This, and Bullock - why you don't raise your kids around drugs - lives wasted. Kailan Meserve found guilty of 15 counts

It is sad for both these families. But sadder still for the victims, who didn't deserve any of what came.

And attorney Russ Clanton no longer has a free pass, get your guy out of jail free (while raking in the bucks) card.

Pot is bad. The pot culture is bad.

◼ DA on Kailan Meserve Verdict - JohnChiv/Words Worth Apr 19, 2016
◼ Kailan Meserve tells his family, "I will see you later. It's ok. I love you." - JohnChiv/Words Worth Apr 19, 2016
◼ Finally, some justice for victims, particularly women and children, under District Attorney Maggie Fleming's leadership. - JohnChiv/Words Worth Apr 19, 2016
◼ Kailan Meserve found guilty of 15 counts, taken away in cuffs after verdict - JohnChiv/Words Worth Apr 19, 2016

Sentencing is July 1st at 8:30 a.m.

◼ Verdict in for Kailan Meserve case - JohnChiv/Words Worth Apr 19, 2016
◼ After talking to Jane Doe #2, Jeff Groeling calls Travis Howe, another close friend of Meserve and says, "We have a problem." - JohnChiv/Words Worth Apr 19, 2016
◼ Defense argument in Kailan Meserve case mostly speculation; prosecution rebuttal exposes defense claims - JohnChiv/Words Worth Apr 19, 2016
◼ "We treat rape victims differently than other victims...That's what we do. We put blame on them." - JohnChiv/Words Worth Apr 19, 2016

◼ "She was frozen with fear... She tells him no. He doesn't stop. After that she doesn't say no." - JohnChiv/Words Worth Apr 18, 2016
◼ Close to verdict in Meserve case? Jury sends note says they are missing one verdict form - JohnChiv/Words Worth Apr 18, 2016

Pled out - 8 counts reduced to unlawful sexual intercourse, false imprisonment and human trafficking in plea offer

◼ The plea deal offer, has yet to be accepted by Judge Reinholtsen and sentencing is scheduled for this afternoon. If it is accepted, it looks like it would result in 8 counts being reduced to three counts. - John Chiv/Words Worth

After the case being dismissed the first time, mistrial the second time, a plea deal was reached right before the third trial started for David Anderson, a suspect who was originally charged with kidnapping, rape by force, forcible oral copulation of minor victim over age of 14, sexual battery, unlawful sexual intercourse, threats to commit crime resulting in death, false imprisonment and human trafficking.

Anderson has been represented for all three trials by private defense attorney Benjamin McLaughlin, who was appointed by the court as Anderson's attorney. The case was prosecuted each time by DDA Luke Brownfield....

◼ Sentence in human trafficking case: 9 years, 4 months - Will Houston/Times-Standard
Brownfield said in an interview with the Times-Standard that the plea deal was reached during a third trial in the case. During the first trial, other alleged "pimping and pandering" victims of Anderson's from two other California counties also testified, but Brownfield said the case was dismissed. When the district attorney's office refiled, the trial went on for about six to eight weeks before a mistrial was declared based on a statement made by a witness. Brownfield said it was about three weeks into the third trial when "we reached a negotiated deal to the human trafficking charge."

...Before the sentencing, McLaughlin asked Reinholtsen to consider waving or reducing the fines associated with the case — which included a $500,000 fine for the human trafficking charge — due to his client not having "the resources to pay any significant fines or fees."

Case dismissed. Another spectacular failure of the Gallegos DAs Office

◼ Former DeputyDA Ben McLaughlin (now defense attorney) scores a win against former co-worker - John Chiv/Words Worth

...kidnapping, rape by force, forcible copulation of a minor victim, sexual battery, unlawful sexual intercourse, threats to commit crime resulting in death and false imprisonment... (VERY SERIOUS STUFF!) The defense had filed a motion that there was failure to provide adequate discovery. (SUCH A BASIC THING!)

Prosecutor Luke Brownfield. Defense: Ben McLaughlin Judge: Feeney

- - developing - -

__________________
This may be a 'win' for Ben Mclaughlin, whose partner is the on-again-off-again Assistant District Attorney (who, of course, must recuse herself from any action on this and any other case involving Ben and the firm he now works for) - but it is NOT a win for the people of this community.

