Something as basic as transcripts

How long has the Ferrer case been going on? MONTHS! Gallegos can't even manage the basic, simple underpinnings of a trial at this point. In a murder case no less.

Continual reports that things have just absolutely deteriorated in that office - I told you it would be on full display, and it is. Everything. Proven true. Not. Even. In. Dispute.

Do you get it now?

Paul needs to resign now. BEFORE it gets any worse. This is just sickening. It's pathetic. God help the families in this case.

◼ Paul requests two more weeks in Ferrer because all transcripts not ready - John Chiv/Words Worth

And this is just about whether or not the cases should be severed/tried separately. Not even the full trial yet.

I wonder how many people who have been his vociferous supporters would actually hire this man to represent them, once he is in private practice. You have to, guys, to prove that you stand by your convictions. Here, he has a full staff to support him, and he can't even get the basic, simple aspects of the case ready in time. Why is that?

Ferrer jury trial set Aug 4

◼ All three defendants were arraigned, they did not waive time. - John Chiv/Words Worth

◼ Suspects plead not guilty in death of Arcata chef; trial date set - Will Houston/Times-Standard

Arcata resident Juan Joseph Ferrer pleaded not guilty during a brief arraignment hearing on Tuesday to the charge of murder in connection with last year's fatal stabbing of an Arcata chef....

The two other suspects in the case — Sophie Buttercup Rocheleau, 24, and Nicholas Benjamin Stoiber, 28 — were also present in the courtroom, and stood before the bench during the proceeding. Rocheleau is accused of shoving Anderson-Jordet and kicking him while he was on the ground, while Stoiber is accused of punching Anderson-Jordet in the face after Ferrer allegedly stabbed him.

Representing Stoiber in place of Deputy Public Defender Jennifer Dixon, Public Defender Kevin Robinson said Stoiber pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of assault likely to produce great bodily harm and asked that the trial dates be set. Rocheleau's attorney Benjamin Okin said his client was entering a not guilty plea for a felony assault charge....

All three suspects will return to court on July 7 for a pretrial hearing, July 14 for a trial confirmation hearing and Aug. 4 for a jury trial.

THE FERRER, ROCHELEAU, STOIBER PRELIM Defendants held to answer on all charges

Two voices "Fuck you and your fat girlfriend" and "I am still following you"

KELLY NEEL PROSECUTING. WHERE IS PAUL?

DAY TWO:
◼ Ferrer defendants held to answer on all charges - John Chiv/Words Worth 5/29/14

Arraignment for trial on June 10 at 2 p.m. in Ctrm 4. Judge Wilson said counsel had good arguments and while he saw evidentiary issues and potential problems with jury instructions, he said Ferrer's actions did meet implied malice and that use of a knife in a physical alteraction was similar to bringing a gun to a knife fight.

◼ Reavis and Okin get Sligh to admit testimony left out during prosecution cross in Ferrer case - John Chiv/Words Worth 5/29/14
◼ Possibility of other assailants and more heroin connections raised in Ferrer prelim day 2 - John Chiv/Words Worth 5/29/14

DAY ONE:
◼ A witness in Ferrer case describes what she heard. Detailed testimony from today's preliminary updated later. - John Chiv/Words Worth 5/28/14

Ms. Neel's first witness APD Detective Dockweiler. Mr. Reavis doing cross.

More, at the link.

◼ Arcata detective describes scene of fatal stabbing - Will Houston/Times-Standard 5/28/14

The preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue (Thursday) at 9 a.m.

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And WHERE was Paul, who was to have handled this case PERSONALLY?
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PREVIOUSLY: Gallegos informed Reinholtsen that he had not had the opportunity to speak with Anderson-Jordet's family

◼ Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos said... he has reassigned the Douglas Anderson-Jordet fatal stabbing case from Deputy District Attorney Elan Firpo to himself.

”It was my own inner sense of justice for everyone involved and my disappointment that some would use this case for political purposes instead of trying to seek justice,” Gallegos said....

So, WHERE was Paul?

Ferrer preliminary scheduled for this morning

◼ The Ferrer case has been moved to Courtroom 6 with Judge Christopher Wilson. Will start at 2:30 today and continue tomorrow at 8:30. - John Chiv/Words Worth 5/28/14

(Note: for those who aren't familiar with John Chiv's coverage, it is typically updated throughout the day, and finalized after the court day is over, so check back, at the link.)

