Murderer and kidnapper John Wayne Card, 74, was again denied parole following a Tuesday, July 26, hearing out of Stockton.
Glenn County Deputy District Attorney Michael Coffey, who opposed parole on behalf of the People of Glenn County, attended the hearing by video conference. Members of the victim’s family also spoke in opposition to Card’s parole.
After a multi-hour hearing, the parole board denied Card’s release for three years.
On Thursday, June 27, 1974, Nancy Griffiths, 53, and her son, Ray, 21, returned to their home on County Road 39, north of Willows, following an appointment with her doctor. She had previously had surgery on her leg, was not yet fully healed, and had to use crutches.
They were met at their house by John Wayne Card, 26, who told them that an accomplice was holding Nancy Griffiths’ husband, Dr. Clayton Griffiths, a Willows veterinarian, and her daughter, Lisa Ann, 13, and the accomplice would kill them if Nancy Griffiths did not cooperate.
Card took Nancy and Ray Griffiths to a motel in Maxwell, where they all spent the night. The next morning, Friday, June 28, Card took them back to Willows.
Their first stop was at Sani-Food Market, where Nancy Griffiths was told to cash a check for the largest amount she could without raising suspicion. She wrote a check for $250.
Next, the three went to Bank of America, where Nancy Griffiths withdrew $5,000 from her savings account. From there, Card took his captives to Chico, then to a remote location near Nelson, about 6.5 miles south of Durham.
Card pulled his vehicle over to the side of the road and the Griffithses realized he was going to kill them. Ray Griffiths ran and escaped, but Nancy Griffiths was shot dead.
Ray Griffiths was able to find help and law enforcement responded in both Butte and Glenn Counties. In the former county, their focus was on finding Card, while in the latter county, their focus was in rescuing Dr. Griffiths and his daughter, Lisa Ann.
Tragically, they were already dead. Officers had expected to encounter Card’s accomplice, but instead discovered that there was never an accomplice and Card had used baling wire to strangle the veterinarian and his daughter about 100 yards away from the house.
After killing Nancy Griffiths, Card headed toward Durham. On Ord Ferry Road, he stopped at a small ranch and kidnapped widow Kay Skillin, 34, and her children Wesley, 13, and Debbie, 12.
Card kept the Skillins for about six days, driving them through Northern California, Nevada, Utah, and back to Northern California. On July 3 in Colusa County, in a remote location west of Williams, he chained the three to a tree and left.
They managed to escape and made their way to a ranger station.
As for Card, he was taken into custody on the Fourth of July while walking down a street at a flea market in Truckee. Officers recovered $3,000 of Nancy Griffiths’ money, and some firearms.
Card was a very big and strong man – 6 foot-4 inches tall and 240 pounds when he was arrested. In 1968 and 1969, he was the star tackle for the Princeton High School football team.
His dream was to play for the 49ers, but he reportedly did not possess the intellectual aptitude for college and he failed to be accepted by the NFL. In 1970, he was convicted of burglary and in 1971, he was found guilty of stealing hay.
Card was convicted at a jury trial and sentenced to death for the murders of Dr. Griffiths and Lisa Ann. However, in 1976, the California Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty violated the California Constitution.
The death sentences of Card and about 70 other inmates were commuted to life in prison. The statute was later updated to address other constitutional concerns of the California Supreme Court, but the commuted death sentences could not be reinstated.
Card has had several parole hearings over the years, including 2006, 2019, and now 2022.
Following the July 26, 2022, hearing, the D.A.’s office wrote, “The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the family of the victims for attending the parole hearing today and bravely speaking out against this dangerous killer being released.”
Chico attorney Stephana Femino, 47, was arrested Friday, July 29, by investigators from the Butte County District Attorney’s Office.
She is charged with harboring her fugitive boyfriend, who was also her client. She was taken into custody outside the Butte County Superior Court Friday morning after a warrant for her arrest was issued by a Butte County judge Thursday night.
According to a press release, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said his office began investigating Femino in June after it was discovered she was allegedly assisting her boyfriend, Adam Ashford, 49, in remaining a fugitive on several felony arrest warrants. Ramsey said Ashford is a convicted felon and was on probation in several serious cases, including possession of drugs while armed with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, and felony evading the police.
