☛TS Hash receives 11 years in prison (Well, 5 1/2, if that)
Steven Daniel Hash pleaded guilty on Friday to manslaughter in the death of Curtis Huntzinger, a 14-year-old Blue Lake boy killed in 1990.
As members of Huntzinger's family watched, Assistant District Attorney Wes Keat read the terms of the plea agreement, which stipulated Hash will serve 11 years in prison, and pay a total of more than $9,000 in restitution fines.
Following the reading, Hash wiped tears from his eyes and spoke directly to Nancy Huntzinger, Curtis' mother.
”I'm so terribly sorry,” he said. “For years, I've asked God, 'How come I'm walking around in the free world?'
”I know what I've done. I took everything Curtis had ... I took it all and it's real hard to deal with that. I've been dealing with that for years.”
Hash then thanked District Attorney Chief Investigator Mike Hislop and investigator Wayne Cox for their “thorough and competent investigation.”
Hash was granted 45 days credit for time served. By California statute, Hash will be eligible for parole 51/2 years after his sentence begins.
The crime of voluntary manslaughter carries statute of limitations of six years, meaning the statute of limitations expired 13 years ago. Nevertheless, Hash was able to plead to the felony as part of the agreement.
According to Keat, after his arrest, Hash was willing to fully cooperate with investigators, and had explained to them all the events that led up to the killing. Based on his admission, and the available evidence, the charge of manslaughter was appropriate given the circumstances of the killing, Keat said.
In May of 1990, during a sudden quarrel at Hash's home, Hash struck Curtis Huntzinger in the head with a dumbbell, killing him, Keat said.
”In the instant afterward, he was sorry it happened,” Keat said. “It was classic manslaughter.”
The quarrel was a result of allegations Hash had sexually molested Huntzinger. Those allegations would have been “hard to prove” in court, Keat said. But a letter, which was written by Curtis Huntzinger's sister Cindy DeVore, was read in court Friday and hinted at the alleged molestation.
Dated Jan. 1, the letter, addressed to Hash, read: “The last time I saw Curtis he was sitting on the arm of my couch, his hazel green eyes filled with pain.”
In the letter, DeVore expressed regret she could not do more to comfort her brother on that occasion.
”All we ever wanted was Curtis. Now we have him,” DeVore wrote. “He was loved and cherished, he was wanted and needed, but you killed him ... none of us will ever be the same.”
During the Friday hearing, Nancy Huntzinger also gave a brief statement thanking Hash for leading investigators to her son's grave.
After Hash had left the courtroom to be returned to his cell, Nancy Huntzinger said she was ambivalent about Hash's agreement, and was simply happy to have her son's body returned to her.
”I told (DA investigators) when we got Curtis back, he (Hash) could get time served,” Nancy Huntzinger said.
Since Curtis Huntzinger's body was found in a shallow grave under a stand of young redwoods, between Blue Lake and Korbel, officials have used the word “closure” to describe the conclusion of the 18-year long search for his body.
But for some members of the Huntzinger family -- the other victims involved in the killing -- the word is hardly descriptive.
”Closure? I mean, that's like it's the end,” Nancy Huntzinger said. “It will never be the end. I will never forget Curtis. I will remember him as long as I can breathe his name.”
Sean Garmire can be reached at 441-0514 or sgarmire@times-standard.com.
Sean Garmire/The Times-Standard
Posted: 01/03/2009 01:34:06 AM PST
Comments:
CJ Saint Claire - "In the instant afterward, he was sorry it happened..." so Mr Hash casually cruises through the expiration of the statue of limitations, and after 18 years of anguish, mom says "time served is OK" - I cannot imagine the pain and, quite possibly, the liberation of from such awful torment.
...and for Hash - Here is a case where just being sorry just is not good enough, you just got handed a pass on this one.
Someone needs to take this incident to the star chamber.
Case closed, finally. Sadly. Welcome home Curtis."
***
anono - "All in all some good work by the DA's office. Give credit where credit is due."
***
whodem dat slewdem - "11 years is a very short sentence considering that at most he will do 80% of that time and could do as little as five years. eligible for parole in 5.5 years really means eligible in 3 years. I am sure that the family is more concerned with closure than this mans sentence and they are relieved that they found the remains. Hash got a pass."
***
Shkayle - "So he came forth how many times to admit this crime? And now the the statue of limitations is his saving grace. Something is terribly wrong with the justice here. I believe in forgiveness, he can be forgiven but he still needs to serve a life sentence or have his life taken."
***
Scott Decker - "I totaly agree with Shkayle, Mr Hash should be sitting side by side serving the same sentence and mike Fox. I had met Curtis a few times and he seemed like such a wonderful kid. I also know that curtis was in Eureka staying with Mike Fox and Mr Hash They the two of them Fox and Hash used cloraform on young teens and did ungodly things to then youngsters. I had a friend show up at my house one Christmas eve with her teenage son who was beaten so badly that the poor kid coulde not even enjoy Christmas all becouse of Mike fox and Mr hash.
Mr Hash admited to this crime more then once and still he remained free all this time. It just makes me sick how the justuce system in this Country lets something like this go on and SIT ON IT FOR MANY YEARS WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE CASE!
Curtis Huntzinger my he now rest in peace sufferd a untimly death and his KILLER walked free and got nothing but a SLAP on the hand for his crime.
People of Humblold County need to stand up for the rights of this young man (Curtis) And make sure that Mr Hash never gets out of jail.
And if that does not work make sure that Mr Hash is ran right out of the County as soon as he gets out of jail.
What ever happend to the old days when the LAWS where just and the killer was strung up in the center of town and hung to death for taking someone's life? Now they call it inhumian I say screw that bring back justice as our founding fathers wrote it and hang this MUDERER IN COLD BLOOD as he did to this poor young man ( Curtis ) who was just begining his life as a young.
Curtis layed in a shallow grave for 18 long years and I am sure his soul was in limbo wondering Why and why hasent anyone come to find me. what a sicking thought of how his soul mush have sufferd all these years and what his poor soul must be thinking now that Mr Hash just got a slap on the hand.
Dear Curtis, I met you a few times in our lives and what a sweet and fun loving person you where. I am deeply sad that your life ended long befor your time. I pray that your soul is now in peace and you are a free spirit and a wonderful angle. You have more then earned your wings, the suffering is over and may you rent in the wounderful loving care of your make our lord in the heavens above."
***
Scott Decker - "There are a few typos in my post sorry for that it is hard to write something with tears in the eye."
***
Mart - "It is time for America to get tough on criminals. Hash should have received the death penalty, and it should be carried out in a timely manner. I am sick of the scum sitting on death row for years and years while the family members take flowers to their loved ones grave site. Whats up with you people calling him "MR." Hash. He does not deserve to be called MR., just murderer!!
God Bless you Curtis! You will never be forgotten!"
***
Scott Decker - Scott thank you. My elder son was fondled on the testicles by the teenage son of my ex wife's boyfriend. When I notified CWS the Arcata Police Department called to interview my son. I arranged for the officers to talk to my son on a Saturday evening when I had custody. But I got a call that Saturday afternoon by an officer, Karen Jullian, who stated they would not need to question my son. I asked why. She said they contacted the mother who said the whole incident was very innocent - that the boys, a 17 year old and my 6 year old were wrestling on the floor.
