This case reads like a Who's Who list from the crime world

Follow testimony at Chiv's blog - about the people at the house when the beating that led to Ganfield's death occurred, cover stories, and tracking down the suspects... filled with names you'll recognize as frequent flyers.

◼ People's witnesses' in Semore case bring back flashback of Tree trial; difference being the defense in this case actually raises issues about credibility, investigation and a favor to a witness - John Chiv/Words Worth Aug 29, 2015

◼ Witness claims that minutes before thumping sounds from the living room, Semore asked her to hold onto his pistol and was talking on the phone in hushed tones - John Chiv/Words Worth Aug 28, 2015

...A Dan Reynolds owned the house and lived at the house. Other living at that house were identified as July Seipp, Sarah Jones, her boyfriend Randall Cook (known as Randy), Kita Rojas, Tim Christie, Rick webster and "transient population that comes and goes."

Investigator Musson spoke to Jones. She told him that "on April 29, her boyfriend Randy Cook, July Seipp, Jeremy Cringle, not sure if Dan Reynolds was there or not, and Mr. Semore were present (at the house). Jones said that Mr. Semore was there to conduct a business transaction, buy a truck from Mr. Seipp, that did not occur. Jones heard Mr. Semore make phone calls, "he was talking in hushed tones, talking about a potential disagreement with Nick and that Nick and Ganfield were en route to the residence."

Jones said that Semore gave her a pistol to hold on to when he picked her up that night. Later on that night, Jones claims Semore told her to "keep an eye on his shit. This was 15 minutes before the assault took place."

Jones told Musson "she heard a whacking/beating noise several times. She was scared." Seipp, Cook and Jones stayed in the room and they heard moaning noises from the living room area. "She said she was scared so she stayed in the room, everyone stayed in the room."...

In his investigation, Investigator Musson heard several rumors about why Ganfield was attacked. Webster, known as Uncle Rick to Semore owed him $8,000 was one rumor; another rumor was drug money owed; another rumor of a $50,000 debt; another rumor that Ganfield had beat several women and one woman was a relative of Johnson's; yet another rumor that Ganfield had "ripped off a bunch of heroin from the 18th street gang" and other rumors about alleged fights that Ganfield was involved with, one where Johnson was present, another where "Holly Daviidson Moon, her boyfriend and someone else" were present.

As the investigation proceeded, Investigator Musson learned that Reynolds had seen Semore and "three unknown males leave the house with a fishwhacker or a smaller bat."...

◼ A man dropped off in front of Mad River ER ends up being a homicide case - John Chiv/Words Worth Aug 28, 2015

◼ "Nick would not let it go and it had to be dealt with"; some details around David Ganfield's murder emerge in the preliminary hearing - John Chiv/Words Worth Aug 26, 2015

◼ Earlier Recap.

Randy and Suzanne Cook sued by victimRandy Cook pled guilty to child endangerment (UPDATED & BUMPED)

It matters. Chiv's blog is the only one to cover this case, for months. Months, and months, and months...

May 2015:
◼ Even after having his real estate license revoked, Randall Cook continues with this realty business? Guess the rules just don't apply to him? - John Chiv/Words Worth May 6, 2015
◼ "Suzanne Cook knew of her husband's deviant sexual propensities, previous molestation and still allowed him near his grandaughter alleges lawsuit" - John Chiv/Words Worth May 1, 2015

The title of the post includes words from the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that defendant had actual knowledge of her husband Randall Cook's deviant sexual propensities, the defendant knew that her husband had previously molested children, and yet the defendant allowed Randall Cook access to a minor, her own grandaughter.

◼ Randall Miles and Suzanne Cook sued by their grandaughter; Cook's former victim; Cook plead down original charges and was convicted in a criminal case - John Chiv/Words Worth May 1, 2015

Randall Cook was originally charged with more serious charges in the case involving his own grandaughter, plead to child endangerment in a plea deal under Paul Gallegos' administration. The victim was his own granddaughter. His real estate license has been revoked. Randall Cook spent time in jail even after the plea deal.... Now his grandaughter (through her guardian ad litem Veronica Cook, who is also the victim's mother and Randall Cook's former daughter-in-law) has filed a civil lawsuit alleging personal injury and other damages.

April 2015:
◼ Local realtor Randall Miles Cook real estate and licensing rights have been revoked by the Bureau of Real Estate, partly due to his child endangerment conviction in which the victim was his own grandaughter. - John Chiv/Words Worth April 20, 2015

December 2013:
◼ Randy Cook, local realtor plead guilty to a felony - Dec 18, 2013

Randall Miles Cook, of Cookhouse Realty, who is also a member of Humboldt Association of Realtors plead guilty to a felony on 12/17. The charge is child endangerment. PC 273 (a). This was a change in plea. Two charges of PC 288 (a) were dismissed.

