Today at 12:15 Arnie Klein's formal announcement at the Humboldt County Courthouse

The DAs race is the most important election in the County right now. The challengers face a difficult road, and they deserve your consideration and support. Best of luck, Mr. Klein.
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◼ Website: votearnieklein.org
◼ Facebook: Arnie Klein for Humboldt County District Attorney 2014
◼ Endorsements

Note: Article in Thursday, Nov. 14 Times-Standard will be linked when TS posts it online.

Arnie Klein Set to Challenge Gallegos in DA Race

◼ Next Wednesday, after more than four decades practicing law and nearly two years of "retirement," the 71-year-old attorney will announce his campaign to unseat Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos. - Ryan Burns/The Journal

...Known as a dynamic and effective showman in the courtroom, Klein spent the bulk of his career in Los Angeles, first as a deputy DA and later as a defense attorney with his own practice. His highest-profile case came in 1986, when he successfully defended the special effects coordinator from Twilight Zone: The Movie. (During that film's production, a helicopter accident killed actor Vic Morrow and two children.)

In 1999 Klein went back to the prosecutor's side of the aisle, taking a job with the Tulare County District Attorney's Office. In 2006 he moved up to Humboldt County, where he spent five-plus years as a deputy district attorney....

◼ Former prosecutor to run for DA: Candidates file elections paperwork to begin fundraising - Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard 7/24/2013

”I'm experienced, I'm balanced and I'm not caught up in the broken process that is going on now,” he said.

Klein said he thinks the DA's Office has misallocated its resources, spending too much on its investigations bureau and too little on prosecutors, and that he's been disappointed in what he sees as a steady exodus of experienced prosecutors from the office under Gallegos' tenure.

Reached Tuesday, Gallegos said he's looking forward to running for a fourth term in office.

◼ Politics can make strange bedfellows - John Chiv/Words Worth
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◼ FACEBOOK: Arnie Klein for Humboldt County District Attorney 2014

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

Well, well, well... Look who Chris Lehman's spokesmouth is...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Josh Drayton

Let the games begin.

Will there be a new anonymous hit-blog, Chris?

This explains a LOT.

Murder charge dropped against Flores; defendant released in Royal Inn stabbing case

◼ Murder charge dropped against Flores; defendant released in Royal Inn stabbing case - Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard

William Flores was scheduled to appear in Humboldt County Superior Court for a hearing to determine if there was enough evidence to hold him to stand trial on a charge that he fatally stabbed Eureka resident Joshua Burrell, 33, but prosecutors dropped the murder charge and a special allegation that the slaying was carried out in association with a criminal street gang.

”We got some information based on further investigation that has us looking at some additional suspects,” prosecuting Deputy District Attorney Élan Firpo said. “I think we should wait until we have some more information before we proceed. The cleanest thing to do at this time is to dismiss and, if need be, refile (the case) at a later time.”

Arnie Klein to formally announce he is running for DA on November 13

◼ per John Chiv - Wordsworth

November 13 at 12:15, he will formally announce his candidacy in front of the Courthouse.

Who's asleep at the editorial wheel?

It's not posted online yet - but a Times-Standard letter-to-the-editor from Richard W. "R Trent" Salzman opining on 'honesty in politics is a bit much. How'd that get by you guys? And WHO wrote the title? Did you do that with a straight face?

◼ Time for honesty in government - Richard W. Salzman/Letter-To-The-Editor/Times-Standard

Once again, the need for some institutional memory is startlingly clear.

Remember the ◼ "Web Of Lies"? Or did you excuse that away?

◼ At least we know can assume he is using his own name this time:
"Though the Williams letters were signed "R. Trent Williams," e-mails sent from "Williams'" e-mail address appeared in inboxes as coming from "Rick William." Salzman's full name is Richard William Salzman.

Reached Tuesday {September 2005) morning, Salzman declined to comment on the matter any further. He said that he would not provide a list of false names he has used."
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There's also a sudden spate of letters to the editor decrying 'big money' in politics.

What this means is - Salzman's faction is down and seeking to handicap 'the other side.'