Don't you find it the least bit peculiar that a mother, a teacher, a mandatory reporter of abuse would find a 17 year old boy fondling her son on the testicles to be innocent? Just as my son was going to sleep I asked him,'were you alone with (17 year old) or was your mom and (her b/f) there when () tickled you?'. He stated he was alone. I called the officer and left a message. She never returned my call nor followed up. She soon left the Arcata Police Department. I have first hand knowledge who inept the local police are when it comes to such matters.
Dont let it rest. If I was you I would DEMAND to have the police look into this incident if they still say no file the case in court stateing what took place and that the local police would not help or even look into the matter at hand. call cws everyday untill someone looks into the matter dont take NO for a answer. get your self a tape recorder ask your son what happend who it was with how long did it last that way that way you have record of it and his words can not be changed or took out of text by the law. I feel sorry that this happend to your son but DO NOT GIVE UP. Fight for your rights.
A 17 year old should not be touching a 6 year old or wrestling for that matter in areas where no one can see I am sure your 6 year old would not make up a story that a 17 year old touched his testicals at the age of 6 they dont even know what sex is for god sakes. This is what I would do if it was my child. call arcata pd, call hcsd, call child protetive services and if all else fails call your local newspaper and local tv call for answers, call for help.but do not let it sit idle dont STOP untill justise for your son is resoved....."
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Serra - "11 years? Probation in 5 1/2?? He's been walking around free for how many? Talk about a slap on the wrist. I can't believe anyone would be happy with that sentence, well, besides the killer. What a tragic story, but at least his family finally has his body to bury."
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Y4ever - "So someone could take care of Hash when he gets out and only do 51/2 years for manslaughter."
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BLer - "CJ Saint Claire wrote:
â€In the instant afterward, he was sorry it happened..." so Mr Hash casually cruises through the expiration of the statue of limitations, and after 18 years of anguish, mom says "time served is OK" - I cannot imagine the pain and, quite possibly, the liberation of from such awful torment.
But this is coming from the same woman who publically forgave him for the crime years ago."
***
eric - "You got to be kidding. Only 11 years! Where's the justice? The young boy is gone forever and the suspect only gets 11 years. Our judicial system needs sucks."
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eric - "Mart wrote:
It is time for America to get tough on criminals. Hash should have received the death penalty, and it should be carried out in a timely manner. I am sick of the scum sitting on death row for years and years while the family members take flowers to their loved ones grave site. Whats up with you people calling him "MR." Hash. He does not deserve to be called MR., just murderer!!
God Bless you Curtis! You will never be forgotten!
I agree with all you said. I hope the suspect gets what he deserves in prison. It's time for a revolution. Some countries would have throughn him to the gators."
***
pugs2 - "Terrible man, just plain murder"
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Jeff E - "How could anyone objective, credit the DA's office for this travesty?
The guy CONFESSED years ago & remained free. He was only "caught" when he confessed again.
Then, for murder, child sex abuse and perjury, he gets out in 5 1/2 years??????"
***
Apple Seed - "Jeff E wrote:
How could anyone objective, credit the DA's office for this travesty?
The guy CONFESSED years ago & remained free. He was only "caught" when he confessed again.
Then, for murder, child sex abuse and perjury, he gets out in 5 1/2 years??????
Jeff, how much time in jail should one get if one sneaks into a house that he used to live in by using a key he had kept, and then going into a teenage girls room in that house and fondling her underwear?
If one was caught red handed doing this, and was reported to the sheriff, how should the DA have handled this type of incident?
Hypothetical, of course.:-)"
***
Mike- "Working On the Chain Gang, Steve Kercher, Open Wide"
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NYC - "Is there any crime worse than the murder of a child? An innocent.
Plea deals in these kind of cases are a miscarriage of justice.
Rest in Peace Curtis."
***
Blue Lake Cousin - "Mr. Gallegos; you and your staff should be ashamed of yourselves and your pathetic attempts to bring justice for Curtis. Steve Hash is a child molestor and murderer; he tormented my family for years with the knowledge of what he did to Curtis, and you want us to believe that he was sorry for his actions and that this was a "classic case of manslaughter?" Since you've already thrown Curtis under the bus, what about the other children of Humboldt County that came into contact with Steve Hash and his sick cronies! I hope this isn't the end of the investigation; you owe it to the people of this county to carry this investigation forward and make sure that other children get the justice that they deserve. If this case is allowed to drop, the people of this county need to vote you out of office; you are a failure to the people of this county and the justice system that is supposed to protect us."
***
Cedric - "Homicide rate among black youths rises
www.mysanantonio.com/news/Rise_in_homicides_s..."
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Nice - "I imagine there was a plea deal in exchange for locating the body. It's a hefty price, but it needed to be done. Although everybody knows Gallegos is weak! Look at Siskiyou County they are gonna fry people for the same exact thing."
***
miss hw - "even with a body a murder conviction can be tricky, BUT cops should use the death penalty as a chip, we want criminals to confess, not play poker."
***
anonymous - "It's a wonder he's getting any time at all.
This court system is the worst.
And I'd like to know what ever happened to people also being prosecuted for perjury. Caught in lie after lie, yet it makes no difference.
Truth and justice have nothing to do with anything anymore. Not in Humboldt County."
***
anonymous - "Figures, Humboldt County liberals. What ever happened to justice. His mother should not have settled for a plea bargain. That is shameful in itself and is exactly why people like Hash get a slap on the wrist."
***
anonymous - "For the record, I am not the anonymous that said his mother never should have settled for a plea bargain and that it is shameful in itself.
I didn't say it.
I don't know what she even had the right or chance to agree or disagree to.
If it's true that she herself came up with the plea deal in exchange for knowing where her son's body was, then so be it.
But I seriously doubt that was her idea. Even if in fact she did agree to it."
***
No name please - "Please tell me where were all the caring adults when the Hash children were beaten on a regular basis by a father who returned home drunk. Please tell me why no one nocticed the Hash children eating out of garbage can at school while other kids made fun as they were starving. Dad drank up all the money and no one noticed these hungry, beaten, ill dressed children. No excuse for Steve's actions in the future however, big scars are left from child abuse."
***
Nucking Futs - "Please tell me how Steve Hash was able to live with the things that he did for so long-Go about his life for eighteen years..What kind of scar do you think is left behind from the murder of a child, a brother, a friend. I would say that an unsolved murder leaves bigger scars"
***
miss hw - "Yea, those family law R.O'S suck. My husband got one from his ex.. also for harsly speaking. Well we moved away and ended up with custody. AND the ro is good till 09."
***
his sis - "Nucking Futs wrote:
Please tell me how Steve Hash was able to live with the things that he did for so long-Go about his life for eighteen years..What kind of scar do you think is left behind from the murder of a child, a brother, a friend. I would say that an unsolved murder leaves bigger scars
Yeah I can tell you that it definately does leave giant scars, more like opened wounds. Thanks for caring. To all of you who have said crap about my family I would love the oppertunity to meet you and SPIT in your faces!"