Ramsey said Ashford had violated the terms of his probation earlier this year and failed to appear in court on May 11. At that time, a Butte County judge issued “no bail” warrants for his arrest for the probation violations.
Ramsey said Femino represented Ashford on those cases and was in court when Ashford failed to show up and the warrants were issued. In the weeks that followed, law enforcement became aware of evidence that showed Femino was assisting Ashford in remaining free and avoiding the warrants.
Ramsey said that in late June his office began a formal investigation into Femino and Ashford, and learned that Femino was allegedly allowing Ashford to stay in her law office in Chico. It also became apparent that Femino and Ashford were engaged in a romantic relationship.
Adam Ashford
Law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies participated in the investigation, and on June 24 located and arrested Ashford, who was with Femino in a car near Butte College. Ashford was taken into custody and is currently held without bail in the Butte County Jail.
Ramsey said after Ashford’s arrest, investigators seized his cell phone and obtained a specialized search warrant designed to protect the privacy of Femino’s other clients, as there was a claim that Ashford had worked as an office manager for Femino for a time. A download of Ashford’s cell phone yielded hundreds of texts between Femino and Ashford while Ashford was out to warrant.
Ramsey said those texts confirmed Femino was providing Ashford with money and shelter to assist him in remaining a fugitive. He said that after his investigative team concluded that portion of their investigation, they determined there was sufficient evidence to arrest and charge Femino for harboring a fugitive, which is a felony in California.
Investigators then obtained an arrest warrant for Femino, which resulted in her being taken into custody Friday and being taken to Butte County Jail. Ramsey said the information surrounding Femino’s arrest has been shared with the California State Bar.
He also said in recent months local judges have sanctioned Femino over $10,000 in fines for deficiencies in her practice of law in the local courts.
Photo taken inside a Butte County courtroom allegedly shows a sleeping or unconscious attorney Stephana Femino.
Femino attended Orland High School. She began studying at California State University, Chico, majoring in political science in 1994, then she began studying law at Cal Northern School of Law in 2001.
Before becoming an attorney, she worked as a courtroom clerk at the Butte County Superior Court. She was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2010, and opened her law offices in Chico.
She was a resident of Paradise and a survivor of the Camp Fire of November, 2018.
Adam Ashford has a very long criminal history. In Butte County alone, between 1994 and 2022, the court’s website lists seven misdemeanor cases and 11 felony cases against him.
Ashford has also been arrested in Yuba, Colusa, Shasta, Glenn, and Placer Counties.
Femino was relieved as Ashford’s attorney on July 27, two days before her arrest. An evidentiary hearing for Ashford is scheduled for August 30 at the Butte County Superior Court.
Here are the latest bookings from the Glenn County Jail. Remember: Everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Thursday, July 21:
8:48 p.m., Rafael Castillo, 40, of Hamilton City, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging battery on a spouse, ex-spouse, date, etc. (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at 500 Fourth Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
9:45 p.m., Brian Anthony Torres Harwood, 37, of Placerville, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging failure to appear on a felony charge. Total bail was set at $135,000. He was taken into custody on County Road V, north of County Road 35, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Friday, July 22:
1:35 a.m., Chastity La Vee Hill, 27, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, and failure to install an ignition interlock device (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. She was taken into custody on Highway 99, south of Third Street, Artois, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
9:30 a.m., Alvaro Torres, 40, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on a court-ordered surrender for charges alleging robbery (a felony), entering a noncommercial dwelling during a criminal incident (a misdemeanor), battery on a spouse, ex-spouse, date, etc. (a misdemeanor), violation of a court order to prevent domestic violence (a misdemeanor), and false imprisonment (a misdemeanor). He was taken into custody at the jail by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
12 p.m., Ryan Kurt Miles, 43, of Oakland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging failure to appear on a felony charge. Total bail was set at $81,000. He was taken into custody at Alameda County Jail by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
3 p.m., William Grant Crossley, 54, of Paradise, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging failure to appear on a felony charge, and failure to appear after giving a written promise (a misdemeanor). Total bail was set at $124,000, but he was also held without bail on a California Department of Corrections detainer (a felony). He was taken into custody at Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center, Elk Grove, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Saturday, July 23:
3:58 p.m., Bodie David Arthur, 40, of Grants Pass, Ore., was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of a drug, and possession of a narcotic controlled substance (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody on the northbound side of Interstate 5 at the rest area by a California Highway Patrol officer.
