route 299 near Willow Creek, doused his body with gasoline and set it aflame, later burying Reid's charred skeletal remains on the property.

Prosecutors allege that Curry and Eddie David Lee killed Reid on Feb. 3, 2010, in order to rob him and take over his marijuana growing operation. Eddie Lee, Reid's roommate, has pleaded not guilty in the case and is slated to stand trial in January.

◼ We welcome federal attention -- in the right places - Times-Standard EDITORIAL Mar 16, 2012

Marijuana cultivation by some estimates accounts for 26 percent of Humboldt County's economy. It's not going to disappear, despite decades of federal effort. But appropriate use of federal power in other ways can be far more helpful.

And so we applaud the recent decision by the U.S. Attorney's Office to prosecute a Humboldt County murder case. It is the first time in decades -- indeed, the only time in local enforcement officials' memory -- that the federal government has done so.

◼ Pre-trial set for suspect in Willow Creek murder case - Times-Standard TOPIX Comment Thread Sep 6, 2010
◼ Icky-sounding Murder Investigation - North Coast Journal Feb 22, 2010

Two high profile jury trials; one murder; another human trafficking scheduled for tomorrow

◼ The Eddie Lee murder trial is being tried separately from his co-defendant Limmie Curry. District Attorney Paul Gallegos prosecuting and Lee being represented by Bay area lawyer Darryl Stallworth. - john Chiv/Words Worth

Worth noting as it could be Gallegos' last trial....

Jurors being questioned in Eddie Lee trial; first witness expected to be called around September 2

◼ Today in Courtroom 1, Judge John Feeney, District Attorney Paul Gallegos and Eddie Lee's Bay area attorney Darryl Stallworth questioned potential jurors for Lee's trial, which is expected to start around September 2. -  - John Chiv/Words Worth

Related, history:
◼ New trial date for Limmie Greg Curry who is accused of murdering William Reid allegedly for marijuana - John Chiv/Words Worth 6/27/14
◼ Hung jury in Curry case; mistrial declared as jurors can't agree - Thadeus Greenson/Times-Standard 7/31/13
◼ Icky-sounding Murder Investigation - Ryan Burns/The Journal 2/22/10

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.

One suspects pleads not guilty to Willow Creek man's murder

◼ TS One suspects pleads not guilty to Willow Creek man's murder

One of two men arrested last week on suspicion of killing a Willow Creek man pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday while the other is expected to enter a plea today.

Eddie David Lee, 21, and Limmie Greg Curry III, 19, face charges related to the death of a man believed to be William “Billie” Reid, 46, who was reported missing by his family on Feb. 15. A body believed to be Reid's was found Saturday after authorities searched Reid's home. Lee and Curry are scheduled to return to court today after Lee's lawyer requested more time to review the charges.

Lee and Curry are being held on suspicion of murder with the special circumstance that it was intentional and carried out for financial gain, according to the Humboldt County jail. Lee faces other allegations, as well, including possession of marijuana for sale and committing a felony while armed with a deadly weapon.

Curry was appointed a public defender after the Humboldt County Alternate Counsel Office declared a conflict, apparently related to the victim. Curry entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday and a denial of the special circumstances. To the court, Curry stated he was attempting to hire a private attorney but accepted the public defender appointment until he is able to do so.....

◼ TS Two arrested on suspicion of killing Willow Creek man 2.23.10

Two men already in custody at the Humboldt County jail were charged Saturday with allegedly killing a 46-year-old Willow Creek man who was reported missing about a week ago.
According to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, William “Billie” Reid was reported missing by his family on Feb. 15. Eddie David Lee, 21, and Limmie Greg Curry III, 19, were arrested for the killing after authorities searched Reid's home and found his body, following a short but seemingly complicated investigation.

◼ TS Court dates scheduled in Willow Creek homicide case 2.26.10