***
Cherri - "I would like to know if the people of Humboldt County are satisfied with their justice system. Please correct me if I am wrong, but as I understand it....in Humboldt County you can molest a child of 14, you can murder this child and bury his body in the woods somewhere. The trick is to keep somewhat quiet about if for just long enough. Then after say 19 years of being free to do what you want, raise your own son maybe, make sure he can take over your possession and your affairs are in order, you can decide to confess on your own terms. You then get a speedy court date, and nice slap on the hand of an 11 year sentence, where you know you'll probably be home in a little over five years. Am I right about all this? Can a criminal living in Humboldt County do these things and get away with it? Tell me I am wrong. Tell me there is a justice system in place that would never allow such horrible disgusting crimes against our children to go unpunished. If you take a life, is it really swept under the rug if you keep quiet long enough? My name is Cherri Hairston and Curtis Anthony Huntzinger was my brother. Steve Hash molested him. Steve Hash is a child molester! Steve has picked up a dumbell and hit my brother so hard in the head that it killed him. I hope my brother didn't suffer long. I hope he died long before Steve begun to cover up his crime by burying him in the woods. Then Steve Hash kept somewhat quiet for 19 years. For 19 years he knew what he had done and where my brother was. He lived his life. He saw his own son grow up and he did nothing to ease my family's pain.I expect the D.A. is pretty happy with himself for closing a 19 year old case. But this is not justice. This is not justice. The crime of murder and child molestation was commited and the man who confessed to it may walk the streets of Humboldt County as soon as 2014. Is this what passes for justice in Humboldt County? I wonder if we would have taken justice into our own hands back in 1990 what justice would have been? If it would have meant that we would be walking free after so little years, less than the 19 my family spent being tortured, I would have surely done it. We tell ourselves not to take justice into our own hands, that the truth would come forth someday and Steve would pay. I think we were wrong. Steve got away with molesting, murdering and burying my brother. He dropped a brick in the water that is our family and we are still in its wake. He got away with 19 years of torturing all who loved Curtis. He got away with it all."
***
anonymous - "a_hole, the situation you described is unfortunately only one of many of the travesties allowed to occur in these courts because the truth has ceased to have anything to do with it. People are made to raise their right hand and swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, yet no matter how many times they may be caught in their own lies, nothing ever comes of it. It's almost as though the one who lies the most, wins. And that's not how it's supposed to work."
***
miss hw - "the justice system sucks. Now other killers and molesters know where to go to do their dirty work. When little kids start to go missing, you'll know why. It's sick and lame."
***
ANON - "When my daughter was 7 yrs. old, she was molested bvy a "friend" of the family. She suffered anxiety for years, before she finally told us when she was in high school what had happened. We contacted the police to make a report. My daughter went through the wrenching ordeal of having to describe the molestation in detail to the officer. There was a long investigation, and search for the predator. When they finally found him, of course he denied it. After all this, we we're told that nothinf could be done, because there were NO WITNESSES!! How many pedophyles do their dirty work with an audience present??"
***
blue lake mom - "Cherri wrote:
I would like to know if the people of Humboldt County are satisfied with their justice system. Please correct me if I am wrong, but as I understand it....in Humboldt County you can molest a child of 14, you can murder this child and bury his body in the woods somewhere. The trick is to keep somewhat quiet about if for just long enough. Then after say 19 years of being free to do what you want, raise your own son maybe, make sure he can take over your possession and your affairs are in order, you can decide to confess on your own terms. You then get a speedy court date, and nice slap on the hand of an 11 year sentence, where you know you'll probably be home in a little over five years. Am I right about all this? Can a criminal living in Humboldt County do these things and get away with it? Tell me I am wrong. Tell me there is a justice system in place that would never allow such horrible disgusting crimes against our children to go unpunished. If you take a life, is it really swept under the rug if you keep quiet long enough? My name is Cherri Hairston and Curtis Anthony Huntzinger was my brother. Steve Hash molested him. Steve Hash is a child molester! Steve has picked up a dumbell and hit my brother so hard in the head that it killed him. I hope my brother didn't suffer long. I hope he died long before Steve begun to cover up his crime by burying him in the woods. Then Steve Hash kept somewhat quiet for 19 years. For 19 years he knew what he had done and where my brother was. He lived his life. He saw his own son grow up and he did nothing to ease my family's pain.I expect the D.A. is pretty happy with himself for closing a 19 year old case. But this is not justice. This is not justice. The crime of murder and child molestation was commited and the man who confessed to it may walk the streets of Humboldt County as soon as 2014. Is this what passes for justice in Humboldt County? I wonder if we would have taken justice into our own hands back in 1990 what justice would have been? If it would have meant that we would be walking free after so little years, less than the 19 my family spent being tortured, I would have surely done it. We tell ourselves not to take justice into our own hands, that the truth would come forth someday and Steve would pay. I think we were wrong. Steve got away with molesting, murdering and burying my brother. He dropped a brick in the water that is our family and we are still in its wake. He got away with 19 years of torturing all who loved Curtis. He got away with it all.
cherri you have been through to much. Your mother will have good reason for great joy, I believed chuck pierce when he said that God would have justice for her. I hope that steve hash's fate, finially frees you and your mother of the scares he has caused.
P.S
Mr.Paul Gallagoes, I think the motherly vote in Blue Lake just went south on you. TY. I hope every mother in Humboldt county remembers Curtis and his mother nancy and his sister cherri Huntzinger on election day.."
***
WCfriend - "Nice wrote:
I imagine there was a plea deal in exchange for locating the body. It's a hefty price, but it needed to be done. Although everybody knows Gallegos is weak! Look at Siskiyou County they are gonna fry people for the same exact thing.
I hope in Siskiyou county they will fry child killers. At least make them spend the rest of their lives in prison. I hear that in prison, the inmates hate people who hurt children and they make them pay. One could hope that every single day is a complete nightmare for child killers and molesters.
I am sorry to hear that the low life responsible for the death of this young man is not getting what he deserves. I pray that the kidnappers and the killer of 6 year old Willie Cook (32 years ago) get what they deserve in Siskiyou county, however all of your horror stories have got me worried.
To the friends and family of Curtis, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
***
his sis - Cherri wrote:
I would like to know if the people of Humboldt County are satisfied with their justice system. Please correct me if I am wrong, but as I understand it....in Humboldt County you can molest a child of 14, you can murder this child and bury his body in the woods somewhere. The trick is to keep somewhat quiet about if for just long enough. Then after say 19 years of being free to do what you want, raise your own son maybe, make sure he can take over your possession and your affairs are in order, you can decide to confess on your own terms. You then get a speedy court date, and nice slap on the hand of an 11 year sentence, where you know you'll probably be home in a little over five years. Am I right about all this? Can a criminal living in Humboldt County do these things and get away with it? Tell me I am wrong. Tell me there is a justice system in place that would never allow such horrible disgusting crimes against our children to go unpunished. If you take a life, is it really swept under the rug if you keep quiet long enough? My name is Cherri Hairston and Curtis Anthony Huntzinger was my brother. Steve Hash molested him. Steve Hash is a child molester! Steve has picked up a dumbell and hit my brother so hard in the head that it killed him. I hope my brother didn't suffer long. I hope he died long before Steve begun to cover up his crime by burying him in the woods. Then Steve Hash kept somewhat quiet for 19 years. For 19 years he knew what he had done and where my brother was. He lived his life. He saw his own son grow up and he did nothing to ease my family's pain.I expect the D.A. is pretty happy with himself for closing a 19 year old case. But this is not justice. This is not justice. The crime of murder and child molestation was commited and the man who confessed to it may walk the streets of Humboldt County as soon as 2014. Is this what passes for justice in Humboldt County? I wonder if we would have taken justice into our own hands back in 1990 what justice would have been? If it would have meant that we would be walking free after so little years, less than the 19 my family spent being tortured, I would have surely done it. We tell ourselves not to take justice into our own hands, that the truth would come forth someday and Steve would pay. I think we were wrong. Steve got away with molesting, murdering and burying my brother. He dropped a brick in the water that is our family and we are still in its wake. He got away with 19 years of torturing all who loved Curtis. He got away with it all.
I love you sis!"