Arcata fatal stabbing case hearing reset - A preliminary hearing for all three suspects is currently scheduled for May 28.

◼ Courtroom delays, scheduling conflicts lead to decision - Will Houston/Times-Standard

The intervention hearing for Arcata fatal stabbing suspect Juan Joseph Ferrer was rescheduled to May 22 during a Wednesday hearing due to courtroom delays....

District Attorney Paul Gallegos — who took over prosecution of the case from Deputy District Attorney Elan Firpo — arrived in Reinholtsen's courtroom nearly a half hour after Ferrer's case was called due to hearing was attending beforehand. Before Gallegos' arrival, the courtroom relaxed from its mechanical routine with Reinholtsen, the defense attorneys and the bailiff striking up conversations. Ferrer and Stoiberg were both in the courtroom, with Ferrer wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and handcuffs.

Rocheleau's defense attorney, Benjamin Okin, had to leave before the hearing took place due to an appointment, but had agreed to having a new intervention hearing date scheduled.

Gallegos informed Reinholtsen that he had not had the opportunity to speak with Anderson-Jordet's family since the plea deal was tossed and agreed to rescheduling.
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Hadn't had the opportunity?

For real? Hard to believe.

Comment at the Tines-Standard: Gallegos informed
Reinholtsen that he had not had the opportunity to speak with Anderson-Jordet's family since the plea deal was tossed and agreed to rescheduling....I was there in a room with Gallegos for hours. How can it be true that he has not spoke with us???

Plea deals in Ferrer case tossed

Plea deals in Ferrer case tossed - Links to coverage by John Chiv, Mad River Union, Lost Coast Outpost, Times-Standard, KIEM Ch 3 News, and more. Updated as they're filed.

◼ Plea bargains rejected in Ferrer case - John Chiv/Words Worth UPDATED

◼ The Judge explains her reasoning. Gallegos late to the hearing. - John Chiv/Words Worth UPDATED

Once Judge Hinrichs was done explaining the rules and the plea bargaining, she opened her remarks with, "This case is a tragedy." She said the Court had read and reviewed all documents presented and these were from all the attorneys and Probation and the victim's family.

She then said her tentative decision was to set the pleas aside. She explained why and read post 1 (link above) for those details.

◼ MAD RIVER UNION

◼ Judge Tosses Plea Deals in Anderson-Jordet Stabbing Case - Hank Sims/Lost Coast Outpost UPDATED

...Judge Hinrichs said that it was not in the public interest to accept the plea agreements and signaled that she would disqualify herself from hearing the case in the future.

◼ Times-Standard

A Humboldt County Superior Court judge set aside the pleas of three people charged in connection with the fatally stabbing of an Arcata chef in November at their sentencing hearing today.

Judge Joyce D. Hinrichs also set May preliminary hearing dates in the cases to determine whether they will face trial.

...His family asked the judge to set aside the plea, saying manslaughter didn’t represent the scope of the crime.

Arcata residents Nicholas Benjamin Stoiber, 28, and Sophie Buttercup Rocheleau, 24, also had their no contest pleas set aside. There were accused of beating Anderson-Jordet during the altercation.
Rocheleau had plead to a misdemeanor battery charge while Stoiber plead to a charge of assault likely to produce bodily harm.

News Channel 3 - Judge did not accept plea deals in the Ferrer case Juan Ferrer is the man who plead guilty to fatally stabbing 50 year old Douglas Anderson-Jordet in the heart in downtown Arcata.

Ferrer will appear in court again for a preliminary hearing on May 28th.

We have reporter in the courtroom. We'll have more details as they become available.
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◼ Plea deals tossed in Arcata fatal stabbing case; Judge: Decision made to keep 'public's confidence in the justice system' - Will Houston/The Times-Standard

A Humboldt County superior court judge on Thursday rejected the plea deals of three Arcata residents charged in the Nov. 25 fatal stabbing of chef Douglas Anderson-Jordet, saying she did “not believe justice would be served.”

Judge Joyce Hinrichs said she would be acting as both the “judge and the jury” by moving forward with their sentencings.

