UPDATED: "Limmie Curry threw my brother away like garbage but it is Limmie Curry who is garbage"

◼ William Reid's sister, Marilyn Reid, read a grief stricken statement to Judge Cissna before the sentence was finalized this afternoon. - John Chiv/Words Worth

◼ William Reid's sister described the horror of visiting her brother's home and discovering burnt belongings under the leaves touching her feet - John Chiv/Words Worth

◼ "Thanks for the ride operation mind fuck ..." ; Limmie Curry's father sends a cryptic message on behalf of his son

◼ Limmie Curry Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in 2010 Death of William Reid - Ryan Burns, Lost Coast Outpost aka LoCo

Press release from the District Attorney’s Office:

Limmie Curry was sentenced today in Department Four of Humboldt Superior Court on charges stemming from the death of William Reid in February 2010. Present for the sentencing was William Reid’s sister, Marilyn Reid who came from New York to participate in the sentencing hearing.

During late 2009 through early 2010, Eddie Lee and his girlfriend lived with Mr. Reid on his property off of Three Creeks Road. Mr. Lee introduced the victim to Limmie Curry during the first week of February 2010. Following that meeting, Mr. Reid’s family did not hear from the victim again. After the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department located Mr. Reid’s remains buried in multiple graves around the property, both Lee and Curry were charged with the murder of Mr. Reid.

Each defendant maintained the other was responsible for the death. In the two weeks after the homicide Lee spent thousands of dollars purchasing items such as a large screen TV which was brought to Reid’s home where Lee and Curry had a Super Bowl Party. Curry, during a call to his mother just hours after Reid’s death, told his mother he had just acquired property in Blue Lake, CA.

Lee was acquitted of all charges in the fall of 2014. At a separate trial for Curry, the jury deadlocked and was unable to reach a verdict on the murder charge. Curry ultimately pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and being armed with a weapon in the commission of that offense and agreed to serve the maximum penalty of 12 years. That sentence was imposed today in court and must be served at 85% prior to being paroled. This constitutes a felony strike offense.

Marilyn Reid read two statements before Judge Cissna at the sentencing hearing this afternoon. The first from Mr. Reid’s niece describing Reid’s loving connection to her and the impact his untimely death had on her and her family. Ms. Reid then read her statement to the Court describing the pain and anguish her family has endured, not only due to the untimely death of William Reid, but because of what happened after his death. It is believed that Curry and Lee put Reid’s body on a burn pile located on the property after he was shot to death.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kelly Neel and the defense attorney was Casey Russo.

"Limmie Curry threw my brother away like garbage but it is Limmie Curry who is garbage"

◼ William Reid's sister, Marilyn Reid, read a grief stricken statement to Judge Cissna before the sentence was finalized this afternoon. - John Chiv/Words Worth

◼ William Reid's sister described the horror of visiting her brother's home and discovering burnt belongings under the leaves touching her feet - John Chiv/Words Worth

Chiv'd = Scoop'd

◼ Verdict in this morning: Jury finds Bronson Lewis Moon guilty

Previously, when Moon was tried, it was a hung jury. Moon is also currently involved in a family law case.

◼ Passerni busted this morning; arraigned this afternoon! Justice DA Fleming style

He is charged with possession of a concealed and loaded firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and possession of a concealed dirk/dagger

◼ Repeat felons got money for guns but we pay for their repeated legal fees

◼ William Reid's family allegedly pissed at the Judge and prosecutor for Limmie Curry deal; the person to blame is the one that botched the codefendant case and caused a mistrial for first Curry case

◼ People file opposition to withdrawl of guilty plea in case involving alleged misconduct/molestation of a minor

Candido Pena previously plead guilty to Penal Code 288.5. Today, there is a motion hearing scheduled in Courtroom 2 at 2 p.m. and the defendant is planning to withdraw his guilty plea. The People have filed an opposition to that motion. Pena is represented by private attorney Russ Clanton and DDA Zach Curtis had been prosecuting the case....
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Lost Coast Outpost may be the place to go for breaking news, but Chiv's blog is the place to go for court coverage, not just the high profile cases, but a lot more ... Chiv will be updating these and other stories later today. Click on the links and head on over...