***
anonymous - "I know of someone who had "I support Gallegos" signs all over his yard. He's a convicted felon and not even allowed to vote in the first place.
Why do you think he wanted Gallegos in office? Again.
He's a felon, not in jail, and runs around this community making people think he is an upstanding great, and trustworthy guy.
Look very carefully into who you do business with.
If they are licensed in any way, you can get that information online or by calling the department they are licensed to do business through.
There are creeps on every corner who laugh at having "beat" the system and know exactly how to go about it."
***
Generation X - "Well said.
anonymous wrote:
a_hole, the situation you described is unfortunately only one of many of the travesties allowed to occur in these courts because the truth has ceased to have anything to do with it. People are made to raise their right hand and swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, yet no matter how many times they may be caught in their own lies, nothing ever comes of it. It's almost as though the one who lies the most, wins. And that's not how it's supposed to work."
***
blue lake family - "Steve Hash is a sociopath, he is not sorry for what he did, the only feelings he has are for himself.
He took a young child from a large family and groomed him so he (Steve Hash) could get the evil gratification that he so craved.
While we as decent human beings are repulsed by his actions Steve Hash did not, does not, nor will he ever be sorry for his vile deeds.
Mr. Gallegos there are others in Blue Lake that are just as culpable because of their involvement with Steve Hash, they condoned his evil ways and kept a secret for 18 years thus allowing this monster to remain free for all of these years.
Redeem yourself and go get the rest of them, some of them are still living in Blue Lake.
This case should not be over yet, do your job and let this child finally rest in peace and give justice to the other victims (children that lived in Blue Lake) of Steve Hash."
***
really now - "I voted for Gallegos so correct me if I'm wrong,please: Gallegos assured us he'd protect community and families. He'd go after hard drugs and violence. This was the reasoning to go easy on small marijuana cases. The gate was opened for hundreds to move here and cultivate with NO threat of prosecution. Then the large growers were allowed to slide. Then the really large commercial growers were given passes. Now the child molesters and child murderers are able to plea out? AND the DA's office speaks like it's a victory? I'm outraged and would like to hear a reasonable explanation from Paul himself. This WILL be an election issue. This plea is an insult to our county and a disgrace to past Gallegos supporters."
***
blue lake - "No name please wrote:
Please tell me where were all the caring adults when the Hash children were beaten on a regular basis by a father who returned home drunk. Please tell me why no one nocticed the Hash children eating out of garbage can at school while other kids made fun as they were starving. Dad drank up all the money and no one noticed these hungry, beaten, ill dressed children. No excuse for Steve's actions in the future however, big scars are left from child abuse.
where were the mothers?"
***
hmm - "Let's think about it.. Who had the case prior to the District Attorney's office? That's right...Blue Lake Police Department.
Let's put the blame where it belongs... Blue lake Police Department was as much incompetent as it was corrupt."
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Laura O - "I am horrified by the verdict, and I am very very shocked and disappointed that justice was miscarried in this case,"With this verdict, we are saying it's okay to murder and walk away.. I hope the prison inmates can seek a better justice!"
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Laura O - "I am horrified by the verdict, and I am very very shocked and disappointed that justice was miscarried in this case,"With this verdict, we are saying it's okay to murder and walk away.. I hope the prison inmates can seek a better justice!"
***
sick and tired - "Laura - sorry but there was no verdict here. This was a classic plea bargain by our inept DA."
***
a-non - "so - "”In the instant afterward, he was sorry it happened,” Keat said.“It was classic manslaughter.” "
Keat needs to be disbarred along with his boss on this one. This is classic murder and not heat of passion manslaughter. So when does saying you were sorry for it instantly 19 years later make it classic manslaughter. No wonder the plea bargains coming from that office are so deranged. Hash was given the manslaughter offer in order for them to clear the case. No justice for Curtis. No justice for the community.
Shame on you Mr. Keat for blowing smoke up our backsides with that stupid remark to protect your incompetent boss."
1.05.2009
12.10.2008
TS - Curtis Huntzinger's remains found after 18 years
☛ TS Missing teen's remains found after 18 years
The remains of Curtis Huntzinger, a 14-year-old teen missing since 1990, were unearthed Monday night from a shallow grave on the outskirts of Blue Lake, just off the old State Route 299.
The discovery came less than a week after Humboldt County District Attorney investigators arrested 53-year-old Blue Lake resident Stephen Daniel Hash on suspicion of voluntary manslaughter in connection with Huntzinger's death. At his Dec. 5 arraignment, Hash admitted guilt before a judge and the Huntzinger family.
On Monday afternoon, around 2 p.m., the boy's skeleton was located, entangled in a ball of roots under less than two feet of soil. The grave, which was dug about 35 yards from the road, was surrounded by a dense stand of young redwoods, and blanketed by a thick mat of leaf litter and poison oak.
But in 1990, when Huntzinger is presumed to have been buried, that grave site looked very different.
Chief DA Investigator Mike Hislop said when Hash allegedly dumped the body, the area looked like a “moonscape,” as a result of heavy logging and burning activity.
Despite those major changes to the landscape, Hash was reportedly able to recall the location of the grave well enough to lead investigators within 25 feet of where the body was found, said DA investigator Wayne Cox.
”It must be a vivid memory that's permanently imbedded in his (Hash's) hard drive,” he said.
The same tract of land was searched in 1999 by teams using cadaver dogs, but authorities came up empty. This time, Cox said investigators deployed new methods.
According to Hislop, the body was found by a volunteer who canvassed the area using a high-end metal detector loaned by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The grave was located when the metal detector picked up a faint signal from a small piece of metal on Huntzinger's remains -- possibly a zipper or a coin.
Members of the Huntzinger family were immediately notified, and brought to the site before the body was exhumed, said District Attorney Paul Gallegos.
As the redwoods grew back after the logging, they lifted nutrients from Huntzinger's grave, entwining the remains in roots. According to Deputy Coroner Roy Horton, the search team excavated the approximately 400-pound root ball, which contains Huntzinger's remains.
Now the Coroner's Office is tasked with the painstaking removal of those remains from the root encasement.
Horton said that while they have not been able to positively identify the remains through DNA or dental records, there are other signs it is Huntzinger. The clothing found around the skeleton -- a black jacket and tennis shoes -- are consistent with the outfit Huntzinger was last seen wearing. And there appear to be signs of blunt force trauma to the skull, Horton said.
Although Gallegos and the DA investigators have declined to release the cause of Huntzinger's death, a criminal complaint in Hash's court file charges him with using a barbell to kill the 14-year-old.
The body was found unbound, and Horton said he believes Huntzinger was dead before he was buried.
Horton said Nancy Huntzinger, Curtis' mother, has called the Coroner's Office frequently over the past 18 years, to inquire about her son whenever there was a new John Doe found in Humboldt County.
”We are just so happy the body was recovered, for her sake,” Horton said. “It finally gives some closure to the family.”
During Hash's Dec. 5 arraignment he asked to plead guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon -- a crime that carries a maximum 12-year sentence. Judge Bruce Watson declined the plea, and advised him to speak with council before deciding to make such an admission in court.
Hash is expected to return to court today to discuss a possible disposition before a judge. That hearing will be closed to the public.
Sean Garmire can be reached at 441-0514 or sgarmire@times-standard.com.
A timeline of the Curtis Huntzinger case
May 19, 1990 -- Huntzinger, an Arcata High School freshman, is last seen walking home from his sister's home and is reported missing later in the month. It is initially believed that Huntzinger, who had some trouble in school and a recent brush with the law, ran away from home. Then Blue Lake Police Chief Don Trumble said at the time he was confident that Huntzinger was not a victim of foul play.