February 2014:
◼ Sentencing for Randy Cook will be on March 20 - Feb 4, 2014
◼ Personal perspectives on the Cook case - Feb 12, 2014

March 2014:
◼ Local realtor Randy Cook to be sentenced today - Mar 20, 2014
◼ Local realtor Randy Cook sentenced to 270 days in County jail and led away in cuffs - March 20, 2014
◼ What is the value of a human life? It is not just Paul that irks me - March 21, 2014

May 2014:
◼ On March 20, he gets 270 days; Randall Miles Cook out on SWAP already, with no victim notification - May 6, 2014
◼ Next court date for Randall Miles Cook on June 19 - May 6, 2014 11:56AM

Review hearing on June 19. He is doing SWAP so not in custody anymore. He was sentenced to 270 days in jail. Now he is doing SWAP.

◼ 2 answers in the affirmative; only jail confirmation pending - May 12, 2014
◼ Randy Cook SWAP revoked? Hopefully yes. - May 12, 2014
◼ Randy Cook told to turn himself in to custody; does not meet SWAP criteria - May 13, 2014
◼ You, the public, deserve the credit, thanks to all who called and followed up on the Cook case - May 13, 2014
◼ Randy Cook booked back in custody - May 15, 2014

June 2014:
◼ Randall Miles Cook expected to be released 1st week of August; victim restitution addressed - Jun 19, 2014

October 2014:
◼ More allegations of child molestation forthcoming against Randy Cook - Oct 29, 2014

April 2015:
◼ Local realtor Randall Miles Cook real estate and licensing rights have been revoked by the Bureau of Real Estate, partly due to his child endangerment conviction in which the victim was his own grandaughter. - John Chiv/Words Worth April 20, 2015

John Chiv: Justice in the Randall Cook case

◼ On March 20, he gets 270 days; Randall Miles Cook out on SWAP already, with no victim notification

On March 20 this year, Randall Miles Cook was sentenced to 270 days in jail by Judge Marilyn Miles for molesting his own 7 year old granddaughter.

Originally the plea had no jail time. Cook, of Cookhouse Realty, who is also a member of Humboldt Association of Realtors plead guilty to a felony on 12/17. The charge is child endangerment. PC 273 (a). This was a change in plea. Two charges of PC 288 (a) were dismissed.

There was no notification to the victim and her mother. The victim's mother just returned from a vacation yesterday to find this out on her own. "My daughter was robbed of justice," said Veronica Cook. "And then I find out Randy has been released last Thursday."

...Ms. Neel told me that Penal Code 4019 which allows good time credit and if the sentence left is a certain amount of days, the inmate can apply for SWAP. That was confirmed by Lt. Marco Luna who supervises SWAP.

Randy Cook served his time in custody, he received good time credit. Lt. Luna said he was SWAP eligible. He was evaluated for risk. Since his felony was reduced to a misdemeanor and since he was not a registered sex offender, he was put on SWAP.

◼ Randy Cook SWAP revoked? Hopefully yes.
◼ 2 answers in the affirmative; only jail confirmation pending
◼ Randy Cook told to turn himself in to custody; does not meet SWAP criteria

"After speaking with the SWAP officer, and reviewing the case a little closer Mr. Cooks case does not really fit our SWAP criteria. We decided to have him turn himself back into Custody and serve the rest of his sentence in custody".

◼ You, the public, deserve the credit, thanks to all who called and followed up on the Cook case

You the public who called made the difference. You deserve the credit for standing up for Cook's victims.

On reporting, and, NOT reporting.

◼ What is the value of a human life? It is not just Paul that irks me - John Chiv/Words Worth

...I do not cover cases off press releases. The Cook case has been going on for a year, no one covered it, not even after I posted the first report. The Workman case, same thing. We do have a shortage of reporters but we seem to have article after article on the same polarizing issues and people show up at BOS and City Council meetings for the GPU or ridiculous stuff like raw milk yet cases like the Cook case that affect lives and generations go unnoticed.... Read the rest at the link.

Another busy court calendar...

From Chiv's COURT BEAT:

◼ Local realtor Randy Cook sentenced to 270 days in County jail and led away in cuffs - John Chiv/Words Worth

It should have been a slam dunk and he could have gotten away but some justice did prevail today for Randall Miles Cook's present victim, his own 7 year old grandaughter. And perhaps some closure for the victims that never got their day in court. There have been allegations before and whispers in the community and many reasons other victims did not get to tell their story....

This case is being prosecuted by DDA Kelly Neel. The defendant is being represented by Michael Robinson and Judge Marilyn Miles presiding in Courtroom 2.

◼ Elmy Workman sentencing postponed again. - John Chiv/Words Worth

Judge Feeney presiding in Courtroom1. Jason Sheets (instead of Luke Brownfield just today) for the People. Neal Sanders for the defendant, Elmy Workman. Allison Jackson, for the victim, Angela Pitts who she is representing pro-bono in this case.