Ken Miller's on the move as well, his latest puppet is running for the MCSD.

This election in November is a little one, and shouldn't have to become acrimonious, but all bets are off when sweet Ol' Ken is involved. And really guys, for what?

Next year promises to be bloody.

TWENTY ONE M-I-L-L-I-O-N

◼ Three raids in the area of Garberville and Benbow netted an estimated $21 million in marijuana, including nearly 24,000 plants and 600 pounds of processed pot. - Catherine Wong/The Times-Standard

Twenty One Million.

The article makes note of environmental law violations. And, if they had kids, you might find them on the 'free lunch' rolls, right, because the parents show no income. If they're in town, with an indoor grow, their PG&E bill is likely more than most people make every month, and they might be on some special low-income assistance program. Wherever they live, they might be getting Food Stamps, WEC, and whatever other programs they're 'eligible' for.

And even if they're not, they're guilty of a whole lot more than just illegal growing. There's income tax evasion, likely labor law violations, and any number of other laws and statutes they are either violating or not complying with.

Funny how people who support this behavior will also, with a straight face, pontificate with "It's the law of the land" as a new favorite phrase. When they so clearly don't care on whit about the 'law of the land.'

"Ken Miller," Sylvia DeRooy and the plagiarist. And hypocrisy.

In the ongoing saga of the graduation speech and the school board member, a familiar player raises his head. ◼ NHUHSD PLAN FOR RESPONDING TO PLAGIARIZED SPEECH: DO NOTHING - McKinleyville Press
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In the comments, Ken Miller* says:
August 29, 2013 at 8:03 pm
A concern I have not seen expressed is what other transgressions Don is involved in? He has many big projects, and not just locally, with many opportunities to skim, skate, or otherwise scam a variety of enviro and economic laws. He is simply not trustworthy. Just as catching a speeder or shoplifter is assumed to be catching a chronic offender, we can assume that a parent willing to involve his daughter in a baldface lie in front of her peers, and then attack we who are incensed by his sociopathy, reveals someone capable of, well, anything.
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Really? Is this the real Ken Miller? the Ken Miller who brought us Paul Gallegos (the plagiarist)? Ken Miller who stood on his "Fraud is not a victimless crime" soapbox?

The same Ken Miller behind so many political machinations in this county? Suddenly going for the jugular?

Yet - the same Ken Miller who supports Paul Gallegos DESPITE his plagiarizing THE OX-BOW INCIDENT by ROBERT LOUIS FELIX in his PUBLISHED OP-ED "MY-WORD" IN THE TIMES STANDARD?

Yes, the same Ken Miller, (and Sylvia DeRooy, BIG vociferous Gallegos supporter) front and center, at the School Board meeting last night. Opining about the evils of plagiarism.

So, let's hear Ken (and Sylvia) stipulate that Paul Gallegos "is simply not trustworthy. Just as catching a speeder or shoplifter is assumed to be catching a chronic offender, we can assume that a DA willing to mislead the public in a baldface lie in front of his peers,... reveals someone capable of, well, anything."
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* We're assuming this really is Ken Miller, out from the shadows, but maybe it's Salzman, using Ken Miller's name. Who knows.
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And for you newbies, who don't know the history:

RELATED STORIES:
THE OX-BOW INCIDENT by ROBERT LOUIS FELIX
a copy of THE OX-BOW INCIDENT in case the link goes down
TS - Paul Gallegos' My Word
ER - WHOSE WORD WAS 'MY WORD'? - Eureka Reporter http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=14767
ER - A second Gallegos column raises questions about attribution - Eureka Reporter http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=14776

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?
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In politics, little people matter

◼ ...Completed the paperwork so he is set to operate and receive donations and has a way for constituents to contact him. Arnie has a plan and a goal. He has shown he is savvy enough to know that in politics, there are no big people or little people, just voters.... - John Chiv/Words Worth

Who should run for DA?

Who's qualified? Who can fix a broken office? Does it require dope-grower support? Will the trial attorneys finally be brave enough to buck the machine? Or are you stuck with Paul for the next 20 years?