10:03 p.m., Elias Lopez Santiz, 32, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and driving with a license suspended for driving while under the influence (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $15,000. He was taken into custody in the 200 block of East South Street by an Orland police officer.
11:15 p.m., Ulises Martinez-Galvin, 21, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and driving without a license (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody on County Road P, north of County Road 25, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
Sunday, July 24:
12:07 a.m., Susan Gay Billingsley, 68, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and battery (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. She was taken into custody at 1340 West Sycamore Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
12:30 p.m., Daric James Boughton, 45, of Anderson, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on warrants alleging vehicle theft, violation of probation, possession of stolen property, and failure to appear on a felony charge. He was taken into custody on the southbound Interstate 5 on-ramp at Newville Road, Orland, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
8:06 p.m., Jonathan Medina Chavez, 36, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging using or being under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at zero. He was taken into custody in the alley between South Shasta and South Butte Streets, south of West Cedar Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
9:36 p.m., Will Rivera-Cruz, 27, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol, (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody in the 700 block of Colusa Street by an Orland police officer.
Monday, July 25:
9:49 a.m., at the Glenn County Jail, Stephan Ross Shanks, 31, of Artois, was found to have warrants alleging failure to appear on a felony charge, and failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge. Total bail was set at $27,000.
1:30 p.m., Erich Philip Mueller, 30, of Redmond, Ore., was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging using or being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, and possession of a narcotic controlled substance (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at zero. He was taken into custody at 1301 West Wood Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
8:30 p.m., Robert Lopez, 48, of Hamilton City, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at Fifth and Walker Streets by an Orland police officer.
11:02 p.m., Gregory Patrick Higginbotham, 40, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and disobeying a court order (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at 10 Walker Street by an Orland police officer.
Tuesday, July 26:
12:30 p.m., Dvontrique Keshon Davidson, 26, of Sacramento, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on an order of production with charges of willful cruelty to a child with the possibility of injury or death (a felony), driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (a misdemeanor), driving while under the influence of alcohol (a misdemeanor), driving with a license suspended for driving while under the influence (a misdemeanor), operation of a vehicle without an interlock device by a restricted driver (a misdemeanor), driving with a blood alcohol content of .01 percent while on probation for a DUI violation (an infraction), failure to appear on a felony charge, and violation of parole (a felony). He was taken into custody at San Quentin State Prison by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
12:30 p.m., Richard Thomas Hodges, 34, of Anderson, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on an order of production with charges of possession of a destructive device (a felony), reckless possession of an explosive device on a public street or highway (a felony), vehicle theft with priors (a felony), possession of stolen property (a misdemeanor), unlawful possession of tear gas (a misdemeanor), and possession of a stun gun by a felon (a misdemeanor). He was taken into custody at San Quentin State Prison by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
12:30 p.m., David Moreno, 38, of Corning, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on an order of production with charges of evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety (a felony), possession of a firearm by a felon (a felony), possession of ammunition by a prohibited person (a felony), felony vandalism, and driving with a suspended license (a misdemeanor). He was taken into custody at San Quentin State Prison by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
12:30 p.m., Tou Thao, 37, of Chico, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on an order of production with charges of evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety (a felony), vehicle theft (a felony), and driving with a license suspended for driving while under the influence (a misdemeanor). He was taken into custody at San Quentin State Prison by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
3:47 p.m., Mariah Sachene Renee Halvorson, 29, of Paradise, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge. Bail was set at $12,000. She was taken into custody at 817 Newport Avenue by an Orland police officer.
4:19 p.m., Miguel Angel Medina, 20, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging solicitation of criminal acts, and threatening to commit a crime with intent to terrorize (both felonies). Bail was set at $650,000. He was taken into custody at 2628 County Road T, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
11:31 p.m., Sergey Sinkevich, 53, of Sacramento, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody on Highway 99, south of County Road 48, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
Wednesday, July 27:
8:52 p.m., Maurilio Montes, 49, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging violation of a court order to prevent domestic violence (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at 1011 Newport Avenue by an Orland police officer.
