Because potential witnesses were canceled by mistake, the preliminary hearing for alleged child molester Gary Frankland Landergen was postponed this morning until next month.
Landergen.
Landergen, 57, is accused of molesting three teen-age girls while he was a coach and math teacher at Fortuna High School. His preliminary hearing was reset for Dec. 7 because it was thought the defense attorney, Conflict Counsel Meagan O’Connell, was in trial today in another courtroom.
“Witnesses were called off because it was believed Ms. O’Connell was still in trial,” Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm told Judge John Feeney this morning.
Landergen, who has been arrested twice and posted bail twice, was in court this morning with a friend. He was arrested in April after the alleged victims went to law enforcement. He posted bail of $35,000, but was taken into custody again weeks later when Judge Kelly Neel raised bail to $100,000. Landergen posted the remaining $65,000 and remains out of custody.
O’Connell said she would like the preliminary hearing held “as soon as possible.”
Another Fortuna resident, Sean Michael Allman, is scheduled for a hearing next week on whether he can receive mental health treatment instead of going to trial on charges of threatening eight members of a church youth group.
Allman.
Allman is scheduled for a Nov. 28 jury trial on charges of terrorizing or obstructing the exercise of religion and making threats of death or great bodily injury. But now defense attorneys Ben Okin and Andrea Sullivan have filed a petition asking Judge Christopher Wilson to place Allman on a so-called mental health diversion.
Under that program, if a defendant successfully completes treatment charges can be dismissed.
Allman was 18 back in June 2019, when he allegedly sent threatening messages to an Episcopal youth group planning to visit then-Humboldt State University. According to testimony at his preliminary hearing, Allman was obsessed with mass shootings.
Some of his text messages contained pictures of bloody people lying on the ground.
The hearing on the mental diversion option is set for Monday. Allman is out of custody but did not attend the hearing today.
Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm is the prosecutor.
Also today before Judge Wilson, defense attorney Owen Tipps said no report has been received from a doctor hired to re-evaluate murder suspect Austin Michael Medeiros.
Medeiros.
Medeiros, accused of murdering a young disabled woman, was initially deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial. After undergoing treatment and taking anti-psychotic medication, his competence was declared “restored.”
Tipps disagreed with that conclusion, saying at the last court hearing that Medeiros, 28, still suffers from delusions. Tipps’s request for a second competency evaluation was granted, with a different doctor, clinical psychologist Michael Morris, appointed.
His report was due today but has not materialized.
Wilson set the next hearing for Dec. 12.
Medeiros remains in custody but was not brought down from the jail to attend court.
Deputy District Attorney Candace Myers is the prosecutor.
On November 19th at noon The Redwood Unit of the Backcountry Horsemen of California will kick off
the holiday season with their annual Cowboy Canned Food Convoy. The horses and their riders will
parade through Old Town Eureka and pack their saddlebags with food donations to deliver to Food
for People. They will be making stops to pick up canned food items at Sailor’s Grave Tattoo, Chapala
Cafe, Good Relations, Humboldt Herbals, Booklegger, Ramone’s Bakery and Cafe, Ecocann
Dispensary, Old Town Coffee & Chocolates, Eureka Books, Belle Starr, and Los Bagels. The riders will
be joined by Cub Scout Pack 4047 out to Fortuna who will help collect donations along the way.
Please join us at 12pm on Saturday, November 19th in the parking lot at the foot of D St. to see The
Redwood Unit of the Backcountry Horsemen of California kick off Food for People’s Hunger Fighter
Challenge! The Hunger Fighter Challenge is a collaborative effort between local businesses, clubs,
and groups to collect donations of food and fund to help feed the community during the holidays.
The Redwood Unit will be the first Hunger Fighter team to have its donation weighed in—officially
kicking off the Holiday Food & Fund Drive. For more information on becoming a Hunger Fighter Team
visit foodforpeople.org/hunger-fighter-challenge.
The Gateway Area boundary, looking south | Images from the City of Arcata’s Draft Gateway Area Plan
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OK, so it might be a little last minute, but LoCO knows that you care very much about Arcata’s Gateway Area Plan – that controversial plan to rezone about 138 acres of land in and around the Creamery District to facilitate the development of high-density housing. And so we feel that we must inform you that the Arcata Planning Commission will be discussing the plan today during a special meeting at 4 p.m. Better late than never, right?!