◼ From the District Attorney’s Office: - LoCo

District Attorney Maggie Fleming announced that Bronson Moon Lewis was found guilty by jury of felony domestic violence today. Mr. Lewis who is 33 years old assaulted the mother of his children on November 7, 2011.

Mr. Lewis came to the victim’s home in Ferndale in the early morning hours of November 7, 2011. The victim discovered that Mr. Lewis was attempting to move back into the home and an argument ensued. As the victim was trying to get Mr. Lewis’s possessions out of her vehicle, he started pulling at her, eventually slamming her face into the side view mirror causing a cut to her nose. The victim used a bat to defend herself, and eventually Mr. Lewis left her home.

The case was investigated by the Ferndale Police Department. Sentencing will occur on April 30, 2015. He is facing a maximum of 4 years in prison. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jackie Pizzo.

This case was heard in Department 2 in front of Judge Miles. This was a retrial after a jury hung 11-1 for guilt in 2013.

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.

John Chiv: Limmie Curry updates

◼ Limmie Curry trial to procced March 9; not allowed to see father due to getting in trouble and being disciplined

◼ Trial assignment date for second jury trial for Limmie Curry remains

This case was previously tried once by former DA Paul Gallegos which resulted in a mistrial. Curry's dad and his pastor have been here to support him for both jury trials.

This is probably the toughest of the many murder trials on the docket right now.

John Chiv: Court Developments, Jason Arreaga, Limmie Curry, Silverio Sanchez

◼ Fieldbrook double murder jury trial date vacated; future dates to be determined May 4 - John Chiv

The defense had already requested a brief continuance once due to "issues with discovery" and now they want another continuance in the Jason Arreaga case, the suspect in the double murders committed in Fieldbrook.

◼ Limmie Curry jury trial dates set for now, trial readiness continued so last minute change possible

Limmie Curry, charged with the murder of William Reid, has been tried once. His current jury trial has been continued both by defense and prosecution. Today, a trial readiness conference was scheduled for a jury trial scheduled for March 9

◼ Bench warrant issued for Most wanted suspect Silverio Sanchez; why was he released?
◼ Two Silverio Sanchez , therefore the confusion; DA Maggie Fleming provides answers to release

Silverio Parro Snider Sanchez (DOB: 12-09-93) was booked into the jail on 3/1 for assault and possession of a controlled substance. As of 0840 hours, he remains in custody. (Given the nature of his charges, he may be eligible for release.)

The OTHER Silverio Parro Snider Sanchez (DOB: 01-23-91) has been in the HCCF since May 2014 on serious charges and he remains in custody.

UPDATE:
◼ Jury in Fieldbrook double homicide case second trial finds Arreaga not guilty on both counts - John Chiv/Words Worth 2/25/2016

Five Six Seven major murder cases pending

UPDATE:
◼ Jury in Fieldbrook double homicide case second trial finds Arreaga not guilty on both counts - John Chiv/Words Worth 2/25/2016

And who are the prosecutors...?

1. Bullock - pending
2. Warren
3. Limmie-Curry
4. Ferrar (set for April 6, has had various prosecutors)
5. Carter
6. Arreaga
7. Brown

Who is handling these cases. This isn't the kind of thing you pick up the file and walk into court...

Then there's the Littlefield case, a very complicated case, the default appeal expires Thursday.

◼ Dec 17 will be a busy day with several high profile homicide cases and status overlapping - John Chiv/Words Worth

Tomorrow morning, there is the preliminary examination scheduled for Jason Arreaga, the suspect in the Fieldbrook homicide and at the same time there is a preliminary hearing for Jason Armstrong, the suspect in the Redway murder.