8:58 p.m., Maria Fuentes Delgadillo, 68, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging public intoxication (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. She was taken into custody at 1011 Newport Avenue by an Orland police officer.
10:59 p.m., Alfredo Ramirez Hernandez, 32, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging battery on a spouse, ex-spouse, date, etc. (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at 949 Cypress Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Since moving to Orland in mid-May, Sally Dawley has picked up 24,760 discarded cigarette butts. This number is precise because Dawley keeps track with a handheld tally counter. During the years she lived in Auburn, she picked up more than two million butts. Yes, you read that right: two million. Why does this former bus driver do this? Because cigarette butts are very toxic and harm birds and other wildlife, as well as dogs that sometimes eat them. So, the next time you are in Orland and you see Sally Dawley picking up butts with her tongs and plastic bags, give her a big “thumbs-up.” She is helping to make Orland a better place – no ifs, ands or butts about it. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
The woman in this photo is the sister-in-law of a very good friend of mine.
She and her family are in need of your help. A Go-Fund-Me account has been set up by her son, Ryan Neilsen, and his plea follows:
“Last week my mom was not feeling right, prompting her to head straight to the emergency room, where they admitted her into ICU. There they diagnosed her with Goodpasture’s syndrome for a second time, the first diagnosis being in 2001. This is a very rare disease that affects one in a million people. This disease is a disorder that causes your body’s immune system to create antibodies that attack your kidneys and lungs. Her lungs and kidneys have both already been compromised.
“Since being admitted into the local ICU, she has been transported to a larger medical center with more resources. She will continue to receive treatment over the next few weeks (at minimum). She will require additional testing and treatment such as: daily dialysis, plasmapheresis (Also called therapeutic plasma exchange, this therapy uses a machine to filter your blood and remove anti-GBM antibodies), Cyclophosphamide (suppresses your immune system), bronchoscopies, multiple labs, imaging, kidney biopsy and who can tell how much more.
“Anything helps! $1.00, a share or a prayer. We need financial help to cover the unexpected medical and transportation costs for our family to be with her in our time of need.”
Joshua Jeenen Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, Sept. 2, for the death of his two-month-old daughter, Ariel, in 2021.
On Friday, July 15, 2022, Lee pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter (PC 192b). The maximum sentence for this crime is four years in prison.
The Glenn County District Attorney originally charged him with assault of a child under the age of eight, producing great bodily injury resulting in death. The maximum sentence for this crime is 25 years to life in prison.
When he was first arrested on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, he was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging willful cruelty to a child resulting in possible injury or death, and voluntary manslaughter (both felonies). The maximum sentence for this latter crime is 11 years in prison.
Lee was represented in court by the Law Offices of Jason R. Holley (Holley Criminal Defense Law Offices), located in Sacramento. The lead attorney was Robert Miller Holley.
At about 3:20 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center received a 911 call from the 100 block of West Sycamore Street in Willows regarding a two-month-old girl who was not breathing. The caller said CPR was in progress.
The office of The Sacramento Valley Mirror is also located in the 100 block of West Sycamore Street – 138 West Sycamore to be precise. That afternoon, the staff of The Mirror was busy working on the final pages of the Saturday edition of the paper and was not paying attention to the transmissions on the police scanner.
Then, two Mirror staff members heard a commotion and stood up to look outside. They saw a “smallish” woman across the street, standing on the sidewalk between the street and the parking lot, and witnessed a larger woman rush across the street and attempt to prevent the smaller woman from taking pictures.
It should be noted that the law protects photographing and video recording events in public places. The law does not, under any circumstances, permit a private citizen to physically interfere with someone who is engaging in a perfectly lawful activity.
Glenn County Sheriff’s Deputy Trish Alves quickly intervened and appeared to order the larger woman, Marlena Sparkman, back across the street. Thinking there was some kind of physical fight going on, Larry Judkins, at the time a 26-year associate of The Valley Mirror, grabbed his camera and stepped outside.
Judkins looked to his right and saw a number of people standing and kneeling on the sidewalk, just feet from the east end of The Mirror office, apparently rendering aid to someone almost completely hidden from view by the other people. Judkins quickly snapped a photo, which resulted in two or three people shouting at him to not take pictures.
Judkins responded firmly, “I will take pictures!”
Sparkman replied, “A decent person wouldn’t take pictures.”
