Man Found Guilty of Commercial Burglary

Press release from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office:

On January 16, 2019, a Humboldt County Superior Court jury found 46-year-old Rafey Michael James guilty of commercial burglary, which was charged as a felony.  The conviction stems from a burglary on October 7, 2018 at the CalTrans yard between Eureka and Arcata.  Following the verdict, Judge Timothy Canning also found true the special allegations that the defendant had previously been convicted of residential burglary in 2008 and 2012.  The judge also determined that in addition to those prior convictions, the defendant had previously been sentenced to prison for two other felonies.

Deputy District Attorney Steven M. Steward prosecuted the case.  Joe Judge of the Humboldt County Office of Conflict Counsel represented the defendant. The Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office appreciates the time and effort of the jury and the witnesses, which included a CalTrans supervisor, California Highway Patrol Officer Barnes, and Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies Crotty and Hwang.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 11, 2019.  Because his criminal history includes the two residential burglaries considered “strikes” under California law, Mr. James faces up to 10 years in prison.