The focus of this evening’s discussion will be the plan’s proposed Community Benefits Program. Community benefits are, just like they sound, features of a project that would generally benefit the community. This could include things like adding or improving trails, beautifying the area with more murals, or improving public transportation.
In the case of the Gateway Area Plan, planners and staff propose using community benefits as a way to incentivize development project by offering to streamline the approval process for projects that include certain benefits. The idea is that the benefits program would be tiered, so that if a developer offered more community benefits, they would be allowed to build taller and higher-density buildings.
The developers could select from a list of proposed benefits, which were drafted based on input from the community during previous workshops and outreach sessions. The list focuses on different categories of community improvement, including job creation, arts and culture and transportation. You can view the full list of proposed benefitshere.
Tonight the planning commissioners will review the list of community benefits, rank them based on how much value they would bring to the community and make a recommendation to the City Council based on their findings.
Some concerns brought up by the planning commission in the past have included whether or not the list should include features that would only really benefit the tenants, rather than the entire community. Commissioner Judith Mayer also expressed concern over some of the listed benefits, which she believes should be required for all new developments. You can read Mayer’s list of concerns here.
The Planning Commission meets today (Tuesday, Nov. 15) at 4 p.m. at Arcata City Hall – 736 F Street. You can view the full agenda and directions on how to participate here.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On Nov. 14, 2022, at about 6:46 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 100 block of Hansen Drive near Fortuna for the report of an unwanted person attempting to gain entry into a residence.
Deputies arrived at the residence and located 38-year-old Kristopher Sean Mobley Jr. nearby a broken window of the residence. When contacted, Mobley began acting erratically toward deputies and physically resisted them upon detainment. After a brief struggle, Mobley was taken into custody without injury.
During their investigation, deputies learned that Mobley and the resident were acquaintances. The resident told deputies that Mobley had arrived at the home that evening uninvited and the resident asked him to leave. Mobley refused to leave, began banging on the resident’s exterior door and then broke a window.
Mobley was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of felony vandalism (PC 594(b)(1)) and resisting a peace officer (PC 148(a)(1)).
Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On Nov. 13, 2022, at about 7:24 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant at a residence on the 2300 block of Togo Street, in the county’s jurisdiction of Eureka, to investigate the illicit sale of narcotics.
Deputies arrived at the residence and detained multiple individuals, including the subject of the search warrant, 41-year-old Jessiekate Hawk. During a search of the residence, deputies located over 58 grams of fentanyl packaged for sales, over 4 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and items consistent with the sale of controlled substances.
Hawk was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sales (HS 11351) and operating/maintaining a drug house (HS 11366.5(a)).
Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Denise Watts passed away in Eureka on November 6, 2022
just one month before her 58th birthday.
Jackie was born in Eureka on December 28,
1964, the third of four girls. Jackie spent many adventurous and joyful years with her
siblings and friends. She often times would tell stories about the fun and sometimes
trouble she and her girls had. Jackie was always full of enthusiasm and dedication when it
came to her family and friends. It was her philosophy in life. Jackie graduated from
Eureka High School in 1983 with honors — the year that some of her most favorite music
groups staked their claim to fame on a large scale: Michael Jackson, Commodores and
anything Motown.
After high school, Jackie went to college at Humboldt State University, majoring
in mathematics while working at the Crown Simpson mill full-time with her father, A.V.
She was always a smart lady with loads of ambition. Jackie graduated from HSU in 1987.
Upon graduation Jackie worked multiple jobs until finding and building a successful
career at State Fund. She quickly rose to management and was the recipient of many
accomplishment awards. This is where she met many of her lifelong friends.
Her desire was to stay in Eureka to be close to her family. It was in Eureka that
Jackie met the love of her life, Todd. Jackie met Todd the evening after he returned from
a vacation in Hong Kong. It was a friendship that blossomed into so much more. Jackie
and Todd finally married after many years of being “together,” Jackie being Todd’s true
soul mate and Todd being hers. True best friends. He was her superman and she was his
wonder woman as many would say.