Another woman said, “That’s my daughter and I don’t want any pictures taken!” Several people, some intentionally, stepped in front of Judkins, preventing him from taking photos.
By thus suppressing the truth regarding this tragedy, hiding from the public the full, ugly realities of the baby’s unnecessary death, the result may be that it helped to protect the perpetrator while at the same time it prevented the baby achieving the maximum degree of justice for herself.
When the baby was first brought out to the sidewalk from her father’s apartment upstairs, an Orland firefighter, who just happened to be in the area, and a Willows firefighter valiantly began performing CPR on the baby. As more Willows volunteers arrived on the scene, they took over, doing everything they could to save the little girl.
A deputy approached a man, later identified as Joshua Lee, and asked him a question.
Lee answered, “I was feeding her.”
The deputy asked, “What were you feeding her?”
Lee replied, “It was formula.”
Minutes later, the baby was carried to a waiting ambulance. She was then rushed to an Enloe FlightCare helicopter at the Willows Airport, which flew her to UC Davis Medical Center for treatment.
As glove-wearing emergency responders began picking up items from the sidewalk, highly respected firefighter B.C. Cameron approached Judkins and began to chat. Gloveless, Marlena Sparkman began picking up the infant’s blankets from the sidewalk.
Chief Cameron advised her, “I wouldn’t do that.”
Sparkman asked, “Why?”
Chief Cameron merely shook his head and repeated, “I really wouldn’t do that.”
Sparkman ignored him and continued to pick up the items with her bare hands. Of course, at that time, for all anyone knew, the blankets could have been contaminated with a pathogen or drug residue like fentanyl.
A press release from the sheriff’s office stated, “At approximately 4:45 p.m. on [Friday, Jan. 8], UC Davis notified the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office that the infant was deceased. The nurse reported that the infant’s death was considered suspicious.
“Investigators from the Glenn Investigative Task Force (GLINTF) [now the sheriff’s major case unit, no longer just the narcotic task force] were called out for the incident and assumed the investigation into the infant’s death.
“At 1 a.m. on [Saturday, Jan. 9], the infant’s father (Joshua Jeenen Lee) was taken into custody [at UC Davis Medical Center] … and booked into the Glenn County Jail.”
Lee’s $110,000 bail was posted later Saturday morning. The bail bond company was Acme Bail Bonds of Sacramento.
It is unknown whether the following is in any way connected to the death of the baby, but at 9:47 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2021, Deputy Thompson was dispatched to a report of an assault that had occurred in Willows. Glenn Medical Center staff reported the incident after Joshua Lee came into the emergency room for a complaint of pain he received during the assault.
Deputy Thompson contacted Lee, who declined to provide information regarding the incident. The assault was reported to have occurred at Central Park in Willows at about 4 p.m.
Lee said he was set upon by one or more persons. He refused to disclose who they were.
At the time, Lee was living in the same apartment at 132 West Sycamore Street, Willows.
At about 6:07 a.m. on May 25 of this year, deputies were dispatched to 102 North Alpine Street, Willows, for a welfare check after sheriff’s dispatch received a 911 hang-up. Glenn County Sheriff’s Communications said the reporting party stated his door did not lock last night and he believed someone was in his house.
Deputies arrived and contacted Joshua Lee, who allegedly admitted to using a controlled substance the night before. He was unsure why he was paranoid.
Lee stated one of the locks to his front door was locked throughout the night. Deputies determined Lee was not under the influence nor in need of law enforcement assistance.
Here are the latest bookings from the Glenn County Jail. Remember: Everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Thursday, July 14:
1:15 p.m., Stephen Kraig Green, 51, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on charges alleging violation of post-release community supervision (a felony). He was taken into custody at the Glenn County Probation Department, Willows, by a probation officer.
1:20 p.m., Edward Leroy Gravelle, 63, of Red Bluff, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on an order of production for charges alleging failure to appear on a felony charge. He was taken into custody at California State Prison, Sacramento, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
1:56 p.m., Jason Thomas Cartwright, 25, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge, and failure to appear on a felony charge. Total bail was set at $52,000. He was taken into custody at 328 South Lassen Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Friday, July 15:
9:57 a.m., Michael Anthony Perez, 28, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging resisting or obstructing a public service officer (a misdemeanor), and felony violation of probation, and a warrant alleging failure to appear on a felony charge. Total bail was set at $45,000. He was taken into custody in the 200 block of North Plumas Street, Willows, by a Glenn County probation officer.