Innocent til proven guilty - but a case like that falls through the cracks? That is a terrible thing.

Élan Firpo gets more press

◼ Southern Humboldt man pleads guilty to rape, domestic violence: 51-year-old to serve 8 years for attacking wife in 2012 - Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard

◼ Pleasant chat with Firpo at a community event - John Chiv/Words Worth

Odds are, they've done this before, and this girl is lucky to be alive

I'd be searching that property for gravesites.

◼ Lake County men face marijuana drug operation, sexual abuse charges - Julie Johnson/Press Democrat 7/26/2013

Federal prosecutors have taken over the case against two Lake County men accused of running a large marijuana farm on a rural tract of land and sexually abusing a 15-year-old runaway.

◼ 'Extremely disturbing'; two men suspected of enslaving runaway teen face federal pot chargesThadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard 7/26/2013

Two Lake County men suspected of raping a 15-year-old runaway, locking her in a 2-foot high metal box for days and forcing her to trim marijuana for weeks remained in the Humboldt County jail Thursday after a judge denied their release on drug charges.

Ryan Balletto, 30, of Lakeport and Patrick Steven Pearmain, 24, of Clearlake, appeared in the federal courthouse in Eureka on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nandor Vadas, who denied their release, saying he viewed both men as flight risks and dangers to the community. The two men were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Vadas said during Wednesday's detention hearing that he finds the case “extremely disturbing,” echoing the sentiments of Assistant United States Attorney Matthew McCarthy.

”This is far and away the most disturbing case I've seen in my career as a prosecutor,” McCarthy told the court.

McCarthy told the court that Balletto, a former U.S. Marine, met the 15-year-old runaway in Los Angeles and drove her nearly 500 miles to a 680-acre piece of land he owns in Ogulin Canyon near Clearlake, keeping her there for weeks against her will to help manicure marijuana buds harvested from a 1,300-plant grow.

McCarthy said both Balletto and Pearmain had sex with the girl while she was kept at the property, and that equipment “consistent with sexual bondage and sadomasochism” was found there. McCarthy said authorities searching the property also found a metal box -- measuring 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet high -- with air holes drilled in it, and that the girl later told police the two men locked her inside the box on two occasions for a total of about three days.

McCarthy said the two men referred to their marijuana operation as “their mission,” and told the girl they were locking her in the box to “teach her” and protect their “mission.”

According to a federal criminal complaint filed against the two men, the box -- located outside the trailer in which Balletto resided on the property -- had a hose attached to it, allowing the men to wash human waste off the girl and out of the box without opening it. The girl told authorities, according to the complaint, that Balletto called her a “trooper” for not screaming while she was locked in the box....

◼ Teen allegedly kept in toolbox as part of marijuana operation - News10/KXTV (image source) 7/26/2013
◼ Lake County: Three arrests, marijuana, cash and military-grade weapons seized - Daily News 7/26/2013

...Authorities allegedly found five children in the North Lakeport home they scoured.

Members of the LCSO SWAT team, narcotics task force and major crimes unit served a search warrant on Balletto's nearly 700-acre property in the area of Junction Plaza in Clearlake Oaks Wednesday, according to a department statement released Friday. Deputies also executed a search warrant at Balletto's North Lakeport home.

LCSO officials said they found 1,491 marijuana plants, more than $4,000 in cash and "the largest and most sophisticated bulk of weapons seized in recent (department) history" between the two searches.

In total, investigators reportedly discovered 22 firearms, including high-powered military-grade sniper and assault rifles, automatic assault rifles and pistols. They also recovered military-grade body armor and scopes, high-capacity magazines and ammunition, according to the LCSO statement.

The five children removed from the residence were taken into the custody of Lake County Child Protective Services, the LCSO stated....
◼ Marijuana cultivation investigation leads to human trafficking case - Lake County News

The men also are alleged at one point to have kept the girl in a large box as a punishment, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.

Pearmain’s attorney, Tom Quinn, declined comment at this stage in the case, and Balletto’s attorney, Mitch Hauptman, did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg, who is handling the sex crimes case against the men, said they are facing charges of human trafficking, statutory rape, oral copulation on a person under age 16, sodomy, false imprisonment, annoying or molesting a child. Balletto also is charged with lewd and lascivious acts on a child under age 14 or 15.