In the afternoon, there is a pre trial hearing Gary Lee Bullock who is charged with the murder of Fr. Eric Freed and trial confirmation for murder suspect Matthew Brown in one courtroom and at the same time a motion hearing and disposition reset hearing for Arcata murder suspect Juan Ferrer in Courtroom Four....

◼ ...I don't know who will prosecute the Bullock case but I hope that the DA's office thinks carefully about that decision.... - John Chiv/Words Worth

(Three Jason's: Jason Anthony Warren, Jason Armstrong, Jason Arreaga)

◼ And then there's the Matthew Brown case Matthew Brown murder case jury trial delayed a week - John Chiv/Words Worth

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: 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

Where's Waldo?

◼ Eddie Lee and Limmie Greg Curry cases to be tried separately; Robinson filed opposition by People to join cases - John Chiv/Words Worth

District Attorney Paul Gallegos who is prosecuting the case was MIA in court today.
__________________
He's also missing from the Ferrer case.

When Richard Salzman is telling you who to vote for - REMEMBER -
THIS IS WHAT RICHARD SUPPORTS.

THIS IS WHAT KEN MILLER SUPPORTS.
THIS LACKADAISICAL BULLSHIT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT CHRIS KERRIGAN SUPPORT. SUPPORT. PROMOTE AND GLORIFY.

A man who can't even show up for a murder case.

When he's pulling down ◼ $154,799.84/$165,811.73 a year.

When you go to the polls tomorrow - remember this.

Paul's not on the ballot, but in a way - he is - is this the kind of behavior, is this the kind of elected official that YOU want?

David Dues, Eddie Lee in court today

◼ ...Dues jumped up as soon as he heard his name, and addressed the Judge, "I want this resolved." Judge Hinrichs very calmly told him to wait and talk to his attorney first and then she would be glad to hear from him. Robinson then spoke to Dues privately.... - John Chiv/Words Worth

...In other cases against Dues, bail was set at $25,000 and $5,000. Dues in exasperation cried out, "I am never getting out of jail."

Eddie Lee is a co-defendant with Limmie Greg Curry in a retrial of a murder case. Representing Lee is Darryl Stallworth from the Bay Area, with special appearances by local attorney Kathleen Bryson. Curry is being represented by Fletcher. Case is being prosecuted by the people, again, by District Attorney Paul Gallegos. Judge John Feeney presiding.(Read the whole report at the link)

◼ UPDATED: Sex Offender Arrested for Harassing Teenage Girls - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost

◼ One liners defense attorneys wish their client wouldn't have said - - John Chiv/Words Worth

Shorter Gallegos: "I am ill prepared and inept...so I am glad a competent lawyer and competent office is taking over my cases."

Another glowing piece from the Times-Standard for their favorite golden boy Paul Gallegos - ◼ Suspect pleads not guilty to SoHum murder in federal court; defendants make initial appearances in 2008 case

The DA's office filed charges in 2008, over a gruesome murder again involving Pot. Most murders in the county are actually linked to that. The ugly little secret that the pro-pot crowd never likes to talk about. The case as is typical with Gallegos dithering for years and years.

Gallegos is now all but giddy that the US Attorney's Office in San Francisco is taking over the case.

"Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos said he's very grateful that, in this time of scarce resources, the federal government has agreed to take on prosecuting Carroll...It seemed a case that was perfect for the U.S. Attorney's office to send a message to the region that you don't do this or the feds will get involved,” he said. “It's not a local, homegrown murder, so to speak, it's a byproduct of people coming here to do their business.”

"In addition to sending a strong message to deter the type of violence alleged in Carroll and Lee's case, Gallegos said the federal prosecution also takes a murder case off his office's plate, freeing up man-hours and resources for other local prosecutions."

