Obama Administration Gives Green Light for Raids on Medical Marijuana Distributors

◼ Obama Administration Overrides 2009 Ogden Memo, Declares Open Season on Pot Shops in States Where Medical Marijuana Is Legal - Reason.com

The Department of Justice sent out a memo Wednesday instructing the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration and leading officials in the U.S. Attorneys Office to treat medical marijuana shops as top priorities for prosecutors and drug investigators.

◼ Obama Administration Gives Green Light for Raids on Medical Marijuana Distributors - Volokh

Back in October 2009, the Obama Justice Department issued a memo that some interpreted as discouraging federal raids on medical marijuana dispensaries operating in states where medical marijuana is permitted under state law. I pointed out at the time that the memo imposed few if any genuine restrictions on federal prosecution of medical marijuana producers. Certainly, it fell far short of implementing Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign promise to stop medical marijuana prosecutions in states where medical marijuana is legal.

Now the Justice Department has issued a new memo to federal prosecutors emphasizing that it has no intention of discouraging federal medical marijuana prosecutions, regardless of state law

◼ The Memo

Jason Bruce ‘J-Bird’ Hunsucker's story of the murder of Darrel Hanger Sr.

◼ Man on the Run - tworiverstribune.com via ◼ lostcoastoutpost.com
Hunsucker said he was asked to drive his sister Sonia Hunsucker and her boyfriend Jackson Surber to the residence to burglarize the home. He was driving a stolen vehicle, a 2006 silver Toyota Tacoma, but didn’t say whether or not he was responsible for the theft of the truck.

Hunsucker was with his girlfriend, Samantha Smoker-Machado, who he said came along for the ride, but did not intend to participate in the burglary.

He said they pulled into the driveway, a short paved entrance way about 20 ft. long that connected to a carport.

“Someone with us said something had been moved, so we started to back out,” he said.

Hunsucker said Sonia and Surber had previously burglarized the same residence and went back with the impression that nobody was home.

“Before I could even hit reverse, I seen people running up behind us,” he said. “I locked my door real fast and yelled at everybody else to lock their doors too.”

Hunsucker said he was having a difficult time keeping the vehicle running and placing it in reverse because a screwdriver was used to start the vehicle when it was stolen....read the rest at the link...

Once they arrived at their friend’s house, Hunsucker contacted a family member, who agreed to drive them to Eureka. Hunsucker claims he did not tell his family what happened, but that they had gotten into a wreck.

However, the following day, once they got news that Hanger had died, Hunsucker’s family member in Eureka asked him to leave. He said he then visited a friend in the area that was a physician and his wounds were cleaned.

Questions about who the doctor is...

◼ TRT Editorial: Hunsucker Should Turn Himself In - tworiverstribune.com
Prior coverage:

◼ Hunsucker Outruns Police Wednesday Night
PRESS RELEASE, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department

On June 29, 2011, approximately 10:30 p.m. a Humboldt County Sheriffs Deputy and Hoopa Tribal Police Officer were working in the Hoopa Area when they spotted an All Terrain Vehicle (A.T.V.) traveling southbound on State Route 96, North of Hostler Field Housing. The deputy and tribal officer attempted a traffic stop on the All Terrain Vehicle for vehicle code violations. When the deputy and tribal officer caught up to the All Terrain Vehicle they recognized the driver as wanted murder suspect Bruce Stallings-Hunsucker. Stallings–Hunsucker has a one million dollar murder warrant for his arrest out of Humboldt County Superior Court. The warrant is for his involvement in the killing of Darrell Hanger Sr. in Willow Creek.

After the deputy attempted to stop Stallings-Hunsucker using the patrol cars red light and siren, Stallings-Hunsucker fled on the All Terrain Vehicle, running stop signs and driving on the wrong side of the highway. The deputy and tribal police officers pursued Stallings-Hunsucker who periodically would travel on roads and trails in the area attempting to elude the officers. Stallings-Hunsucker was last seen by Hoopa Tribal Police Officers eastbound, about four miles up Big Hill Road, Hoopa, off Highway 96. Stallings-Hunsucker drove his vehicle off the highway where the patrol vehicles could not follow him. The deputy and Tribal Police officers later located Stalling-Hunsuckers All Terrain Vehicle and Helmet in the brush. They searched the area but could not locate him. Additional charges of felony evasion are being sought against Stallings-Hunsucker.

His description is: Bruce Jason Stallings-Hunsucker, also known as Bruce Hunsucker, 36 years old brown hair, brown eyes, five feet ten inches tall, 185 pounds, unknown clothing description

Anyone with information regarding Stallings-Hunsucker is requested to contact the Sheriffs Office immediately, 707-445-7251.