”It would undermine the public's confidence in the justice system,” Hinrichs said. “To not set aside the pleas erodes the public's confidence.”

...District Attorney Paul Gallegos argued that Hinrichs' statement of acting as both the judge and the jury should not apply to this case.

”What the court has is the inherent power to accept or reject the plea deal,” Gallegos said.

Hinrichs said her ruling might have been different if she had been able to review all the documents. She noted that Gallegos' office brought her three inches of new documents to review right before the sentencing hearing.

...Though he supported the plea deal, Gallegos said he was “happy accepting the court's ruling.”

”I think the court's ruling results in a just resolution,” he said.

◼ Judge Tosses Plea Deals In Arcata Stabbing Case - Jack Durham/Mad River Union (UPDATED at 8:27 a.m. April 4 with edits, additional information and photos.)

Hinrichs said she would take the blame for giving tentative approval to the plea deals last month. She said at the time, she hadn’t heard objections to the deals from the victim’s family. It wasn’t until after tentative approval of the plea deals last month that the family became publicly vocal about what they perceive as light sentences for the suspects.

“I didn’t ask enough questions,” said Hinrichs, who added that she should have paid closer attention to the state’s Victims Bill of Rights. “Hindsight is 20/20.” Hinrichs said that she doesn’t believe that “justice would be served” by allowing the plea deals to stand....

At today’s hearing, Hinrichs explained how she arrived at her decision, citing the various briefs and letters she had read. She then explained the reasons for her decision, which she said would be tentative until she had a chance to hear from the DA and the defense attorneys at the hearing. This left the door open for the attorneys to convince her to change her decision, but she was unpersuaded.

Gallegos, representing the People, had the first opportunity to respond, but he wasn’t present in the room. There was a short delay before Gallegos arrived. When he finally did, one of his assistants briefly whispered in his ear, presumably telling him what he had missed.

Gallegos, having missed the judge’s explanation of her decision, seemed somewhat confused by her rationale, which he hadn’t heard in its entirety. He said he would respect whatever decision to court made and said he thought that, in the end, justice would prevail.

“The true evidence will come out sooner or later,” Gallegos said.

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◼ Prior posts on this case: Sophie Buttercup Rocheleau, Nicholas Benjamin Stoiber and Juan Joseph Ferrer, the three suspects in the Anderson-Jordet killing, who had accepted the plea deals that have now been tossed. HERE

What's next? Re-filing. A Preliminary Hearing. A trial or another set of plea deals.

Preliminary hearing set for May 28 at 8:30 a.m.

Anderson-Jordet's family ask Klein to challenge district attorney's plea deal

◼ DA, local expert weigh in on case -Will Houston/The Times-Standard

...Anderson-Jordet, a 50-year old chef and Arcata resident, was killed in the early morning hours of Nov. 25 after an altercation with Ferrer and two other Arcata residents. He was stabbed once in the heart....

After receiving a narrative from the autopsy report -- stating that the victim also received a puncture wound on his upper-left chest and a “'defense' injury” on his left index finger during the altercation -- Anderson-Jordet's sister Donna Johnson said her family felt an involuntary manslaughter charge did not represent the scope of the crime....

District Attorney Paul Gallegos recently reassigned Firpo from the case at her request. She said she did not want it to become “conflated with a political campaign.”

Gallegos -- who has since taken over the case -- said he will not be challenging the plea deal as requested by the family. He said claims that the case was not thoroughly investigated are “inaccurate,” and the courts will decide the next course of action.

”I am very familiar with the facts in the autopsy report,” Gallegos said. “The next course is what conclusion does one want to draw from the physical evidence? I am very familiar with deaths and injuries.”

Here we go...he will not challenge the plea deal

◼ Arcata fatal stabbing case reassigned from Firpo to Gallegos - Times-Standard

Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos said today that he has reassigned the Douglas Anderson-Jordet fatal stabbing case from Deputy District Attorney Elan Firpo to himself.

Gallegos said his decision had “nothing to do” with Firpo's handling of the case or the quality of her work, but due to the case being used for other purposes by two of Firpo's fellow candidates in the upcoming district attorney election.

”It was my own inner sense of justice for everyone involved and my disappointment that some would use this case for political purposes instead of trying to seek justice,” Gallegos said....