They could each face nearly 16 years in prison if convicted of all the charges, Borg said.

While the California Attorney General's Office has put increased focus on fighting human trafficking, which the agency said is the world's fastest growing enterprise, human trafficking cases are rare in Lake County, Borg said.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever charged it,” he said....

The girl has since gone into protective custody outside of Lake County, Borg said.

The situation involving the girl also involves a third suspect.

Eric George Edgar, 45, was arrested on May 16 in connection with the case, Borg said.

Edgar is charged with statutory rape for having allegedly raped the teenage girl when they were alone together on the property. He's also facing charges for making criminal threats and attempting to dissuade a witness, Borg said.

The girl was being kept in a small group of trailers on the property, while Edgar was staying in a trailer more than an hour’s hike across a canyon. Edgar is alleged to have happened upon the girl and raped her, Borg said.

◼ L.A. girl kept in metal box on pot farm for sex, authorities say - LA Times 7/26/2013
◼ Lake County men transferred from (Humboldt County) jail; former Marine is one of two men accused of enslaving runaway teen - Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard 7/27/2013
◼ Criminal complaint: Ryan Balletto...Note: This doc­u­ment con­tains con­tent that some read­ers might find dis­turb­ing. - LA Times 7/26/2013



__________________
Lots of unanswered questions. Picking up runaways in LA, transporting them hundreds of miles to a remote location, a 'box' that indicates they solved a problem they must have had before, telling her she was a trooper for not screaming... how many screamed before her?

Just be glad this is before Federal authorities, and not Humboldt County's DA.

(U.S. Magistrate Judge Nandor Vadas and Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg were formerly with the Humboldt County DA's Office. Just some of the talent 'lost, fired, or driven away' by Paul Gallegos.)

Rape - yet another PLEA DEAL

◼ DA's Office reaches plea deal in van rape case

A Dunsmuir man charged with raping a woman while she was unconscious in the back of his van pleaded guilty Wednesday in a plea deal and was sentenced to three years in prison with five years of parole after his release.

Benjamin Roland Baszler, 25, {note - a registered sex offender, has previously been charged with lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14, according to the Megan's Law website.} was arrested Dec. 4 after Humboldt County Sheriff's Office deputies found him in his blue Chevrolet Astro van parked along Highway 299 with an unconscious woman in the back. He was charged with having intercourse with a person who is unconscious or incapable of resisting and having intercourse with a person who is prevented from resisting because of an intoxicating substance or controlled substance.

Baszler originally pleaded not guilty earlier this week to the two rape charges and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Tuesday. Deputy District Attorney Kelly Neel said the Arcata Police Department was able to locate a key witness Tuesday afternoon, which led to the plea deal.

Neel said the witness' statements supported Baszler's account of the evening and the case became a question of whether Baszler should have known that the victim was too intoxicated to consent.

We're right back to business as usual with this DA. The voters in Arcata and SoHum can be so proud.

◼ Dunsmuir man's hearing on rape charges delayed

Due to the volume of cases in Judge Harold Neville's courtroom Tuesday, the case was moved back one day.

◼ Dunsmuir man accused of rape pleads not guilty

◼ DA's Office reaches plea deal in van rape case

This conviction will be Baszler's second under the “three strikes” law. If he commits another offense, he could serve 25 years to life in state prison.

He was convicted in 2005 of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 in Nevada County, Calif. He also has a felony marijuana possession conviction and a conviction for failure to appear in court.

◼ Court denies bail for Blue Lake rape suspect

”There was other evidence in the van that indicated that there had been other sexual activity,” Godsey said. “Whether or not there were other victims we don't know. There was just enough evidence to raise some concern that there could be other victims.”

◼ Dunsmuir man arrested, charged with rape
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Department is looking for information after a Dunsmuir man was arrested and charged with rape of an unconscious victim on Saturday, the Times-Standard has learned.

Deputies arrested Benjamin Roland Baszler shortly after 11 p.m., after conducting a vehicle investigation on a blue Chevrolet Astro Van parked along Highway 299, according to a press release. Baszler, a registered sex offender, has previously been charged with lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14, according to the Megan's Law website.