◼ Hunsucker Escapes Deputies on Quad Down River - tworiverstribune.com
◼ Third Suspect in Hanger Homicide Captured*** - tworiverstribune.com
(***comment on that article includes this: Call the Humboldt County District Attorney- Paul Gallegos- and ask him why Sonia Hunsucker was realeased to terroize when she was arrested in connection to a murder in Eureka just last year- (707) 445-7411. The death of Mr. Hanger could have been prevented had the local police been effective in their duties. Please take a stand. Please fight for justice! Jane Doe Weitchpec, CA)
◼ $1 Million Arrest Warrant for Homicide Suspects - tworiverstribune.com
◼ Sheriff’s Searching for Suspects in Weitchpec Robbery

Third suspect arrested in Willow Creek homicide, robbery case; Bruce Stallings-Hunsucker still at large
05/19/2011 - The third of four suspects sought in a Willow Creek homicide investigation was arrested in Eureka on Tuesday, and deputies are continuing to search for the last one. The Eureka Police Department's...

Hunsucker pleads guilty to eluding officers
01/31/2009 - Sonia Hunsucker, a 28-year-old woman from Eureka, pleaded guilty in Humboldt County Superior Court Thursday to the felony charge of eluding an officer....

$1 million warrants out for Willow Creek shooting suspects
05/11/2011 - A Humboldt County judge issued $1 million arrest warrants Tuesday for Samantha Kristen Machado, aka “Samantha Smoker,” 26, and Bruce Jason Stallings-Hunsucker, 36, both of Eureka....

Reward offered for information into homicide
06/08/2011 - The Willow Creek Volunteer Fire Department is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect sought in a Willow Creek homicide investigation. Three of the...

Investigation into botched burglary continues; victim remembered as a “wonderful father” and an “upstanding man”
05/07/2011 - An autopsy and toxicity test are scheduled today for Darrell Hanger Sr., the 50-year-old man who was shot and killed in a burglary attempt that went awry at a residence on the 400 block of Sunset...

Humboldt County Sheriff's Office still searching for suspects in Willow Creek homicide; memorial service for Darrell Hanger Sr. set for this Saturday
05/10/2011 - While the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office continues its investigation into a shooting that killed a Willow Creek man last week, the community he served is preparing to honor his life. What...

Murder suspect spotted, remains at large
05/21/2011 - The last outstanding suspect sought in a Willow Creek homicide investigation was spotted by law enforcement Friday, prompting an unsuccessful search by the California Highway Patrol and the Humboldt...

Three wanted after home invasion in Weitchpec
04/12/2011 - The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office is searching for three suspects believed to have been involved in an armed home invasion robbery Sunday night in Weitchpec. At about 8:30 p.m., deputies were...

Eureka woman arrested after high speed chase
01/23/2009 - A high speed chase from Del Norte into Humboldt County ended Thursday with the alleged driver of a stolen vehicle, who reportedly drove the wrong way on Highway 101 in an attempt to evade...

Recurring search term: www.google.com — humboldt county district attorney's office investigation

Yes. Something is up.

Developing

A lot of interesting searches, from interesting places. Hmmmmmmm......

Arcata man pleads guilty to molestation charges

◼ Arcata man pleads guilty to molestation charges

Arcata resident Wayne Thomas Bukowski, 37, pleaded guilty Monday to one count each of continuous sexual abuse of a minor and committing a lewd and lascivious act with a minor, attempting to dissuade a witness while out on bail and three violations of a court order to have no contact with the victim.

Bukowski is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge W. Bruce Watson on July 25. He faces up to 20 years, 8 months in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

McKinleyville man held to answer for death of Jerry George

Update 6/28/2019

◼ Will the handling of convicted murderer Jacob Steele's jury trial work in his favor today?

This afternoon, there is a Franklin hearing/resentencing scheduled for Jacob Charles Steele. He was convicted of second degree murder of Jerry George in 2012. As of today, Steele is not eligible for parole until 2034....

◼ McKinleyville man held to answer for death of Jerry George - TS

A Humboldt County Superior Court judge ruled that Jacob Charles Steele will be held to answer to a charge of murder.

After a three-day preliminary hearing that ended Monday, Judge Christopher Wilson ruled there is sufficient evidence to hold Jacob Steele, 23, of McKinleyville, to stand trial on charges of first degree murder for the death of Jerry George, who went missing over a year ago and is believed dead.

Jacob Steele, who faces an additional count of making a criminal threat, remains in the Humboldt County jail with his bail set at $1 million.

Investigators from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office and members of Eureka's Problem Oriented Policing Unit arrested Jacob Steele in March 2010 after discovering evidence that George had been a victim of homicide.