Gallegos said he has corresponded with the family and understands their grief, but said that he will not challenge the plea deal as “the legal system does not aspire to accomplish the individual aspirations of victims or their families.”

”My heart goes out to them,” Gallegos said. “... But our job as prosecutors is to listen and exercise compassion without sentimentality.”

As a prosecutor, Gallegos said their decisions “cannot be based on the will of the individuals,” but must be supported by “evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”

”We don't represent the victims, we represent the people of the state of California,” Gallegos said.

”I am responsible for all of the decisions in my office and the one person that is not making a decision based on political motivations one way or another,” Gallegos said. “I am used to the hue and cry of politics.”
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So, are we to take it he is asking the judge to put aside the plea agreement? For all three defendants? The case goes to trial?

◼ Gallegos reassigns Firpo from Arcata fatal stabbing case; DA will not challenge killer's plea deal - Will Houston/The Times-Standard

Elan Firpo has requested Paul Gallegos reassign the Ferrer case; this and more at the Arcata Town Hall meeting today

◼ "I have asked the District Attorney, Paul Gallegos, to reassign the People v. Juan Ferrer case." - John Chiv/Words Worth

"The recent exchanges in the media and misinformed, misguided grandstanding of some of my campaign opponents have mired a very serious and difficult case in politics.

As a prosecutor, I take seriously both the obligation that all matters be handled based on the facts and the rule of law, and that even that appearance of impropriety from political influence be avoided. Justice can only be served at this point if it is disentangled from the political campaign."

This is one of the things Elan will be mentioning to day at a Town Hall meeting today from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm at the Arcata Community Center today. If you have not met Elan, this is a chance for you to talk with her in person...

◼ Élan Firpo: Town Hall in Arcata

WHEN: Sunday, March 16th 2:00 pm.
WHERE: Arcata Community Center Senior Dining Room
321 Community Park Way, Arcata
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◼ WEB: elanfirpo.com ◼ ABOUT ◼ SUPPORTERS ◼ DONATE

“Nothing about the case has changed,” Firpo said, except for the statements by other candidates supposedly representing differing views by family members in the news media. While she could rescind the plea, she said, “It’s not up to the family.”

◼ Ferrer Sentence Becomes A Political Issue In DA Race - Kevin Hoover/Mad River Union

”They have never indicated to me that they wanted to challenge the plea...If they changed their mind, then they need to let me know, and I'll ask the court to reject the plea agreement and set the case for trial.”

◼ Family of slain Arcata chef to challenge plea deal; several district attorney candidates speak out on the case - Will Houston/The Times-Standard

...District Attorney Paul Gallegos said he does not question the grief of a victim's families and friends, but said that justice cannot be personal.

”The toughest part of my job is that I can't bring people back,” Gallegos said. “You can't bring people back, and you can never undo the harm.”

Gallegos said that candidates' statements about the case are common in district attorney elections.

”The thing about running for office is when you're not in office, you can always argue about the resolutions or handling of cases because you know no facts, and you have no duty to anyone,” he said.

◼ Stabbing Case Still Front and Center in DA Race - Thadeus Greenson/The Journal
◼ DA’s Race Heats Up as Deal Struck in Fatal Stabbing Faces Possible Challenge by Victim’s Family - watchpaul (for links)
◼ DA’s Race Heats Up as Deal Struck in Fatal Stabbing Faces Possible Challenge by Victim’s Family - Kym Kemp/Lost Coast Outpost
◼ D.A. Candidate Klein Seeks To Suspend Firpo’s Ferrer Plea - Mad River Union
◼ A Note to Arnie from a Friend of Douglas Anderson-Jordet via Facebook

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And - Paul Gallegos IS still the District Attorney. As such, HE is the one responsible for plea deals in such a serious case. Was it his idea? Did he approve? Sign off on it? Even know about it? He is also supposed to be the spokesman for the office, not the individual prosecutors. And you let him off the hook, getting away with just passing everything off as 'just politics.' Again. And again. And again.

Consider this. 'Politics' is the ONLY chance there is to hold the DA accountable. Don't like what he is doing? Think the Board Of Supervisors can make him do his job? Enhh. WRONG. Think they can sanction him? Enhh. WRONG AGAIN. Think the Attorney General can step in? WRONG AGAIN.

