The Humboldt County Public Defender’s Office contends that Jon David Goldberg, who was sentenced this afternoon for the murder of a Fortuna volunteer firefighter, was denied a new trial despite “conclusive evidence” of jury misconduct. A press release by the Humboldt County Public Defender’s Office also states that visiting Judge Graham Cribbs closed proceedings on […]
Fortuna
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UPDATE: Judge Denies New Trial, Sentences Goldberg to Prison
Visiting Judge Graham Cribbs sentenced Jon David Goldberg to 15 years to life in prison this afternoon for the murder of volunteer Fortuna firefighter Tim Smith but struck down a firearm enhancement that would have added 25 years to his term. He handed down his decision after denying Goldberg’s petition for a new trial following […]
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Judge Sentences Goldberg to 15 Years to Life, Denies New Trial
Visiting Judge Graham Cribbs sentenced Jon David Goldberg to 15 years to life in prison this afternoon for murdering volunteer Fortuna firefighter Tim Smith but struck down a firearm enhancement that would have added 25 years to his term. He handed down his decision after denying Goldberg’s petition for a new trial following a week of […]
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Hayrides and Apple Harvest at Clendenen’s
Bushels of fun were had this past weekend at Fortuna’s annual Apple Harvest Festival. Locals and visitors alike enjoyed pies and cider, a street fair, arts and craft vendors and live music throughout the weekend. And down at Clendenen’s Cider Works, apple-cheeked kids and adults alike sampled pressed cider and climbed aboard hayrides through the […]
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Marci Kitchen Pleads Guilty, Sentencing Set
Just weeks before her trial was set to begin, Marci Kitchen stood in front of Judge Kaleb Cockrum today and pleaded guilty to all the charges she was facing for fatally hitting two teenage girls, including her daughter, while driving drunk then fleeing the scene in 2016. Wearing a black and white brocade dress with […]
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Marci Kitchen Expected to Plead Guilty Monday
Judge Kaleb Cockrum today set a Monday hearing at which Marci Kitchen is expected to enter a guilty plea to the full set of charges she is facing for the hit-and-run deaths of two teenage girls, one of whom was her daughter. More than two years have passed since Kitchen allegedly was driving drunk and […]
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UPDATE: Kitchen Expected to Plead Guilty as Charged, Hearing Set for Monday
UPDATE: Judge Kaleb Cockrum today set a change of plea hearing for Monday with Marci Kitchen expected to enter guilty pleas to the full set of charges she is facing. Her defense attorney presented the court with a nine-page “white form” plea form. Deputy District Attorney Stacey Eads stated after the hearing that no plea […]
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Want to Run for Office? The Deadline is Looming
Time is running out for candidates to file their nomination papers to run for council and mayor in cities across Humboldt County — the exception being Ferndale, which closed its nomination period today. All others have deadlines tomorrow. That is unless an incumbent does not seek a return to office, in which case the filing […]
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Judge Sets Hearing on Jury Misconduct in Goldberg Murder Trial
The man convicted of killing volunteer Fortuna fireman Tim Smith could receive a new trial after a judge today found the defense had presented enough evidence to call for an evidentiary hearing into jury misconduct, according to news reports. Jon David Goldberg, who was found guilty of second-degree murder in March for fatally shooting Smith […]
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UPDATE: Police Arrest Previously Barricaded Subject in Fortuna
FIFTH UPDATE: According to a Fortuna Police Department release (see below), Eureka resident Melvin Matthews, 35, was wanted on felony warrants for evading law enforcement and making threats against a police officer, grand theft and possession of a stolen vehicle. He surrendered to the Humboldt County SWAT team after a three-hour standoff. FOURTH UPDATE: The […]
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A Halo Over Fortuna
Fortuna received an especially spectacular sky show – a solar halo – this afternoon (June 5). A solar halo is “caused by high, thin cirrus clouds drifting high above your head,” according to EarthSky, a science news site. “Tiny ice crystals in Earth’s atmosphere create the halos. They do it by refracting and reflecting the light. […]
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Four Local Starbucks Close in Nationwide Training Effort
Four Humboldt County Starbucks locations are closing at 2:30 p.m. today (May 29) for racial sensitivity training as part of a nationwide effort by the company following the highly-publicized arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia store after the manager called 911. In an open letter to customers, the company’s Executive Chairman Howard Schultz […]