While investigators have not yet found George's body, court records show that they did find evidence of the alleged crime. Declarations in support of arrest warrants filed by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office state that a confidential informant first told the sheriff's office that George was shot and killed at Jacob Steele's apartment.

According to court documents, witnesses said that George was at the apartment on Jan. 21, 2010, with Jacob Steele, his girlfriend Lindsay Devore, his cousin Richard Steele and another friend, Shawn Hof. Hof told investigators that Jacob Steele and George got into an argument, and then Jacob Steele told everyone but George to leave the apartment. Court documents state that Jacob Steele then shot George.

No charges in toddler drowning; Deputy DA: 'Does not rise to the level of criminal negligence'

◼ No charges in toddler drowning; Deputy DA: 'Does not rise to the level of criminal negligence'

The Humboldt County District Attorney's Office has decided not to file criminal charges stemming from the March 6 drowning death of a 20-month-old boy in Eureka.

”At the end of the day, it is a horrible family tragedy, but the conduct does not rise to the level of criminal negligence,” said Deputy District Attorney Kelly Neel. “We have decided not to file criminal charges as it relates to this child's death.”

Caiden Archie Cathey died March 6 when, according to officials, he fell from a dock in Eureka's Halvorsen Park into Humboldt Bay while still strapped into his stroller and drowned.

Judge to decide on Tsurai village civil suit discovery; tree service joins civil suit, waiting on criminal case's conclusion

◼ link

The suit alleges that former Trinidad Planning Commission Sam Pennisi and his wife Sharon Ferrett hired Coastal Tree Service to clear a 105-foot-by-210-foot area on the 12.6 acre historic site, knowing that it would be a violation of the law to do so. City officials said they were unaware of the project, and put a stop to it when they saw work being done in June 2010. Pennisi resigned in August.

The ceremonial burial site sits below the Memorial Lighthouse in Trinidad and is located adjacent to the couple's property.

According to the court calendar, the civil suit has become a 15-party lawsuit, and includes nine members of the Tsurai Ancestral Society, the city of Trinidad, and Coastal Tree Service and its owner Tom Head.

Timothy Wykle, an attorney for Pennisi and Ferrett, said most of the civil complaint was “piggy backed” on the criminal charges brought on by the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office, which he said over charged the couple.

”Both the civil and criminal matters have serious issues surrounding consent, lack of damages, standing and over charging,” he said. “These issues will eventually all be sorted out.”

The District Attorney's Office filed criminal charges against the couple in February, including one felony count of vandalism each for Pennisi and Ferrett, as well as misdemeanor charges of trespassing, destroying standing timber and injuring a historical object. The case has a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 28.

On a day to day basis nothing changes, with or without Chavez at home: food scarcity, electric blackouts, crime, unemployment, infrastructure degradation, health care worker strikes, etc, keep their steady progression. This is what happens in a thugocracy, this novel variant of autocracy that is been revealed to us this June. Indeed, for all the adjectives we were applying to describe the Chavez regime the one that fitted it best was the government of thugs, by thugs, for thugs, or thugocracy.

◼ Thugocracy in crisis: mystery disease and cancelled summits for Chavez - Daniel in Venzuela

The EPIC Pot Bust is in the news again... Fieldbrook man held without bail on federal drug charge

◼ Fieldbrook man held without bail on federal drug charge

A Fieldbrook man was arrested Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana out of Harrisburg, Pa.

James Edward Shelton, 37, was arrested by Humboldt County Sheriff's deputies at approximately 11 a.m. in the Humboldt County Courthouse on a no bail federal arrest warrant.

The charges brought against Shelton stem from an investigation that took place at his Fieldbrook home earlier this month.

Officials from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration out of Santa Rosa in uncovering an alleged major marijuana grow operation at Shelton's residence in Fieldbrook on June 9, while serving a state search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation.

Shelton and Amber Zo Jamieson, 28, were arrested on suspicion of cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale.

Authorities reported seizing 298 marijuana plants ranging in height from 1- to 5-feet inside the home and a nearby outbuilding. In addition, 10 extra-large duffel bags were reportedly found filled with 495 pounds of processed marijuana stored in vacuum-sealed, one-pound bags.

◼ Fieldbrook pot bust is EPIC - The Mirror

You can bet this investigation is ongoing and far-reaching.

District Attorney Paul Gallegos, Poster boy for "Vote Local Control" begging for big bucks from - wait for it - out of town - makes the paper. $250-$2,500 a pop dinner

◼ Pot lobbying group to host Gallegos fundraiser; Sacramento soiree for DA charges $250 a plate and more - TS
Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos is still looking to pay off some campaign debt and hopes to get a lot of help Wednesday at a pricey Sacramento fundraiser sponsored by a medical marijuana lobbying organization.