Leave your suggestions in the comments.

The latest maybe

◼ Another name being mentioned as a candidate for the Humboldt County D.A’s race is Cyndi Day-Wilson, the attorney for the City of Eureka. - John Chiv Words Worth

And there are others. Not just the ones who've been mentioned here. Paul is weak, more and more people KNOW how absolutely bad he is at his job.

The more candidates the better. Maybe there will finally be an HONEST assessment of his atrocious management of that office.

Just remember - you once had 20 capable prosecutors, now you have 7-ish mostly untrained people struggling with overloaded buckets, no time to properly prepare for cases, and no decent mentor left to help them find their footing.

Oh, I know, eric. He's SUCH a nice guy, and by God, he won!

Lucky for him. It's time for some luck for the people of Humboldt County instead.

(Word of warning: Salzman/Gallegos' machine is much more vicious when it comes to female candidates, so be prepared.)

◼ The latest maybe: Cyndi Day-Wilson
◼ Let's hope not: Elan Firpo
◼ And so it begins: Arnold Klein

Bodhi Tree to be charged: details emerge in Arcata double homicide

◼ Bodhi Tree to be charged with Eureka shooting; details emerge in Arcata double homicide, defendant's mental health history - Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard

Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Élan Firpo said this week that she is in the process of amending the criminal complaint facing Bodhi Tree, also known as Hakim Stoltz, to include an attempted-murder charge stemming from a shooting in Eureka that occurred just days before the Arcata double homicide.

Firpo offered new details into the allegations facing Tree, an ex-convict who court documents indicate has a history of mental illness and had been released from prison just six weeks before he is alleged to have opened fire in a Eureka neighborhood. The court documents also indicate Tree confessed to the Arcata killings, telling a friend he'd “just shot two people.”

The subject of an hours-long manhunt, Tree was arrested at about 2 p.m. on May 18 in Arcata. He was found hiding in bushes on the 800 block of Shirley Boulevard in Sunny Brae about 12 hours after 18-year-old Eureka High School student Christina Schwarz and Alan “Sunshine” Marcet, 27, were killed at a home on the 2400 block of Eye Street in Arcata.

...In October 2011, Tree was arrested after a high-speed police chase in a case that ultimately saw him charged with assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and vandalism. Under a plea agreement, Tree was sentenced to serve three years in state prison for evading an officer. The sentence came over the protests of Tree's defense attorney Owen Tipps, who argued that his client suffered serious mental health issues and would be better served by a grant of probation and counseling.

According to a motion filed by Tipps in the 2011 case, Tree has a family history of mental illness and was declared incompetent to stand trial three times during a 2007 assault with a deadly weapon case, necessitating his commitment into a state mental hospital....

Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson ultimately decided probation was not the best option -- agreeing with the Humboldt County Probation Department -- and sentenced Tree to serve three years in state prison. After serving about 16 months -- not including time spent in county jail -- Tree was released from prison in early April.

Within six weeks, he'd been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Tree has pleaded not guilty to all charges in his current case and is next due in court Aug. 12. His attorney, Deputy Public Defender Jennifer Dixon, was not immediately available to comment for this story.

Bruce “Jason” Stallings-Hunsucker to stand trial for murder

◼ Judge: Sufficient evidence for fourth suspect to stand trial in Willow Creek homicide; Stallings-Hunsucker held on murder charge - Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard

A judge ruled Wednesday there is sufficient evidence to hold Bruce “Jason” Stallings-Hunsucker to stand trial on a murder charge stemming from the May 2011 shooting death of volunteer fireman Darrell Hanger in Willow Creek.

Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Dale Reinholtsen also found there was probable cause to hold the Hoopa resident to answer to charges of burglary, conspiracy and taking a vehicle without the owner's permission. Reinholtsen did not issue a holding order on charges of attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney David Nims.

Defense attorney Neal Sanders said his client was also not held to answer to a number of special allegations and enhancements that he personally used a firearm in the commission of the charged offenses.