ONLY THE VOTERS can do it. And only once every 4 years. So, OF COURSE that's when the issues rise to the surface, and get aired in the media.

It's serious stuff, not to be lightly brushed off as 'just politics.'

And it is incredibly disrespectful of him to so denigrate the voters.

Fortunately, he has chosen to remove himself from the equation.

DA’s Race Heats Up as Deal Struck in Fatal Stabbing Faces Possible Challenge by Victim’s Family

◼ link - Kym Kemp/Lost Coast Outpost

In a move likely to send waves crashing through Humboldt County’s already turbulent D.A.’s race, candidate Arnie Klein issued a press release late last night stating that family members of Douglas Anderson-Jordet, the victim in last fall’s fatal stabbing, have urged him to ask the court to set aside the defendants’ pleas....

The case and the plea deal may have repercussions in the coming election.

◼ D.A. Candidate Klein Seeks To Suspend Firpo’s Ferrer Plea - Mad River Union

◼ Family of slain Arcata chef to challenge plea deal; several district attorney candidates speak out on the case - Will Houston/The Times-Standard

Retired Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Arnie Klein -- one of four candidates running for district attorney -- said on Friday that he was contacted by the family recently who said they would start sending inquiries to the county Probation Department, District Attorney's Office and Public Defender's Office.

”The information that was given to them was erroneous,” Klein said. “The people of Humboldt County have not been represented well.”

Deputy District Attorney Elan Firpo, who prosecuted the Ferrer case and is also running for district attorney, said on Friday that she has been in contact with the family “throughout the case,” but has not been contacted about their intent to challenge it.

”They have never indicated to me that they wanted to challenge the plea,” Firpo said. “If they changed their mind, then they need to let me know, and I'll ask the court to reject the plea agreement and set the case for trial.”

Arnie Klein Press Release:

Arnie Klein has been contacted by family members of Douglas Anderson-Jordet to ask the court to set aside the defendant Juan Ferrer’s plea at the time of sentencing, April 3rd. I have been informed that the family members will start sending in letters to the probation department, the DA’s office, the defense attorneys and the court to effectuate this result.

◼ A Note to Arnie from a Friend of Douglas Anderson-Jordet via Facebook

RELATED/BACKGROUND:
◼ DA Candidate Dollison Speaks Out Against Ferrer Plea Deal - Mad River Union
◼ Ferrer Gets Two Years Jail For Killing A Man - Kevin L. Hoover/Mad River Union
◼ Updated: Questions Follow Pleas in Stabbing Case - Thadeus Greenson/North Coast Journal
◼ Firpo Responds To Concerns About Ferrer Disposition - Mad River Union
◼ Friend Wants to Clear Arcata Stabbing Victim’s Name - Kym Kemp/Lost Coast Outpost

◼ Letter of Impact to the Humboldt County Court - Sue Campbell

Élan Firpo: Response Regarding the Ferrer Stabbing Disposition:

◼ Response Regarding the Ferrer Stabbing Disposition:

I understand the community concern about the disposition in the Ferrer case. On its face, a man is killed, and the man that did the killing is sentenced to 4 years in jail, of which he will serve 2 years.

But the facts not previously made available to the public paint a different picture. After reviewing hours of video, talking with independent witnesses and reviewing the autopsy results, discussing the evidence with law enforcement and the family of the victim, it became clear that this was a case of manslaughter – not murder.

The facts would have shown that:

• Mr. Anderson-Jordet, the victim, was inflamed in his demeanor that evening. A bartender would have testified that the Victim was making homophobic statements to other patrons that evening before the incident.

• An independent witness would have testified that she overheard the argument between the parties and that the victim was yelling homophobic, sexist, hateful statements at the defendants.

• Video surveillance showed that the victim was behind the defendants walking down the street, and the victim was overheard to yell at the defendants “I am still behind you”.

• The defendant’s would have testified that the victim approached them in an angry manner and took a swing at them. And that he was a stranger to them, with whom they had no prior quarrel.

• The defense would have brought testimony that the victim was an angry person when he had been drinking, and occasionally used street drugs. The People would have brought testimony that the victim was a hard working man with a good job.

• The autopsy results show that the victim died of one knife wound, at a severe angle, that unfortunately pierced the victim’s heart.