...$41,000 in outstanding loans, including $26,000 owed to his wife, local attorney Joan Gallegos.

I'm hearing that the local boys aren't ponying up the dough - probably because even they realize that he is a faker, and has let everyone down.

◼ For Gallegos, ‘multitasking’ means pandering to growers and paying off campaign debt all at the same time - The Mirror (image source)

◼ "Vote Local Control" Poster Boy, in his own words. Say anything.

This global warming is getting so bad

It's shifting from gorgeous, sunny and warm to cold and rainy all in a couple of hours.

”The Intelliwaste study had been, we thought, designed to find out whether or not the Samoa facility was being operated in a reasonably efficient manager,” Boyd said. “And the next thing we knew was that it was then being used as a justification to go outside Humboldt County for a request for proposals for recycling by the waste management authority. We were feeling pretty persecuted by that."

◼ Outcry against Willits contract brings HWMA, ACRC full circle; entities agree to discuss authority's potential acquisition of center's Samoa plant - Times Standard

Uh, you were going to CHARGE "$65 per ton to process its recycling" and the other guys were going to PAY the authority $8 per ton for the same service.... I think some people MIGHT feel a bit "persecuted" by being ripped off, don't you?

"Currently, the ACRC charges $50 per ton to process recycling," and you're stabbing in the dark, saying you'll drop it to $0?

Persecuted, nothing. Something is rotten in Denmark. (Arcata) Obviously, it wasn't/isn't "being operated in a reasonably efficient (manner)."

"Keeping it local" shouldn't mean being ripped off. This isn't a couple dollars difference, it's a spread of nearly $100 a ton. Bear in mind that Willits was going to have to HAUL it, incurring additional expense on their end, and they can STILL beat you by that much. Wow.

How long has this been going on, and how much has it cost the people - who have a right to expect their interests to be looked out for much better than this.

No?
_________________________

Odd. heraldo has a post up saying the Arcata Recycling Center is announcing that they are DROPPING their fees fees they charge you to drop off bottles and cans... "Beginning July 1, 2011 ACRC is reducing the facility fee for drop off of these materials to zero (the current fee is five dollars per visit). Certain materials, such as electronic waste, appliances, and fluorescent tubes, will still require a small fee to cover their safe handling.

Drop off recycling of mixed paper (newspaper, magazines, cardboard, and office pack) and containers (glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans and formed containers, steel cans, and #1-#7 plastic bottles and containers) will now be offered as a free service."

WTH? That's FREE in McKinleyville, and always has been. Arcata's been CHARGING? $5 a visit?

Explain.

Garr Nielsen fired without cause

◼ CHIEF NIELSEN FIRED - heraldo June 24th, 2011 at 11:41
◼ Heraldo: EPD Chief Nielsen Dismissed Lost Coast Outpost June 24th, 2011 at 12:21 p.m.
◼ Nielsen out at EPD TS - June 24, 2011 12:30:34 PM PDT
◼ EPD Chief Garr Nielsen Fired The Journal June 24th, 2011 at 12:29 P.M. (but quotes TS's 12:30 story)

◼ EPD Chief Nielsen fired after 4 years; Harpham named interim replacement - 06/25/2011 02:40:18 AM

Clendenen cleared of conflict of interest complaint

UPDATE: ◼ Clendenen cleared of conflict of interest complaint; FPPC said there is 'insufficient evidence'

The Fair Political Practices Commission has cleared 2nd District Supervisor Clif Clendenen on allegations of a potential conflict of interest with his seat on the railroad authority.

The commission sent a letter, dated June 15, to Fortuna resident John Pelletier, who filed the complaint earlier this month. The letter stated, “after review by staff, it was determined that this complaint does not contain sufficient evidence to allege a violation of the Political Reform Act's conflict of interest provisions.”

According to a copy of the original complaint, Pelletier argued that Clendenen is violating the act by being a partner in his family business, Clendenen's Cider Works, which is located within 500 feet of the rail line the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) makes decisions on.

”It seems a victory for Mr. Clendenen for now,” Pelletier said Thursday. He did not elaborate on his concerns.

Clendenen has served on the NCRA since 2009. The orchard property, which is owned by Clendenen's mother, is adjacent to the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Authority route.

”It seemed without merit, and I'm glad the FPPC concurs,” Clendenen said on Thursday.

7.2 Earthquake in Alaska – Tsunami Warning Canceled

◼ 7.2 Earthquake in Alaska – Tsunami Warning Canceled