This is the second Murder case that the Feds have literally taken away recently from Gallegos. ◼ (Remember: Kneeland marijuana murder case goes federal; Wilde indicted by federal grand jury, faces potential death penalty) Despite his pontificating, he shows his incredible ignorance of the law. In order to be charged with a Federal crime, you actually need to have violated Federal law. The fact that the Defendants were from out of the area does not make it a Federal crime. Most laws that are on the books are State laws. Murder for example is a state law. If you commit a murder on Federal property that might trigger a Federal prosecution. (This one wasn't.)

However, is that what is really going on here. More interesting was a Murder case that Gallegos recently tried himself. ◼ (Remember: Hung jury in Curry case; mistrial declared as jurors can't agree on murder count) At the conclusion of the People v. Limmie Curry, one juror called Gallegos inept and ill-prepared. That was what made the papers. Gallegos was again chicken and not even present when the Jury decided they could not reach a verdict. He sent one of his over-burdened attorneys to appear, and reports indicate that several other jurors said much harsher things about Gallegos' performance to that attorney than what actually made it in the paper.

It's almost time for him to face the voters again - And again Humboldt will have a choice. They can re-elect a person who is terrible in Court, even more terrible at running the office, who continues to collect 6-figure paycheck, and now his plan is to dump all of his difficult cases on another lawyer. Pathetic. Be warned. Humboldt.

...But... you were warned. You have been warned. By law enforcement. By the Grand Jury. By people who have left the office. By people who have run for office.

I hear from people who serve on juries. This time the comment made the paper. He's inept, incompetent; sometimes, they find the defendant guilty in spite of Gallegos and not because of his brilliant and skillful prosecution. I hear from families of victims. He tells the families he is going to "personally" try this case, and their reaction is "PLEASE DON'T!" It made the paper this time, amazingly enough. The story has not changed in all these years.

Except, now, your office has half the staff it had when he took office. Half. And NONE of them are experienced trial attorneys. Not any more.

He's not the one who is lucky that the Feds are taking the cases out of his incompetent hands. YOU ARE.
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Yes, this blog has been quiet for some time. Yes, I am tempted to give it up. As I have been many times. So - why not give up? One simple reason. All those people who come to me, and tell me what's going on. In despair most of the time. And desirous of anonymity pretty much all the time. But it's ongoing, it's almost daily. The pattern is the same.

And recently, it's stepped up.

So - Thad, where's the story about the 'you get to be assistant DA for a day' clusterfuck that's going on in that office?
_____

”He had a few flashes of brilliance but he was otherwise inept”

We've heard this over and over and over again over the course of Paul Gallegos' tenure. This time it actually made the paper. An amazing feat in its own right.

◼ Hung jury in Curry case; mistrial declared as jurors can't agree on murder count - Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard

A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the murder case of Limmie Greg Curry III after jurors said they were hopelessly deadlocked 7 to 5, in favor of acquittal.

...The jury of seven women and five men convicted Curry, 23, of possession of marijuana for sale but the foreman said jurors simply could not agree on whether Curry murdered William Reid on Feb. 3, 2010, at a rural property off State Route 299 near Willow Creek.

..After the mistrial declaration Tuesday, jurors said they worked hard to reach a verdict in the case but ultimately could not come to agreement. They asked to be identified by their juror numbers rather than their names in order to protect their privacy.

”There was not enough evidence to definitively prove Limmie was the murderer -- there just wasn't,” said Juror No. 2. “The prosecution didn't do their job.”

While jurors interviewed for this story universally lauded (Curry's attorney, Jeffrey) Fletcher's performance during the 10-week trial, many were critical of the prosecutor, Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos, who they said seemed ill-prepared.

”He had a few flashes of brilliance but he was otherwise inept,” said one juror, who asked not to be identified.

Echoing comments in Fletcher's closing statement, jurors were also sharply critical of the investigation that lead to Curry and Eddie Lee's arrests, saying it seemed law enforcement honed in on the two suspects and ignored all other leads in the case. Further, jurors said, the investigation seemed incomplete in many ways.

Interesting searches

◼ limmie greg curry, showing up in google searches...

Lots on the manhunt, too. Such as: redding petrolia manhunt cogswell

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