Saturday, July 16:
12:29 a.m., Ryan Kenneth Ball, 47, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody on East Colusa Street, east of East Street, Orland, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
8:05 p.m., Sharon Lynne Andrews-Jordan, 56, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging battery on a spouse, ex-spouse, date, etc. (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at 138 Eighth Street by an Orland police officer.
Sunday, July 17:
2:15 a.m., Frank Diaz-Diaz, 19, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody on County Road M at County Road 18 by a California Highway Patrol officer.
Monday, July 18:
No one was booked into the Glenn County Jail on this date.
Tuesday, July 19:
12:04 a.m., Israel Gallardo-Contreras, 37, of Chico, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, and driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $5,000, but he was also held without bail on charges alleging violation of parole (a felony). He was taken into custody on East South Street at Papst Avenue by an Orland police officer.
7:04 a.m., Shawn Gregory Greene, 53, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody on Highway 99 at County Road 27 by a California Highway Patrol officer.
11:03 a.m., Marc Aaron Perizzolo, 46, of Redding, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of a controlled substance, and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at zero. He was taken into custody on County Road 8, east of Highway 99, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
11:05 a.m., Ashley Christine Peterson, 32, of Redding, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. She was taken into custody on County Road 8, east of Highway 99, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
11:45 a.m., Paul Everette Choquette, 40, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging misdemeanor violation of probation, and felony violation of probation. Bail was set at $47,000. He was taken into custody at the Glenn County Probation Department, Willows, by a probation officer.
1:34 p.m., Mary Ruth Veale, 34, of Redding, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, resisting or obstructing a public service officer, and using or being under the influence of a controlled substance (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at zero. She was taken into custody in the 300 block of Sierra Avenue, Hamilton City, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
2 p.m., Michael Steven Cardena, 37, of Hamilton City, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging using or being under the influence of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. He was taken into custody at 279 Sierra Avenue, Hamilton City, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Wednesday, July 20:
9:45 a.m., Zulema Medina, 41, of Chico, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on charges alleging violation of parole (a felony). She was taken into custody in Oroville by a Red Bluff parole officer.
4:53 p.m., Allan Paul Rueda, 32, of Chico, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging forging or altering a vehicle registration (a felony), buying personal property worth more than $950 with identification removed (a misdemeanor), possession of stolen property (a misdemeanor), possession of a narcotic controlled substance (a misdemeanor), possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (a misdemeanor), transportation of a controlled substance for sale (a felony), possession of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor), and felony violation of probation. Bail was set at $95,000. He was taken into custody at the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office lobby by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
A news release by the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office regarding the death of Jordan Windus seems to raise more questions than it answers.
According to a July 19 update from the sheriff’s office, there were “no indicators of foul play” in the death of Windus, 28, of Corning. His lifeless body was found on the floor of a trailer parked in the back lot of a northeast Willows business on July 1.
“No indicators of foul play,” despite an earlier official document written by Glenn County Sheriff’s Sergeant Travis Johnsen, stating that Deputies Mitchell Tuma and Trevor Goodwin noticed that “there was a large amount of what appeared to be blood” around the body of Windus (third paragraph), that these same deputies “noted there was a large amount of blood inside the trailer” (fifth paragraph), and that Sgt. Johnsen himself wrote, it “was clear [Windus] had been bleeding from the mouth and there was blood on his face” (sixth paragraph).
Sgt. Johnsen also wrote in the sixth paragraph, “[Windus] also had what appeared to be an injury to the top of his head. Without manipulating the [body of Windus] or the evidence,” Sgt. Johnsen stated, he “could not tell where all the blood in the trailer had come from.”
Sgt. Johnsen continued, “It was unclear if [Windus] had major trauma to other parts of his body.” Also noteworthy is that Johnsen saw an unspent .22 caliber bullet on the floor of the trailer near the body of Windus.
