The parents of a 26-year-old man shot and killed by Arcata and Humboldt State University police in September have filed a claim for damages with the city, alleging negligence, wrongful death and “conspiracy to cover up.” Ervin Eugene Sweat Jr. allegedly opened fire on police officers, wounding one, with a stolen .40 caliber handgun in […]
Courts
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Guilty Pleas Entered in Hash Lab Murder Case
Three suspects who faced murder charges after a hash lab explosion in 2016 left a 21 year old dead pleaded guilty to lesser charges Tuesday. Xavier Renner died in the University of California Davis Medical Center burn unit five weeks after the Nov. 9, 2016 explosion and subsequent fire left him with third degree burns […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Yurok Tribe Sues Drug Companies Over Opioid Epidemic
The Yurok Tribe has filed a federal lawsuit against 20 manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioids, alleging the companies are responsible for spreading the scourge of drug use on the reservation and across the country. “The only difference between these companies and drug cartels is the fact that legal purveyors of prescription opioids have protection […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Squireses Put H Street Building Up for Sale
Interested in buying a fixer upper as an income property? This new listing for an apartment building in Eureka might just fit the bill: “Fourteen units that are mostly in poor condition currently, but owner will refurbish with new electrical, plumbing, and paint.” The asking price is $875,000. But there’s just one catch, well, actually, […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Fortuna Settles Wrongful Death Suit for $900K
The city of Fortuna has agreed to pay $900,000 to settle a federal wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of a man shot dead by police in 2012 after an appellate ruling brought the credibility of the officers involved into serious question. Jacob Newmaker, 26, was shot and killed by then Fortuna Police officer […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Gov. Appoints Another HumCo Judge
California Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed county Conflict Counsel Kaleb Cockrum to step in as Humboldt County’s next superior court judge. Cockrum, 43, will step into the seat vacated by the retirement of Judge Marilyn Miles, who retired in July. He is the third new judge Brown has appointed to the Humboldt County bench since […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Bid to Alter Squireses’ Bankruptcy Case Cites ‘Gross Mismanagement’
A federal judge is set to consider a motion Wednesday to lift Floyd and Betty Squires’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection or convert the couple’s case to Chapter 7 based on claims of “gross mismanagement of the estate.” The request is being made by the Office of the U.S. Trustee, part of the Department of Justice, […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
ACLU to Honor Public Defender’s Office with ‘Perseverance’ Award
The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is having its annual meeting tonight at Arcata’s D Street Neighborhood Center, during which it will present its annual Patriot Award to the Humboldt County Public Defender’s Office “in recognition of the difficult year” it just finished. “The county almost destroyed the public defender’s office last […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Another One Leaves the Bench: Judge Feeney to Retire
Judge John T. Feeney today announced he is retiring effective Feb. 28 after more than 20 years on the bench in Humboldt County. Over the years, Feeney has presided over some of the region’s most notorious cases, including the 2016 murder trial of Gary Lee Bullock, who was convicted in the brutal torture death of […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Judge Reinholtsen Announces Retirement
Dale A. Reinholtsen is preparing to finish his 21-year career as a Humboldt County superior court judge. The press release from the court sets his retirement date for the end of December, when his current term will come to a close. Reinholtsen has presided over several high-profile Humboldt County cases, including a 2002 suit by […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Judge Allows Squireses’ Building to Be Condemned, Sets Hearing On Process
Judge Dale Reinholtsen today declined to block the city of Eureka’s order to vacate a dilapidated apartment building owned by Floyd and Betty Squires, meaning the 15 tenants of 833 H St. will need to be out by Monday. The Squireses had requested a temporary restraining order to restrict city officials from entering any of […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Kelly Neel Tapped as Next Superior Court Judge
There’s a new judge in town. Gov. Jerry Brown just announced that he appointed Deputy Public Defender Kelly Neel to the Humboldt County Superior Court judgeship being vacated by Judge Timothy Cissna, who is retiring next month after nearly two decades on the bench. “I’m just speechless,” Neel said when reached by the Journal. “I […]