April 1999 -- Thomas Michael Fox, who was serving life in prison for the killing of 11-year old Danny Williams of Eureka, reportedly confesses to having killed Huntzinger. As a part of the confession, Fox reportedly admitted to shooting Huntzinger and fingered the accomplices who he said helped him bury the boy.
April 24, 1999 -- During a confrontation with Huntzinger's mom, Nancy, family acquaintance Stephen Daniel Hash reportedly admits to killing Curtis Huntzinger, even taking Nancy Huntzinger to her son's burial site. Hash, however, refuses to talk to law enforcement about the case.
Over the ensuing weeks, police investigators search Hash's property, even removing the floor boards of his house and sending its carpets to the Department of Justice Crime Lab for testing. The area where Hash claimed to have buried Huntzinger is scoured by dozens of members of the California Conservation Corps, police and the Huntzinger family. Several bones, including a vertebrae, are found, and believed to be those of Curtis Huntzinger. “This could be over in a few weeks,” then Blue Lake Police Chief Floyd Stokes said. The bones are later determined to be animal remains, and the case goes dormant.
May 2008 -- The Blue Lake Police Department is disbanded after the arrest of Police Chief, David Gundersen, and the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office quickly picks up the Huntzinger case.
Dec. 3, 2008 -- Hash is arrested on suspicion of voluntary manslaughter by District Attorney's Office investigators after reportedly giving a “complete confession” and showing them where Huntzinger was buried.
Dec. 9, 2008 -- Investigators find a body believed to be Huntzinger's located off old State Route 299 between Blue Lake and Korbel in the location Hash had led them to. The body is sent to the Humboldt County Coroner for an autopsy.
Sean Garmire/The Times-Standard
Posted: 12/10/2008 01:30:19 AM PST
***
☛ TS Never too late for resolution
In musty filing cabinets up and down the state are the remains of unsolved cases of every variety, including those of young men and women who for years have been lost to their families.
In Humboldt County, we've had more than our fair share of those types of cases -- the most famous being that of Karen Mitchell, followed closely by a case that appears to be nearing some resolution -- that of the long-missing Curtis Huntzinger.
While the conclusion of the Huntzinger investigation is not a happy one, he has finally been found after all these year, which may provide some comfort to a family that has long been wondering about the fate of their lost loved one.
We would encourage law enforcement officials of all stripes to be vigilant with such cases, and to remember their significance in the face of frustration and dead ends.
Each and every one represents a family in pain, and a family in need of closure and relief. When those cases gather dust because of neglect, and remain unsolved because they aren't getting the necessary attention, it only compounds the original crime, and the pain it causes the family.
The case of Curtis Huntzinger shows us that it's never too late to follow a lead, to pursue a suspect, and do the necessary footwork. Such efforts can make all the difference. Our thanks to those who helped bring Curtis home.
The Times-Standard
Posted: 12/10/2008 01:30:20 AM PST
The remains of Curtis Huntzinger, a 14-year-old teen missing since 1990, were unearthed Monday night from a shallow grave on the outskirts of Blue Lake, just off the old State Route 299.
The discovery came less than a week after Humboldt County District Attorney investigators arrested 53-year-old Blue Lake resident Stephen Daniel Hash on suspicion of voluntary manslaughter in connection with Huntzinger's death. At his Dec. 5 arraignment, Hash admitted guilt before a judge and the Huntzinger family.
On Monday afternoon, around 2 p.m., the boy's skeleton was located, entangled in a ball of roots under less than two feet of soil. The grave, which was dug about 35 yards from the road, was surrounded by a dense stand of young redwoods, and blanketed by a thick mat of leaf litter and poison oak.
But in 1990, when Huntzinger is presumed to have been buried, that grave site looked very different.
Chief DA Investigator Mike Hislop said when Hash allegedly dumped the body, the area looked like a “moonscape,” as a result of heavy logging and burning activity.
Despite those major changes to the landscape, Hash was reportedly able to recall the location of the grave well enough to lead investigators within 25 feet of where the body was found, said DA investigator Wayne Cox.
”It must be a vivid memory that's permanently imbedded in his (Hash's) hard drive,” he said.
The same tract of land was searched in 1999 by teams using cadaver dogs, but authorities came up empty. This time, Cox said investigators deployed new methods.
According to Hislop, the body was found by a volunteer who canvassed the area using a high-end metal detector loaned by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The grave was located when the metal detector picked up a faint signal from a small piece of metal on Huntzinger's remains -- possibly a zipper or a coin.
Members of the Huntzinger family were immediately notified, and brought to the site before the body was exhumed, said District Attorney Paul Gallegos.
As the redwoods grew back after the logging, they lifted nutrients from Huntzinger's grave, entwining the remains in roots. According to Deputy Coroner Roy Horton, the search team excavated the approximately 400-pound root ball, which contains Huntzinger's remains.
Now the Coroner's Office is tasked with the painstaking removal of those remains from the root encasement.
Horton said that while they have not been able to positively identify the remains through DNA or dental records, there are other signs it is Huntzinger. The clothing found around the skeleton -- a black jacket and tennis shoes -- are consistent with the outfit Huntzinger was last seen wearing. And there appear to be signs of blunt force trauma to the skull, Horton said.
Although Gallegos and the DA investigators have declined to release the cause of Huntzinger's death, a criminal complaint in Hash's court file charges him with using a barbell to kill the 14-year-old.
The body was found unbound, and Horton said he believes Huntzinger was dead before he was buried.
Horton said Nancy Huntzinger, Curtis' mother, has called the Coroner's Office frequently over the past 18 years, to inquire about her son whenever there was a new John Doe found in Humboldt County.
”We are just so happy the body was recovered, for her sake,” Horton said. “It finally gives some closure to the family.”
During Hash's Dec. 5 arraignment he asked to plead guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon -- a crime that carries a maximum 12-year sentence. Judge Bruce Watson declined the plea, and advised him to speak with council before deciding to make such an admission in court.
Hash is expected to return to court today to discuss a possible disposition before a judge. That hearing will be closed to the public.
Sean Garmire can be reached at 441-0514 or sgarmire@times-standard.com.
A timeline of the Curtis Huntzinger case
May 19, 1990 -- Huntzinger, an Arcata High School freshman, is last seen walking home from his sister's home and is reported missing later in the month. It is initially believed that Huntzinger, who had some trouble in school and a recent brush with the law, ran away from home. Then Blue Lake Police Chief Don Trumble said at the time he was confident that Huntzinger was not a victim of foul play.
April 1999 -- Thomas Michael Fox, who was serving life in prison for the killing of 11-year old Danny Williams of Eureka, reportedly confesses to having killed Huntzinger. As a part of the confession, Fox reportedly admitted to shooting Huntzinger and fingered the accomplices who he said helped him bury the boy.
April 24, 1999 -- During a confrontation with Huntzinger's mom, Nancy, family acquaintance Stephen Daniel Hash reportedly admits to killing Curtis Huntzinger, even taking Nancy Huntzinger to her son's burial site. Hash, however, refuses to talk to law enforcement about the case.
Over the ensuing weeks, police investigators search Hash's property, even removing the floor boards of his house and sending its carpets to the Department of Justice Crime Lab for testing. The area where Hash claimed to have buried Huntzinger is scoured by dozens of members of the California Conservation Corps, police and the Huntzinger family. Several bones, including a vertebrae, are found, and believed to be those of Curtis Huntzinger. “This could be over in a few weeks,” then Blue Lake Police Chief Floyd Stokes said. The bones are later determined to be animal remains, and the case goes dormant.
