PREVIOUSLY: CHRISTIE CASE: Defense Presents Aggressive Case for Charges to be Dismissed, Based on Allegations of Police Evidence Tampering

Evidence gathered during an October 2021 federal raid on Ray Christie’s Arcata ranch will not be presented at Christie’s second jury trial, Judge Gregory Elvine-Kreis ruled this morning.

Elvine-Kreis granted defense attorney Rick Richmond’s motion to withhold evidence collected by federal agents. So far no federal charges have been filed against Christie, 58. He remains charged with four felony counts of animal cruelty after a state and county raid in spring 2018.

Deputy District Attorney Steven Steward objected to the motion and also offered to bring in a sheriff’s sergeant to testify about what he saw during the federal operation. (Some local officers assisted.) Elvine-Kreis declined to hold an evidentiary hearing on that raid.

In 2019 Christie leased his cows — hundreds — to Ferndale dairy farmer Mario Avelar, who is now legally responsible for their care. But Christie and his family still live on the ranch.

“Mr. Christie’s home is right in the middle of it,” Steward said this morning. He suggested Avelar should be brought in to verify he has a valid lease on the cattle.

During Christie’s first trial the jury deadlocked 11-1 for conviction on the animal cruelty counts. He was convicted of numerous misdemeanor charges of dumping dead cows near state waterways. A large pile of carcasses was found on the Arcata ranch.

Christie is accused of neglecting his cows to the point that some allegedly starved to death and others were near death, too weak to stand up. Witnesses testified cattle on some of Christie’s properties had no access to food or water.

The second trial is set for May 9, but that is highly unlikely. Christie is being treated for cancer and did not come to the hearing this morning. He attended via Zoom but was not on camera.

“He’s not here because he’s not up to it,” Richmond said.

Richmond has made an issue out of Steward not responding in writing to his motion to withhold the evidence from the federal raid. But Elvine-Kreis informed him this morning that under local court rules, Steward has until up to two days before trial to file.

The bottom line, Steward said, is “we will introduce no evidence beyond what was introduced in the last trial.”