A jury trial in this case would have become a trial of the victim’s character, for the determination of whether this was voluntary or involuntary manslaughter. The People would have had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants were NOT defending themselves in a hate crime.

In a best case jury trial scenario, Mr. Ferrer would have been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter. He would have been sentenced to a term of three years in prison (because he has no prior record), of which he would have served 85%, or approximately 2 years and 6 months. A plea agreement was reached to ensure that Mr. Ferrer would serve the maximum term for involuntary manslaughter allowed by law: 4 years, which, owing to the Governor’s Realignment Program, he will serve 2 years in county jail.

In other words, a best-case-scenario result at jury trial would have resulted in an additional 6 months of custody time for Mr. Ferrer.

The family and involved law enforcement officers were consulted before a plea was made. We agreed, after careful consideration of the evidence and the law, that this was the best disposition for the case. It doesn’t bring back Mr. Anderson-Jordet, and nobody is “happy” about this disposition.

Some decisions are not universally popular. It is the job of the District Attorney’s office to make tough decisions based entirely on the facts that can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to all twelve jurors. That is what I did here. I’m not proud of this disposition, and it doesn’t feel like justice to the victim’s family or myself. Unfortunately, it is the reality of the situation under the law.

The family of Mr. Anderson-Jordet have reviewed this letter, and are disappointed that it had to be written. They had hoped to avoid exactly this public forum discussion. Unfortunately, my opponents, who are long on rhetoric and short on facts, have attempted to take advantage of this unfortunate case to their political advantage.
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◼ Firpo Responds To Concerns About Ferrer Disposition - Mad River Union
◼ Elan Firpo responds to concerns about Ferrer disposition - John Chiv/Words Worth
◼ Firpo Responds to Plea Deal Critics - Thadeus Greenson/the Journal

Press Release Re: Ferrer Case

From Allan Dollison:

Allan Dollison, candidate for Humboldt County District Attorney is opposed to the plea deal of Involuntary Manslaughter given out to Juan Joseph Ferrer, by DA Candidate Elan Firpo. He was charged with Murder of Douglas Allen Anderson-Jordet, after stabbing the victim in the heart.

Firpo was quoted as saying, “In hearing the evidence, it was three strangers that got into a fight that went horribly wrong,” Firpo said. “(Ferrer) didn’t seek to kill Mr. Jordet.” It appears and court records confirmed that the case never even went to preliminary hearing, much less a trial so no evidence was in fact ever “heard.”

According to media reports, the following facts were shown:

1) A verbal argument escalated into a physical fight, wherein the Murder victim was violently punched by Mr. Ferrer’s Co-Defendant, which led to his teeth splitting his upper lip.

2) At some point, Mr. Ferrer then took a knife out and stabbed Mr. Anderson-Jordet.

3) Mr. Ferrer with his two friends then fled the scene, to leave Mr. Anderson-Jordet to die in the street, which he did.

4) The knife was never recovered

This by no means was self-defense. Involuntary Manslaughter is typically called an accidental killing. There was no accident, when Mr. Ferrer used a knife to stab the victim. That was Murder. Intent to kill or cause great bodily injury is obviously malice, the legal standard for Murder, not Involuntary Manslaughter. Fleeing the scene shows consciousness of guilt, a factor for the Jury.

If it is true that the victim consumed Alcohol, that is not relevant, it is not a defense to murder. You can’t just kill people just because they’ve consumed Alcohol. A pre-trial motion would have kept that from the jury as well as the basis of the verbal argument. This was Murder and should NOT have been plead down to Involuntary Manslaughter. Due to changes in sentencing laws, Defendant Ferrer cannot go to Prison. Any time must be served in County Jail.

In short, “Given these facts I would never have allowed such a plea deal. Although I have pointed out the dangerously low staffing levels are a huge problem, this plea deal rests on a misconception of Murder and the law. I have taken Murder cases to trial. Ms. Firpo has not.” Dollison stated. The DA’s Press release left out the Judge and the Defense Counsel. Mr. Ferrer was represented by Deputy Conflict Counsel Marek Reavis. The Judge is the Hon. Joyce Hinrichs.
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Added (From Allan Dollison): This is a case of local public importance. The owner of the restaurant (Abruzzi Ristorante') where the murder victim worked will be my guest at my MOAA meeting, this Saturday. He did not agree with the plea bargain in this case, and he is a former Marine.