May 2008 -- The Blue Lake Police Department is disbanded after the arrest of Police Chief, David Gundersen, and the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office quickly picks up the Huntzinger case.
Dec. 3, 2008 -- Hash is arrested on suspicion of voluntary manslaughter by District Attorney's Office investigators after reportedly giving a “complete confession” and showing them where Huntzinger was buried.
Dec. 9, 2008 -- Investigators find a body believed to be Huntzinger's located off old State Route 299 between Blue Lake and Korbel in the location Hash had led them to. The body is sent to the Humboldt County Coroner for an autopsy.
Sean Garmire/The Times-Standard
Posted: 12/10/2008 01:30:19 AM PST
***
☛ TS Never too late for resolution
In musty filing cabinets up and down the state are the remains of unsolved cases of every variety, including those of young men and women who for years have been lost to their families.
In Humboldt County, we've had more than our fair share of those types of cases -- the most famous being that of Karen Mitchell, followed closely by a case that appears to be nearing some resolution -- that of the long-missing Curtis Huntzinger.
While the conclusion of the Huntzinger investigation is not a happy one, he has finally been found after all these year, which may provide some comfort to a family that has long been wondering about the fate of their lost loved one.
We would encourage law enforcement officials of all stripes to be vigilant with such cases, and to remember their significance in the face of frustration and dead ends.
Each and every one represents a family in pain, and a family in need of closure and relief. When those cases gather dust because of neglect, and remain unsolved because they aren't getting the necessary attention, it only compounds the original crime, and the pain it causes the family.
The case of Curtis Huntzinger shows us that it's never too late to follow a lead, to pursue a suspect, and do the necessary footwork. Such efforts can make all the difference. Our thanks to those who helped bring Curtis home.
The Times-Standard
Posted: 12/10/2008 01:30:20 AM PST
12.05.2008
asje - a cog in the wheel
HWC on PL Bankruptcy
Re: Humboldt Watershed Council reacts to Palco bankruptcy. The Pacific Lumber Company (Palco) filed for bankruptcy protection today, after years of ...
www.asje.org/HWConPLBankruptcy.htm - 10k - Cached - Similar pages -
[PDF] Humboldt Watershed Council
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
I am writing on behalf of the Humboldt Watershed Council to inform you, ... The Humboldt Watershed Council has a long-standing interest in these issues. ...
www.asje.org/documents/HWCLettertonoteholders.pdf - Similar pages -
More results from www.asje.org »
more to add.
Re: Humboldt Watershed Council reacts to Palco bankruptcy. The Pacific Lumber Company (Palco) filed for bankruptcy protection today, after years of ...
www.asje.org/HWConPLBankruptcy.htm - 10k - Cached - Similar pages -
[PDF] Humboldt Watershed Council
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
I am writing on behalf of the Humboldt Watershed Council to inform you, ... The Humboldt Watershed Council has a long-standing interest in these issues. ...
www.asje.org/documents/HWCLettertonoteholders.pdf - Similar pages -
More results from www.asje.org »
more to add.
EarthJustice Client - Humboldt Watershed Council
Ahh, the activist web - the plot does thicken...
Cases
California Logging Clean Water Exemption
In Brief: The Clean Water Act is meant to clean up the nation's waterways. In some areas, however, exemptions have been issued that have hampered the goal. One such is in California, where three water boards have ruled that loggers are exempt. Earthjustice is challenging the exemptions in court.
Staff:
Clients:
Environmental Protection Information Center
Humboldt Watershed Council
Updated: April 20, 2004
Case #11095
12.04.2008
TS - Kesser attempts suicide at Humboldt County jail
☛ TS Kesser attempts suicide at Humboldt County jai
Richard Craig Kesser, a former Fortuna resident who spent more than 17 years behind bars for the murder of his estranged wife in 1991, hanged himself in his jail cell early Tuesday morning.
The 47-year-old inmate was transported to St. Joseph Hospital and placed on life support, where he remained in critical condition throughout the day Tuesday, hospital staff reported.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office reported that at around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, a correctional officer found an inmate hanging in his cell. The officer quickly cut the inmate down and began resuscitation efforts shortly before medical staff responded and began CPR.
The Sheriff's Office has so far declined to disclose the identity of the inmate. However, Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos, who led prosecution against Kesser during the past three years, confirmed the inmate was Kesser.
During an interview in late November, Kesser said he had been taking medication for depression, but was hopeful about his future after accepting a plea agreement offered by the District Attorney's Office.
”I suffer from depression from time to time,” he said. “I have a whole bunch of hopes. I'm trying to go home now, after 17 years ... hopefully someday I can get back to being a productive member of society.”
During that interview, Kesser also spoke about his 1991 plot to murder his wife, which had been schemed with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Leahy, who has since been released from jail.
The couple -- who had been dating for about four months at the time -- hired Stephen Duane Chiara for the hit. According to court documents, the three mapped out plans for the murder over the course of several weeks.
On Nov. 26, 1991, Mary Kesser was stabbed to death in her N Street home.
Authorities long suspected the motive was Mary Kesser's $50,000 life insurance policy. In 1992, a panel of jurors agreed, finding Richard Kesser, Leahy and Chiara guilty of first-degree murder.
The three were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Then, after 14 years behind bars at Pelican Bay State Prison, Richard Kesser and Leahy's verdicts were narrowly overturned by a panel of judges in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, on the grounds that former Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman had stricken three American Indians from the jury pool because of their race.
That decision led to Richard Kesser's return to the Humboldt County jail on Dec. 5, 2006.
In 2008, a plea agreement was struck between Richard Kesser and the District Attorney's Office, which compelled Richard Kesser to issue a truthful, polygraphed statement about the events that led to his former wife's murder. That agreement stipulated that if he truthfully completed the polygraph test, he would receive a second degree murder sentence, reducing his possible sentence from 25-years to life to 15-years to life.
Richard Kesser failed his first test in August. But in September, those results were thrown out by a Humboldt County Superior Court judge, who ruled the examiner used inadmissible techniques in the test.
The second test was cut short after Richard Kesser told the examiner he had been taking medication for depression.
A judge allowed Richard Kesser to take a third test in late November, but those results have not yet been disclosed by his attorney Glenn Brown.
Brown was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
”I was hopeful the first time -- I wanted to (pass) the first time,” Richard Kesser said the week before his third test. “Anybody who's lived in this building (the jail) for two years doesn't want to be here that long.”
According to Gallegos, Richard Kesser left a suicide note inside his cell. However, the contents of that note have not been released.
Sean Garmire can be reached at 441-0514 or sgarmire@times-standard.com.
Sean Garmire/The Times-Standard
Posted: 12/03/2008 01:21:18 AM PST
Richard Craig Kesser, a former Fortuna resident who spent more than 17 years behind bars for the murder of his estranged wife in 1991, hanged himself in his jail cell early Tuesday morning.
The 47-year-old inmate was transported to St. Joseph Hospital and placed on life support, where he remained in critical condition throughout the day Tuesday, hospital staff reported.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office reported that at around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, a correctional officer found an inmate hanging in his cell. The officer quickly cut the inmate down and began resuscitation efforts shortly before medical staff responded and began CPR.
The Sheriff's Office has so far declined to disclose the identity of the inmate. However, Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos, who led prosecution against Kesser during the past three years, confirmed the inmate was Kesser.