Sgt. Johnsen wrote that he has been to many incidents involving people who have died after overdosing on drugs, but he has never seen a person who has died from a drug overdose who sustained major trauma and blood loss as a result of overdosing alone. “Based on the blood loss and what appeared to be trauma to [Windus’s] head,” Sgt. Johnsen believed “criminal activity could have caused or contributed to [Windus’s] death.”
Contrary to what Sgt. Johnsen wrote in his declaration, the July 19 news release said, “Following the completion of an autopsy, investigators determined there were no indicators of foul play and the death appeared to be drug related. The official cause of death is pending the return of toxicology reports.”
Brian Wuelfing
No mention is made in the July 19 release concerning the blood that was found. This raises a number of questions, such as:
Was it not really blood?
Windus was just a visitor to the trailer where he died. Another man, Brian Wuelfing, an employee of the business, lived in the trailer.
Was the blood Wuelfing’s rather than Windus’s? Or:
Had there been a third person in the trailer earlier?
Was there really an injury to the top of Windus’s head?
If so, what caused the injury?
Was the injury serious enough to account for all the blood?
Others have questions as well. Nona Eggerman sent the following message to The Observer, reproduced here verbatim:
“I am having a hard time finding truth in what i am reading! This article [‘More learned about Willows Death’, Observer, July 13, 2022] says Jordan had a possible injury to of his head and there was lot of blood.
“When reading the Sheriffs Press Release today it states the coroner report found no indication of foul play. One of these cannot be right! Which One?
“If it is the sheriff report then I would like to talk to the person who wrote this article about saying lies or embellishing the truth. His family did read this and was very upset with the wording and content of this article! WE just want the truth”
As for which document should be trusted – the July 19 sheriff’s press release or the earlier document by Sgt. Johnsen that mentioned the blood and head injury – it should be noted that Sgt. Johnsen declared his statement (submitted to a judge) was “true and correct” “under penalty of perjury”. The press release, on the other hand, can say whatever its author(s) want it to say.
However, it should be noted that Sgt. Johnsen was generally cautious about what he said about the death of Windus. He wrote, “Based on the blood loss and what appears to be trauma to the Decedent’s head, your Affiant [that is, Sgt. Johnsen] believes criminal activity could have caused or contributed to the Decedent’s death.”
Note the wording, “what appears to be trauma” and “criminal activity could have caused or contributed to the Decedent’s death” (emphasis by The Observer). Sgt. Johnsen’s statement leaves at least a little bit of wiggle room as to whether Windus died as the result of foul play.
Both Sgt. Johnsen’s statement and the July 19 release agree that drugs were involved in some way. Sgt. Johnsen’s declaration says that when the deputies and medical personnel arrived at the scene, Wuelfing “appeared to be having a medical emergency” and was “displaying symptoms of being under the influence of a drug.”
A “loose white powder” was found inside the trailer. At Glenn Medical Center, Wuelfing reportedly told Sgt. Jon Owens this white powder was fentanyl.
As for the July 19 release, it said, “During the investigation, Sheriff’s Deputies located small amounts of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl inside of the trailer…. Following the completion of an autopsy, investigators determined there were no indicators of foul play and the death appeared to be drug related.”
The release adds, “The official cause of death is pending the return of toxicology reports.”
Unfortunately, Action News Now, a local television news show, reported on July 20, “Glenn County Sheriff’s investigators now say Jordan Windus of Corning died of a fentanyl overdose.” In reality, the July 19 sheriff’s office release says no such thing.
Again, it says that methamphetamine and fentanyl were found inside the trailer, and it states, “the death appeared to be drug related” (emphasis added), but it also states, “The official cause of death is pending the return of toxicology reports.” It does not state as an established fact that Windus “died of a fentanyl overdose.”
The Wednesday, July 20, issue of The Sacramento Valley Mirror simply copied and pasted the July 19 sheriff’s office release. If the people at The Mirror even knew about “the large amount of blood inside the trailer,” they never mentioned the issue.
Sgt. Johnsen’s statement indicated he had a number of questions for Wuelfing: “Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opiate,” Sgt. Johnsen wrote. “Just 2 mg [milligrams] of pure fentanyl is enough to kill a person.”
Sgt. Johnsen also said that the “high” of an opiate lasts between six and eight hours. This means that it is likely that at some point in time, Wuelfing would have been sober enough to realized Windus had died or was having a medical emergency.