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◼ DA Candidate Dollison Speaks Out Against Ferrer Plea Deal - Mad River Union

◼ Ferrer Gets Two Years Jail For Killing A Man: UPDATED 2.18.14 with edits & additional information - Kevin Hoover/Mad River Union

The aftermath
While two years jail may strike some as a light sentence for killing someone, Firpo said Anderson-Jordet’s family are satisifed with the outcome, as is she.

According to Firpo, the family wasn’t interested in the matter going to trial, where the victim’s behavioral excesses would be publicized and scrutinized in detail. While normally a reserved individual, she said, “there was evidence from several sources that when he was intoxicated, his personality shifted,” Firpo said. “The family wanted disposition so as not to go through a trial.”

However, a message left at the Mad River Union by a caller identifying herself as Anderson-Jordet’s older sister disputed that claim, saying it was “totally inappropriate.” She asserted that none of the family was satisfied with the verdict. The caller could not be contacted for further comment.

...Stoiber and Rocheleau are free on personal recognizance. Sentencing is set for April 3.

Ferrer is represented by Deputy Conflict Counsel Marek Reavis.

No contest pleas in fatal Arcata stabbing; Ferrer faces up to 4 years in prison

◼ Three Arcata residents entered no contest pleas Thursday to charges associated with the fatal stabbing of a popular Abruzzi chef and musician late last year. - Will Houston/The Times-Standard

Juan Joseph Ferrer, 35, pleaded no contest to a single charge of involuntary manslaughter for the Nov. 25 fatal stabbing of Douglas Allen Anderson-Jordet, 50, after an early morning altercation near the intersection of 12th and H streets in Arcata. The two others -- 24-year-old Sophie Buttercup Rocheleau and 28-year-old Nicholas Benjamin Stoiber -- pleaded no contest to lesser charges.

Deputy District Attorney Elan Firpo said that Ferrer's charge was reduced from murder after review of the evidence.

”In hearing the evidence, it was three strangers that got into a fight that went horribly wrong,” Firpo said. “(Ferrer) didn't seek to kill Mr. Jordet.”

Anderson-Jordet died from a single stab wound to the heart.

◼ Juan Ferrer Faces Four Years in Prison For the Stabbing Death of Douglas Anderson-Jordet (UPDATED) - Andrew Goff/Lost Coast Outpost

(Long comments thread, click load more comments, at the link)

◼ Ferrer to serve 4 years in jail; Trio enters no contest plea for fatal Arcata stabbing - KIEM-TV (image source)

...The trio were originally charged for murder when they were arrested in December, but the Humboldt County District Attorney's office reduced those charges. Deputy District Attorney Elan Firpo said the autopsy (revealed) that the fatal blow to the heart could have been a defensive move or that Anderson-Jordet could have fallen on the knife. Firpo said the three were eager to enter into a plea deal before going further in court.

"It's a tragic situation and a good reason not to carry knives," said Firpo. "If Ferrer had not had a knife, probably, there would have been an argument, some blows and nobody would have been killed."

The three will be sentenced on April 3rd.

◼ Ferrer Gets Two Years Jail For Killing A Man - Kevin Hoover/Mad River Union

...While two years jail may strike some as a light sentence for killing someone, Firpo said Anderson-Jordet’s family are satisifed with the outcome, as is she.

The family wasn’t interested in the matter going to trial, where the victim’s behavioral excesses would be publicized and scrutinized in detail. While normally a reserved individual, she said, “there was evidence from several sources that when he was intoxicated, his personality shifted,” Firpo said. “The family wanted disposition so as not to go through a trial.”

She agrees with their judgment. “I think this is the right resolution in this case,” she said.

“It was very unfortunate that Mr. Ferrer was carrying a knife,” Firpo said. “This should have been no more than a verbal kerfuffle that everyone walked away from.”....

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
◼ (UPDATED) Three Arrested by APD for Homicide - Lost Coast Outpost
◼ Man Stabbed to Death in Downtown Arcata - Lost Coast Outpost
◼ Officials ID one of three charged in Arcata homicide case as main assailant - TIMES-STANDARD