Humboldt County Sheriff's spokeswoman Brenda Godsey said Baszler told officers he had just finished having sex with a woman in the back of the van, who he said was sleeping when officers initially questioned him.

Through the van windows, officers saw a woman lying motionless, and she did not respond when the officers tapped on the windows, according to the release. Officers then asked Baszler to open the sliding door, and he agreed.

Officers then attempted to wake the woman, who remained unconscious. Officers continued to try to wake the woman, who eventually was able to open her eyes but was disoriented, and said that she did not know Baszler or how she got into the van....

◼ California Registered Sex Offender

UPDATED - Return of Kevin Scott Walker - Man arrested for rape in Arcata, another on the loose

UPDATE: ◼ Woman Raped – Man Arrested, Another Sought Arcata Eye has more details...

The witness accounts include several horrifying details, with suggestions that there may be more to the story than police have so far been able to verify.

Woodward said the victim was shaken, but not distraught when she first appeared in the parking lot and asked to borrow a cell phone. Avelar described her as “kind of crying.”

Woodward said her face bore a fresh red handprint, the fingers clearly outlined on her cheek, apparently from one of the rapists clamping his hand over her mouth to keep her silent during the attack.

APD Sgt. Todd Dokweiler said the rape survivor’s family lives in Eureka. Woodward said she called her father on the borrowed cell phone. Witnesses said she told him she had been raped and that it sounded like he told her to take a cab home. She said that she couldn’t, because her boyfriend had robbed her.

“She told her dad that her boyfriend had left her high and dry and stolen her money,” Woodward said.

Several of those present report hearing the victim mention three men, not two, the third being the boyfriend. Some mentioned seeing two other men, not just the one outstanding suspect, leaving Walker behind in the wooded area and escaping via the trail that leads up to Seventh Street.

“She said her boyfriend and the two guys were friends,” Avelar said.

Dokweiler confirmed that the victim initially mentioned three men. “Within a few minutes, she recanted that,” he said....

◼ Police arrest man, seek another in Arcata rape; suspect pleaded guilty in 2008 Trinidad assault, got probation full story

◼ Man arrested for rape in Arcata, another on the loose yesterday's brief report
Arcata police arrested one man and are looking for another believed to have sexually assaulted a 25-year-old woman near the Arcata Sports Complex Monday night.

Kevin Scott Walker, 37, of Eureka was booked into Humboldt County jail on suspicion of rape. The second man remains on the loose. He is described as a white or Indian male adult in his early twenties with dark shoulder-length hair and thin facial hair. He was last seen wearing a dark colored jacket.

Officers responded to the 300 block of Community Park Way for the report of a sexual assault at 11:17 p.m. They located a 25-year-old woman being comforted by bystanders....

In 2008, Walker pleaded guilty to felony assault in what was widely believed to be a hate crime in Trinidad. Walker was arrested in May 2008, along with 18-year-old Collin Roczey, after witnesses reported seeing three men fighting in a Trinidad beach parking lot. Witnesses said Walker and Roczey were holding another man down, hitting his head on the ground, hitting him with a metal pipe and stepping on his face while shouting racial slurs.

The two men were originally arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, sexual assault and kidnapping, but pleaded guilty to the assault charge in a plea deal. *

Walker was in Humboldt County Superior Court Tuesday for violation of probation related to the 2008 case.
In court Tuesday, the prosecutor told the court she did not yet have a new filing on Walker. Judge Bruce Watson set Walker's arraignment for Thursday.

(* Actually they pled guilty to assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, which carries a two, three or four-year sentence. They were originally charged with kidnapping to commit a crime, assault with a deadly weapon and sodomy in concert with another person.) Apparently, he got probation.

◼ Gang rape at Arcata Sports Complex. 50 feet away from softball play. - samoa softball
◼ APD Also quoted in the Eye story above (updated)

◼ Man arrested for rape in Arcata yesterday's first breaking report

Prior reports:
◼ Charging decision expected today in Trinidad assault case 5/14/2008
A grisly assault reportedly occurred at Trinidad Beach over the weekend, resulting in the arrest of two suspects and a victim being treated at a local hospital...
◼ Two men plead guilty in assault 6/21/2008
Two men charged in an allegedly racially-motivated assault in Trinidad last month entered guilty pleas to one count in Superior Court this week.