During an interview in late November, Kesser said he had been taking medication for depression, but was hopeful about his future after accepting a plea agreement offered by the District Attorney's Office.
”I suffer from depression from time to time,” he said. “I have a whole bunch of hopes. I'm trying to go home now, after 17 years ... hopefully someday I can get back to being a productive member of society.”
During that interview, Kesser also spoke about his 1991 plot to murder his wife, which had been schemed with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Leahy, who has since been released from jail.
The couple -- who had been dating for about four months at the time -- hired Stephen Duane Chiara for the hit. According to court documents, the three mapped out plans for the murder over the course of several weeks.
On Nov. 26, 1991, Mary Kesser was stabbed to death in her N Street home.
Authorities long suspected the motive was Mary Kesser's $50,000 life insurance policy. In 1992, a panel of jurors agreed, finding Richard Kesser, Leahy and Chiara guilty of first-degree murder.
The three were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Then, after 14 years behind bars at Pelican Bay State Prison, Richard Kesser and Leahy's verdicts were narrowly overturned by a panel of judges in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, on the grounds that former Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman had stricken three American Indians from the jury pool because of their race.
That decision led to Richard Kesser's return to the Humboldt County jail on Dec. 5, 2006.
In 2008, a plea agreement was struck between Richard Kesser and the District Attorney's Office, which compelled Richard Kesser to issue a truthful, polygraphed statement about the events that led to his former wife's murder. That agreement stipulated that if he truthfully completed the polygraph test, he would receive a second degree murder sentence, reducing his possible sentence from 25-years to life to 15-years to life.
Richard Kesser failed his first test in August. But in September, those results were thrown out by a Humboldt County Superior Court judge, who ruled the examiner used inadmissible techniques in the test.
The second test was cut short after Richard Kesser told the examiner he had been taking medication for depression.
A judge allowed Richard Kesser to take a third test in late November, but those results have not yet been disclosed by his attorney Glenn Brown.
Brown was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
”I was hopeful the first time -- I wanted to (pass) the first time,” Richard Kesser said the week before his third test. “Anybody who's lived in this building (the jail) for two years doesn't want to be here that long.”
According to Gallegos, Richard Kesser left a suicide note inside his cell. However, the contents of that note have not been released.
Sean Garmire can be reached at 441-0514 or sgarmire@times-standard.com.
Sean Garmire/The Times-Standard
Posted: 12/03/2008 01:21:18 AM PST
TS - Man convicted of wife's murder dies after hanging himself
☛ TS Man convicted of wife's murder dies after hanging himself
Richard Craig Kesser, an inmate who reportedly hanged himself in his cell at the Humboldt County jail early Tuesday morning, has died.
According to information from the Humboldt County Coroner's Office, the 47-year-old inmate was pronounced dead at 11:06 p.m. Tuesday, after he had been placed on life support more than 20 hours earlier.
The cause of death in the suicide was ruled asphyxiation due to hanging, said Coroner Frank Jager.
Kesser, Jager said, “was mostly dead by the time they got him into the hospital,” but some lifesaving efforts were restricted as Kesser had signed a “Do Not Resuscitate” order.
At 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, a correctional officer found Kesser hanging from a noose made from a bed sheet inside his cell, where he had been housed alone. Kesser was cut down immediately and lifesaving efforts were made, but Jager said Kesser had been deprived of oxygen for too long.
Deputy Coroner Roy Horton said although investigators are not yet certain how long Kesser was hanging in his cell, it must have been “at least three or four minutes.”
An autopsy will be conducted by a forensic pathologist later this week, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office reported.
Kesser was incarcerated in 1992 after a Humboldt County jury found him guilty of first-degree murder -- the result of a successful plot to murder his estranged wife in 1991. That sentence was later overturned and Kesser was returned to the Humboldt County jail on Dec. 5, 2006.
In 2008, a plea agreement was struck between Kesser and the District Attorney's Office. That agreement stipulated that if he truthfully completed the polygraph test, he would receive a second-degree murder sentence, reducing his possible sentence from 25 years to life to 15 years to life.
According to court documents, Kesser, along with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Leahy, hired hit man Stephen Chiara to murder 30-year-old Mary Kesser.
She was stabbed to death in her Fortuna home on Nov. 26, 1991 -- 17 years and six days before her former husband and the self-proclaimed “mastermind” of her murder committed suicide.
During an interview in late November, just weeks before his death, Richard Kesser admitted he was struggling with depression, for which he was taking medication.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Richard Kesser did leave a letter; however, that has not been made public, and no potential motive for the suicide has been released.
Sean Garmire can be reached at 441-0514 or sgarmire@times-standard.com.
Sean Garmire/The Times-Standard
Posted: 12/04/2008 01:15:37 AM PST
Richard Craig Kesser, an inmate who reportedly hanged himself in his cell at the Humboldt County jail early Tuesday morning, has died.
According to information from the Humboldt County Coroner's Office, the 47-year-old inmate was pronounced dead at 11:06 p.m. Tuesday, after he had been placed on life support more than 20 hours earlier.
The cause of death in the suicide was ruled asphyxiation due to hanging, said Coroner Frank Jager.
Kesser, Jager said, “was mostly dead by the time they got him into the hospital,” but some lifesaving efforts were restricted as Kesser had signed a “Do Not Resuscitate” order.
At 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, a correctional officer found Kesser hanging from a noose made from a bed sheet inside his cell, where he had been housed alone. Kesser was cut down immediately and lifesaving efforts were made, but Jager said Kesser had been deprived of oxygen for too long.
Deputy Coroner Roy Horton said although investigators are not yet certain how long Kesser was hanging in his cell, it must have been “at least three or four minutes.”
An autopsy will be conducted by a forensic pathologist later this week, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office reported.
Kesser was incarcerated in 1992 after a Humboldt County jury found him guilty of first-degree murder -- the result of a successful plot to murder his estranged wife in 1991. That sentence was later overturned and Kesser was returned to the Humboldt County jail on Dec. 5, 2006.
In 2008, a plea agreement was struck between Kesser and the District Attorney's Office. That agreement stipulated that if he truthfully completed the polygraph test, he would receive a second-degree murder sentence, reducing his possible sentence from 25 years to life to 15 years to life.
According to court documents, Kesser, along with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Leahy, hired hit man Stephen Chiara to murder 30-year-old Mary Kesser.
She was stabbed to death in her Fortuna home on Nov. 26, 1991 -- 17 years and six days before her former husband and the self-proclaimed “mastermind” of her murder committed suicide.
During an interview in late November, just weeks before his death, Richard Kesser admitted he was struggling with depression, for which he was taking medication.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Richard Kesser did leave a letter; however, that has not been made public, and no potential motive for the suicide has been released.
Sean Garmire can be reached at 441-0514 or sgarmire@times-standard.com.
Sean Garmire/The Times-Standard
Posted: 12/04/2008 01:15:37 AM PST
12.01.2008
TS - The ongoing struggle for the right to self-government
Forget the Constitution...
The ongoing struggle for the right to self-government
My Word Op-Ed
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap/For the Times-Standard
Posted: 12/01/2008 01:27:15 AM PST
”We the People.” Those are hallowed words in this country. They begin the Preamble to the United States Constitution. Those words remind us that in this country, we are supposed to be the government.
That is a staggeringly profound idea. Before this country was founded, kings ruled over subjects by “divine right.” But the American revolutionaries rejected that idea as repugnant to a free and sovereign people. They had the audacity to believe that ordinary people are capable of true self-governance.
The Declaration of Independence asserts that the only legitimate government is government which has the consent of the people. So it is a fair statement to say that the principle of self-government is a core American ideal.