Jackie was known for her love and commitment to
family. They had their only child, Alliah in 2001. Jackie went out of her way to treat
Todd as her King and Alliah as her princess. When her husband passed in 2008, it quickly
became her and their daughter Alliah. Anyone who knows Jackie can tell you that she
and Alliah were inseparable. Alliah was Jackie’s reason for being. Jackie was devoted to
Alliah and they were each other’s biggest fans, but most importantly they were each
other’s best friend. She especially loved to watch Alliah dance. She even loved to school
Alliah in a game of monopoly, teaching Alliah her best playing moves. They went
through life together and enjoyed every minute of it.
Jackie was known by many people and was involved in many organizations to
create a difference, such as NAACP and Redwood Coast Village. She was the treasurer
and lifetime member for the NAACP and on the executive board for Redwood Coast
Village. Those who knew Jackie knew that she had a lengthy battle with Multiple
Sclerosis (MS). She was diagnosed at the young age of 23, however she didn’t let that
stop her from living life large. Those who knew her knew that she was determined to
fight MS all while never complaining. She always had a smile on her face and kept that
sass that everyone knew and loved.You could always count on her to be energetic, sassy and independent all while having the biggest heart. She was our inspiration and our hero.
MS was not what defined her. Those who knew her are so lucky to have had her in their
lives. She will forever be our light. There is a whole in our hearts but we will carry her in
our hearts forever.
Jackie is survived by her loving daughter Alliah Watts, parents; Shirley and A.V.
Powell, sisters; Linda Menniweathers, Betty Herrera, Clarissa “Cheryl” Powell, and
numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives. She is preceded by
her husband and soul mate; Todd Watts, and grandparents; Pecola Givens and Lawrence
Givens.
Friends and family are invited to attend the funeral on Saturday December 3, 2022
at 1 p.m. at Sanders Funeral Home, 1835 E Street, Eureka. A celebration of life will
directly follow at 3 p.m. at the Wharfinger, 1 Marina Way Eureka Ca. Please wear attire
that is fitting of Jackie’s style and personality.
Memorial contributions may be made to: The National MS Society.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jackie Watts’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Januario Cardoso Pires, “Jay,” of Arcata went to be with our Lord on November 8, 2022 at the age of 90. At his side was his devoted wife Maria, and her son, Tony. He was preceded in death by his son, Januario Pires Jr. of Florida, his parents Januario Pires and Jesuina Borges of Terceira, Azores and his six older sisters.
Jay is survived by his wife, Maria Pires and her son, Tony Luis; Daughters, Mafalda Mann (Craig), Estelle Creel, and Lucinda Ribeiro. Grandchildren: Tishana Mann, Craig Mann Jr., Samantha Creel, Sarah Salas (Antonio), Amy Knight (Jaime), Jeff Cook (Sarai), Bill Cook, Alissa Morey. He was blessed with Great Grandchildren, Isaac Mann, Avyana Gray, Kaylee Cook (AJ), Emily Moore (James), Della Cook, and Owen Morey. Great Great Grandchildren: Jack Knight, Antonio Salas, Luis Salas, Baylee Stubbs, Jaycee Moore and many nieces and nephews throughout California and the East Coast.
Jay was born July 28, 1932 to Januario Pires and Jesuina Borges in Terceira, Acores. He was the youngest with six older sisters. Jay was industrious and a hard worker. He was a Fire Chief in Terceira for 22 years. He emigrated to the US and held many jobs throughout his life. Jay was a world traveler. He and Maria enjoyed ten cruises and many trips throughout the United States and Europe. He was an avid gardener with many fruit trees and greenhouses. He enjoyed the company of family and friends, parties, and celebrations.
Pallbearers will be: Isidro Homen, Michael Alves, Ernie Alves, Joe Borba, Alvino Borba, and Luis Adriano Careoso. Rosary to be held on Thursday, November 17 at 7 p.m. at Paul’s Chapel in Arcata. Funeral Service at St. Mary’s Church in Arcata Friday, November 18 at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at Sunset Cemetery. Celebration of Life to be held following the services at Maria Pires home.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Januario Pires’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