According to court documents, Kevin Scott Walker, 35, and Collin Gregory Roczey, 18, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of felony assault with a deadly weapon.

Together they face a minimum penalty of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years in prison.

Three other felony charges related to an alleged sexual assault on the victim, including kidnapping to commit rape or robbery, were dismissed as part of a plea deal, according to court documents.

Deputy District Attorney Arnold Klein said he will wait for the completion of a probation report to make a suggestion on their penalty to the judge....
Transient sodomy suspects plead guilty to lesser crime - Eureka Reporter (no longer online)

Two transient men arrested in early May on suspicion of sexually assaulting and beating up a man near Trinidad Beach pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge that could keep them in jail up to four years.

Collin Gregory Roczey, 19, and Kevin Scott Walker, 35, were arrested by the Trinidad Police Department on May 10 after several 911 calls were made regarding a man being beaten and kicked by two men in the parking lot. It was discovered that the victim was physically and sexually assaulted and both suspects were reportedly yelling racial slurs at the victim as they were attacking him.

“Alcohol was consumed and allegedly the two arrested suspects turned on the third transient by sexually assaulting him by sodomy,” the Trinidad police log said. “The two suspects then followed the victim to the parking lot of Trinidad Beach and physically assaulted him by kicking him in the head and punching (him).”

The men pleaded guilty to assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, which carries a two, three or four-year sentence. They were originally charged with kidnapping to commit a crime, assault with a deadly weapon and sodomy in concert with another person.

Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Arnold Klein, who prosecuted the case, said he’s waiting to see the report from probation before recommending sentences for the men.

◼ Probation sentence for Trinidad assault 7/17/2008
Two men who pleaded guilty to weapons charges in an allegedly racially motivated assault against another man in Trinidad were sentenced Wednesday to three years probation with no additional time in jail.

They will have to serve 300 hours of community service.

Judge Bruce Watson credited Collin Roczey, 18, and Kevin Walker, 35, for the 60 days they served in jail. However, Roczey's probation was amended, and Watson stipulated he must complete high school, or a GED program, and become gainfully employed under the terms of his probation.

Both men were charged for court costs and restitution fees.

Gallegos wins a RAPE case, YAY!! Whoo Hoo!!!~

#9724; Jasnosz convicted of 31 rape counts
Anonymous has left a new comment:
I'm sure Rose will post this article shortly: http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_14206255
Actually, I added it as an update to the prior post on the jury going for deliberations,
But if you are wanting to hear some cheering for Paul, have at it.

There ya go. However, I suggest you click on the "rape" label in the sidebar, or run a search for the word "rape" here.

Paul Alan Jasnosz Rape trial - convicted of 31 rape counts

◼ Rape trial for stepfather goes to jury for deliberation
The trial of a stepfather who allegedly molested his own stepdaughters went to the jury for deliberations Thursday.
Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos confirmed deliberations have started in the trial of Paul Alan Jasnosz, 43.
Jasnosz is facing 45 counts, including 31 counts of forcible rape, making criminal threats and false imprisonment.

The trial started early last month.

Gallegos said in a Thursday interview that he appreciated the fact that the victims testified.

”We know it's really tough,” Gallegos said.

According to a complaint issued by the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office, the two stepdaughters, now in their 20s, were 6 and 7 years old when the molestation allegedly began.

Jasnosz was arrested Oct. 5, 2008. Jury continues deliberation today.

Update: ◼ Jasnosz convicted of 31 rape counts
The man accused of repeatedly raping his stepdaughters and wife was found guilty of 44 felony counts Friday.
A five-woman, seven-man jury returned the verdicts against Paul Alan Jasnosz after two days of deliberating. Each verdict was read individually, and all but one came back as a felony. The 45th count was reduced to a count of misdemeanor battery.

Jasnosz was found guilty of 31 counts of forcible rape, six counts of oral copulation of a minor, two counts of assault with a firearm, two counts of making criminal threats with the use of a firearm, two counts of false imprisonment with use of a firearm and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The Humboldt County District Attorney's Office said he faces a minimum possible prison sentence of 380 years. He's scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 16.