It is against this backdrop that I ask readers to consider the case of Measure T. First, let us remember that Measure T was passed using the citizen's initiative process. In other words, it was not merely elected officials purporting to speak for the people of Humboldt County. We the People spoke for ourselves.
The effort had the support of the local Democratic Party, the Green Party, organized labor, peace and justice groups, elected officials, local business owners, and farmers and ranchers. It truly was an example of people from a wide spectrum coming together to exercise our fundamental right to self-governance.
And “We the People” explicitly and unambiguously stated that corporate money in local elections was undermining our electoral system. Because of the corrupting influence of corporate donations, we stated that we were losing confidence in the integrity of our own democracy.
The law not only forbade non-local corporate contributions in local elections, it also included an intentional and strategic challenge to legal doctrine of “corporate personhood.” The law specifically stated that:
”Courts have illegitimately defined corporations as persons, allegedly vesting corporations with constitutional protections and rights. Corporate Personhood illegitimately denies the people of Humboldt County the ability to exercise our fundamental political rights.”
And Measure T passed by over 55 percent of the vote here in 2006, passing in every single district in Humboldt County!
So when Pacific Legal Foundation sued Humboldt County over Measure T, they were alleging that “We the People” do not have the right to make the decision how to best protect our own elections.
And just who is the Pacific Legal Foundation? A far right-wing group funded by tobacco corporations and oil corporations. They have been at the forefront of efforts to overturn health, safety and environmental laws that attempt to control the abuses of large corporations.
So these corporatists made Measure T not merely about campaign finance reform efforts. It became a fight over whether “We the People” are truly self-governing people.
And so I was so very proud when over 50 citizens appeared at the last meeting of the Board of Supervisors to express their disapproval that the county had decided not to defend Measure T in court. Speaker after speaker spoke not only of the need for campaign finance reform, but of their commitment to be part of a movement to challenge the legal doctrine of “corporate personhood.”
It may seem like a daunting task, but consider this -- where would we be if the American revolutionaries had been unwilling to challenge the “legal authority” of the king?
If women had not challenged laws that prevented them from voting? If trade unionists had not violated unjust laws claiming efforts to organize workers for better conditions and pay were a “criminal conspiracy”? If civil rights activists had not sparked a movement to challenge court-sanctioned Jim Crow segregation laws?
And the issue of corporate personhood is already becoming a local campaign issue. Over half of the candidates for office in Humboldt County in the last election pledged to refuse corporate campaign contributions regardless of the outcome of the court case. Nineteen of those candidates went even further, pledging to oppose corporate personhood if elected. Most of those signing the pledge won their contests!
So we at Democracy Unlimited share the disappointment of our fellow citizens. In an example of “judicial activism” run amok, Pacific Legal Foundation was able to use the court system to overturn the express will of the people.
But we are encouraged that people of Humboldt County are not giving up. We are also encouraged that the Board of Supervisors has expressed a willingness to work with us to pass laws to curb corporate power. We look forward to that prospect.
In addition, we will continue to educate, agitate and organize until we have built a movement powerful enough to overturn the ridiculous legal doctrine that allows a corporation to overturn democratically enacted laws that attempt to control their conduct.
We invite you to join us in that joyful celebration of the power of the “We the People.”
Check us out on the web at www.duhc.org and contact us at 269-0984 or info@duhc.org
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap is director of Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County. She lives in Eureka and can be reached at kaitlin@duhc.org.
And don't forget to DONATE NOW :)
The ongoing struggle for the right to self-government
My Word Op-Ed
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap/For the Times-Standard
Posted: 12/01/2008 01:27:15 AM PST
”We the People.” Those are hallowed words in this country. They begin the Preamble to the United States Constitution. Those words remind us that in this country, we are supposed to be the government.
That is a staggeringly profound idea. Before this country was founded, kings ruled over subjects by “divine right.” But the American revolutionaries rejected that idea as repugnant to a free and sovereign people. They had the audacity to believe that ordinary people are capable of true self-governance.
The Declaration of Independence asserts that the only legitimate government is government which has the consent of the people. So it is a fair statement to say that the principle of self-government is a core American ideal.
It is against this backdrop that I ask readers to consider the case of Measure T. First, let us remember that Measure T was passed using the citizen's initiative process. In other words, it was not merely elected officials purporting to speak for the people of Humboldt County. We the People spoke for ourselves.
The effort had the support of the local Democratic Party, the Green Party, organized labor, peace and justice groups, elected officials, local business owners, and farmers and ranchers. It truly was an example of people from a wide spectrum coming together to exercise our fundamental right to self-governance.
And “We the People” explicitly and unambiguously stated that corporate money in local elections was undermining our electoral system. Because of the corrupting influence of corporate donations, we stated that we were losing confidence in the integrity of our own democracy.
The law not only forbade non-local corporate contributions in local elections, it also included an intentional and strategic challenge to legal doctrine of “corporate personhood.” The law specifically stated that:
”Courts have illegitimately defined corporations as persons, allegedly vesting corporations with constitutional protections and rights. Corporate Personhood illegitimately denies the people of Humboldt County the ability to exercise our fundamental political rights.”
And Measure T passed by over 55 percent of the vote here in 2006, passing in every single district in Humboldt County!
So when Pacific Legal Foundation sued Humboldt County over Measure T, they were alleging that “We the People” do not have the right to make the decision how to best protect our own elections.
And just who is the Pacific Legal Foundation? A far right-wing group funded by tobacco corporations and oil corporations. They have been at the forefront of efforts to overturn health, safety and environmental laws that attempt to control the abuses of large corporations.
So these corporatists made Measure T not merely about campaign finance reform efforts. It became a fight over whether “We the People” are truly self-governing people.
And so I was so very proud when over 50 citizens appeared at the last meeting of the Board of Supervisors to express their disapproval that the county had decided not to defend Measure T in court. Speaker after speaker spoke not only of the need for campaign finance reform, but of their commitment to be part of a movement to challenge the legal doctrine of “corporate personhood.”
It may seem like a daunting task, but consider this -- where would we be if the American revolutionaries had been unwilling to challenge the “legal authority” of the king?
If women had not challenged laws that prevented them from voting? If trade unionists had not violated unjust laws claiming efforts to organize workers for better conditions and pay were a “criminal conspiracy”? If civil rights activists had not sparked a movement to challenge court-sanctioned Jim Crow segregation laws?
And the issue of corporate personhood is already becoming a local campaign issue. Over half of the candidates for office in Humboldt County in the last election pledged to refuse corporate campaign contributions regardless of the outcome of the court case. Nineteen of those candidates went even further, pledging to oppose corporate personhood if elected. Most of those signing the pledge won their contests!
So we at Democracy Unlimited share the disappointment of our fellow citizens. In an example of “judicial activism” run amok, Pacific Legal Foundation was able to use the court system to overturn the express will of the people.
But we are encouraged that people of Humboldt County are not giving up. We are also encouraged that the Board of Supervisors has expressed a willingness to work with us to pass laws to curb corporate power. We look forward to that prospect.
In addition, we will continue to educate, agitate and organize until we have built a movement powerful enough to overturn the ridiculous legal doctrine that allows a corporation to overturn democratically enacted laws that attempt to control their conduct.
We invite you to join us in that joyful celebration of the power of the “We the People.”
Check us out on the web at www.duhc.org and contact us at 269-0984 or info@duhc.org
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap is director of Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County. She lives in Eureka and can be reached at kaitlin@duhc.org.
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