“It is unknown why Wuelfing did not call for help,” Sgt. Johnsen wrote.
The July 19 release does not refer to Wuelfing by name. Instead, it states:
“The property owner reported he checked a travel trailer located on the property and found two male subjects inside. One deceased and the other experiencing a medical emergency.
“Glenn County Sheriff’s Deputies and EMS responded and found a 39-year-old male inside the trailer who was experiencing a medical emergency. EMS transported the male subject to the hospital.
“Glenn County Sheriff’s Deputies found 28-year-old Jordan Windus of Corning deceased inside of the trailer.”
The release gives not so much as a hint whether investigators ever interviewed Wuelfing and discovered “why Wuelfing did not call for help” if or when he found Windus dead or dying.
The sheriff’s office requests, “Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Task Force (GLINTF) in person at 543 West Oak Street, or by phone at (530) 934-6431.
David Stewart died at Glenn Medical Center in Willows on Saturday, July 16, 2022. The beloved son of Jonathan L. Stewart and Laura M. Stewart of Willows, he was born on Sept. 21, 1945.
He is survived by his son, David Louis Stewart, Jr., of Petersburg, Alaska; brother Paul L. Stewart (Judy) of Aumsville, Ore.; three grandchildren; two nieces; and one nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jonathan L. Stewart and Laura M. Stewart; and brother Jonathan Lee Stewart of Willows.
Burial is planned for 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, in the veterans’ section of the Willows Cemetery. F.D. Sweet and Son Mortuary, Willows, is handling the arrangements.
Here are the latest bookings from the Glenn County Jail. Remember: Everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Friday, July 8:
12:32 a.m., Michael Wayne Vonalmen, 36, of Oroville, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety (a felony), and warrants alleging vehicle theft (a felony), failure to appear after giving a written promise (a misdemeanor), possession of a stolen vehicle (a felony), tampering with a vehicle (a misdemeanor), forging or altering a vehicle registration (a felony), and possession of burglary tools (a misdemeanor). Total bail was set at $95,000. He was taken into custody on Papst Avenue, just south of East Walker Street, by an Orland police officer.
11:25 p.m., Fernando Arreola, 34, of Sacramento, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving with a license suspended for driving while under the influence, and cruelty to a child resulting in possible injury or death (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $20,000. He was taken into custody on Interstate 5, just south of County Road 68, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
Saturday, July 9:
2:33 p.m., Justin Thomas Johnson, 47, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at the Willows Walmart by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
8:53 p.m., Brian Cabanas-Cabrera, 18, of Maxwell, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody on Highway 99, south of County Road 60, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
9:44 p.m., Tricia Suzanne Alves, 43, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging threatening to commit a crime with intent to terrorize (a felony). Bail was set at $150,000. She was taken into custody at 447 South Marshall Avenue, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Sunday, July 10:
No one was booked into the Glenn County Jail on this date.
Monday, July 11:
2:12 a.m., Artemio Leon, 22, of Santa Rosa, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging causing bodily injury driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (a felony), causing bodily injury while driving while under the influence of alcohol (a felony), and driving without a license (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $80,000. He was taken into custody on Interstate 5, just south of County Road 57, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
Tuesday, July 12:
6:57 a.m., Ashley Christine Peterson, 32, of Redding, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging failure to appear on a felony charge, and failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge. Total bail was set at $240,000. She was taken into custody at County Road 18 and Highway 99 by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
10:51 a.m., Jesus Apolinar Nazario, 42, of Orland, was sentenced to the Glenn County Jail without bail for public intoxication (a misdemeanor). He was taken into custody at the jail by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Wednesday, July 13:
11:20 a.m., Gardenia Vanessa Avalos, 32, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging felony violation of probation. Bail was set at $45,000. She was taken into custody at the Glenn County Probation Department, Willows, by a probation officer.
12:08 p.m., Alejandro Rodriguez Cisneros, 31, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging misdemeanor violation of probation, and felony violation of probation. Bail was set at $32,000. He was taken into custody at 407 Papst Avenue, apt. B, Orland, by a Glenn County probation officer.
4:50 p.m., Joshua Lee Sligar, 36, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge. Total bail was set at $40,000. He was taken into custody on the northbound side of Interstate 5, south of County Road 7, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
The Glenn County Observer 