Before the verdicts were read, Jasnosz began reading a statement, but Judge Marilyn Miles quickly ordered him to stop.
”I ask that you not interrupt, or I'll have you removed,” Miles said.

Jasnosz eventually stopped and the verdicts were then read, which took about an hour.

While guilty verdict after guilty verdict was being handed down, Jasnosz whispered to his attorney and scanned the crowd, stopping and slightly shaking his head while looking at one woman in particular.

After a few instances of this, Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Detective Troy Garey, who was an investigator in the case, stood up in the crowd to block the line of sight between Jasnosz and the woman.

”It's been a long trial,” said Jasnosz' attorney Jonathan McCrone after the hearing.

In the hallway afterward, District Attorney Paul Gallegos hugged the woman who had attracted Jasnosz' attention during the proceedings.

”The family are the true heroes,” he said later
Gallegos reiterated that all sentencing decisions are up to the judge.

Unclear who is to blame

◼ Charging delay almost leads to release
A Eureka man arrested last week for allegedly holding a woman captive and assaulting her came close to being released from jail Wednesday due to a delay in the filing of charges.

Instead, the Eureka Police Department booked 22-year-old Nicholas TJ Liston on suspicion of an additional charge of kidnapping Tuesday night, giving the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office another 48-hour time period to arraign him, said Brenda Godsey, spokeswoman for the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.

”It's a way of resetting the clock,” Godsey said.

Due to the holiday weekend, the District Attorney's Office had until Tuesday to charge Liston. But because EPD's report had not yet been delivered, said District Attorney Paul Gallegos, the charges were not filed.

While “there was some representation that it was delivered earlier,” Gallegos said his office received the EPD's report Wednesday.

According to the Eureka Police Department, Liston allegedly held a woman captive for two days starting Sept. 1. He allegedly tied her up -- at times blindfolding and gagging her -- then physically and sexually assaulted her.

Gallegos' latest case

◼ Trial starts for former Fortuna teacher
A jury has been selected and testimony began Thursday in the trial of a former Fortuna Union High School teacher who is accused of having sex with a 17-year-old student.

Dierdre Marie Peterson, 41, is charged with unlawful sex, oral copulation with a minor and molesting a minor. She has pleaded not guilty, claiming that she was raped, according to court documents.

District Attorney Paul Gallegos told the jury Thursday in his opening statement that although Peterson was known for taking in “stray” children and helping them get through tough times, she made some bad decisions.

”In this case, the story you will hear is good intentions and poor choices, and the regret and deceit that often follow those kind of decisions,” he said.

Gallegos called many of Peterson's activities admirable, such as her youth leadership role in church and caring for others, but that she took things too far.

”There's nothing wrong with attraction but Ms. Peterson chose to act on it,” he said.

Gallegos briefly described the alleged sexual acts the victim detailed to police. When Kim Peterson, the defendant's husband, was out of town and the victim was sleeping over at the Peterson home, Dierdre Peterson allegedly gave the victim a back massage that escalated to sexual intercourse.

The alleged acts took place around June 2008.

DA News

◼ Convicted rapist sentenced to eight year
Richard Jesus Valentine, a 28-year-old man found guilty of rape in December, was sentenced in Humboldt County Superior Court Tuesday to more than eight years in prison.

For the charge of rape by use of an intoxicant, Valentine was sentenced to a total of eight years -- the maximum sentence for the offense. He was also given an additional eight months for possession of heroin. Public defender Jonathan McCrone, Deputy District Attorney Arnold Klein

◼ Man convicted in pipe attack gets seven years
A Blue Lake man convicted of attempted murder for striking his girlfriend in the head with a pipe, suddenly and apparently without reason, was sentenced Tuesday.

After accepting a plea agreement in late November, Thomas Wallace, 45, was sentenced to seven years in prison and to pay more than $16,000 to his former girlfriend, the victim in the case.... Wallace's attorney, Marek Reavis, Deputy District Attorney Randy Mailman

Alleged HSU rapist's rap sheet revealed

☛ TS
Alleged HSU rapist's rap sheet revealed
A 24-year-old McKinleyville man accused of sexually assaulting an intoxicated 19-year-old Humboldt State University student multiple times Saturday night pleaded not guilty at his Thursday arraignment.

Court records show that Craig Martin Merz, who has been charged by the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office for using an intoxicant to commit rape, has a history of statutory rape and drug abuse in Humboldt County...

According to court documents, on Dec. 16, 2004, Fortuna Police arrested then 19-year-old Merz on suspicion of statutory rape, after he was accused by a 14-year-old Fortuna girl. Merz maintained that the sex was consensual, but in 2005, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor statutory rape and was sentenced to probation.

At the time of his 2004 arrest, he was found in possession of a glass methamphetamine pipe and psychedelic mushrooms, court records show.

In 2005, Merz was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and giving false identification to an officer, which resulted in a suspended sentence with 26 months of probation.

Merz was arrested twice in 2006 for drinking in public and loitering. And in February of this year, Merz was arrested on suspicion of petty theft.

According to court documents, after his arrest Merz admitted to probation officers that he had been using drugs and alcohol -- both violations of his parole.

A report from his probation officer found in his court file reads Merz's “performance has been dismal. Defendant continues to use drugs and alcohol.”

That probation officer recommended the court revoke Merz's probation and sentence him to 365 days in jail without early release. Merz was sentenced on April 2 to 365 days in jail, where he stayed until Oct. 13, when he was released with credit for time served.

Following the Thursday hearing, Merz was returned to the Humboldt County jail where he has been since his most recent arrest Sunday. His bail was set for $50,000....

☛ TS McKinleyville man arrested for alleged HSU rape 11/18/08

Jasnosz pleads not guilty

☛ TS Jasnosz pleads not guilty

Paul Alan Jasnosz, a 42-year-old Samoa man facing charges stemming from the alleged continual rape and physical abuse of his family over several years, pleaded not guilty on all counts in a Humboldt County courtroom Monday.

Jasnosz stands accused of 63 charges, which include counts of forcible rape, sexual abuse of children, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm and threatening his family with harm....

...A jury trial for Jasnosz is scheduled to take place Jan 5. He is expected to return to court Dec. 8 for pretrial.
Jasnosz remains in the Humboldt County jail on $300,000 bail.

Another tragic case

☛ ER Probable cause hearing for man facing 70 charges expected to end today
Paul Alan Jasnosz, 42, has pleaded not guilty to the various charges, including 51 counts of rape by force, two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. The man, who was living in the Fairhaven/Samoa area prior to his arrest in early October, was on probation for assault and discharging a firearm at the time. He was also convicted of robbery in Orange County, Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos said.

A series of alleged crimes spanning about four days in early October led to the arrest of Jasnosz. He was arrested on Oct. 5, after his wife of 18 years and 22-year-old step-daughter told Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office officials he raped his step-daughter at gunpoint, threw her into a wall, threatened to kill them and locked them in his bedroom, according to a probable cause statement for his arrest.

Rape Crisis Center subpoena - withdrawn - UPDATED

From what I hear - developing. No, not withdrawn, exactly. Gallegos couldn't justify it.

☛ ER Rape Crisis won’t testify at Gundersen trial

Humboldt Superior Court Judge ruled in favor of a motion to quash a subpoena directed at the North Coast Rape Crisis Center Wednesday.

Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos subpoenaed a rape crisis counselor who worked with a Jane Doe in former Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen’s trial after receiving a document allegedly authored by them.

After determining they did not author it, Gallegos said he didn’t need the witness to testify.

In a previous interview, Gallegos said he wanted the counsel to testify for “transactional” reasons and not to discuss what Doe 1 may have said in private sessions.

He compared it to the counselor testifying that they saw their patient at the supermarket.

UPDATED:

◼ Former Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen has been cleared of all major charges first filed against him in 2008. - Arcata Eye MARCH 2012

****

Another admission, another mistake

District Attorney Paul Gallegos said some of the children’s testimony regarding the charges of oral copulation were contradictory, and that he thinks the transcripts from the victims’ interviews may be inaccurate.

“The fault is on my shoulders,” he said, adding that the DA’s office recently switched to a different interview transcribing company that charged a less-expensive rate.

And though the oral copulation charges were reduced to charges of lewd and lascivious acts, the sentencing range for both are the same — three, six or eight years in prison.

“It really has no impact on what his prison sentence is likely to be,” Gallegos said. Read the rest: ER Molestation charges reduced

TS Alleged child molestation case takes hit

Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Marilyn Miles held up charges of lewd behavior with a minor against accused child molester Andrew Belant Wednesday, but told the district attorney that the evidence didn't support felony charges of sexual assault on the dates outlined in the complaint.
Read the rest: TS Alleged child molestation case takes hit

Last month it was the admission that an alleged rape victim's confidential information had been released to the media and the public.

Evolution of Rape Laws - UPDATED

An evolution of law: Spousal rape recently prosecutable
TS If Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen's wife had made the same rape allegations 30 years ago that she made last month -- or in some other states -- Gundersen wouldn't have been charged with a crime. Read the rest

Additional Recommended reading: (shown above)
Amazon The Laws of Rape: Books: Sue Bessmer (Landmark Dissertations in Women's Studies)

UPDATED:

◼ Former Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen has been cleared of all major charges first filed against him in 2008. - Arcata Eye MARCH 2012

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APD concerned about Harris sentence

ARCATA – Police Chief Randy Mendosa is reviewing the court transcript in the recent concluded trial of Clinton Lee Harris III.

Harris was originally accused of felony rape and burglary over an incident which occurred in the early morning hours of April 2, in which a 21-year-old Humboldt State University student testified that he had entered her home and sexually assaulted her. Harris wound up being sentenced Aug. 20 to 19 days in jail on a misdemeanor burglary plea.

“I have some concerns,” Mendosa said. “I have been in touch with Mr. Gallegos,” he said, referring to District Attorney Paul Gallegos.

Mendosa said he was loathe to publicly articulate his concerns, knowing the highly politicized atmosphere surrounding the controversial DA. He said offering fodder for public debate would only keep the issue alive in the media and perpetuate the alleged sexual assault survivor’s ordeal.

“As I do in my own investigations, I’ll be conveying my concerns privately,” Mendosa said.

According to court documents, three different prosecutors handled the case – Jeffrey Schwartz, Kelly Neel and Ben McLaughlin.

The plea arrangement was handled by McLaughlin, who wasn’t available before press time. However, in press accounts, McLaughlin suggested that the rape charge was weak due to the alleged victim’s prior romantic relationship with Harris, the lack of an immediate medical examination and a roommate’s not having heard anything unusual that night.

Testimony by the alleged victim indicated that she awoke to find Harris in her doorway. She said he then got in bed with her and assaulted her. During the alleged rape, the victim did not resist, but thought to herself, “Let it be over.”

Harris’ 19-day sentence was less 13 days already served, plus a $20 charge for court costs and three years probation. A $100 fine was suspended.

APD concerned about Harris sentence

Silence allows it to go on

There was a reason every single law enforcement group in Humboldt County endorsed Paul Gallegos' opponent in the last election. Their endorsement was couched in careful terms, but amounted to a stunning vote of no-confidence in Gallegos.

Here again, you might have had a glimpse into the reasons, but the Chief wants concerns surrounding dropped rape charge to be kept private

Concerns about a plea deal that resulted in a 19-day sentence for a man originally charged with rape will not be discussed publicly, said Arcata Police Chief Randy Mendosa.

“I do have some concerns about the process, which I’m going to be communicating to (Humboldt County District Attorney Paul) Gallegos, but it’s not appropriate to make those communications through the media,” Mendosa said Wednesday.

The chief’s concerns stemmed from the case of Clinton Lee Harris III, who was arrested by the Arcata Police Department April 18 and mistakenly released from the Humboldt County jail Aug. 3, while awaiting trial on charges of rape and burglary.

Harris was rearrested several days later but was let out again, this time intentionally, on Aug. 20 after the two felony charges were reduced to a single misdemeanor...

...Mendosa declined to specify his particular concerns with the deal, in large part, he said, because the case involved an alleged sexual assault.

“I don’t want my comments to make the process more difficult for rape survivors,” he said, “but I’ll be discussing the matter further with Mr. Gallegos.”