Former Humboldt County Mediator and Child Welfare Services Employee Pled Guilty to ‘Upskirting’ and Was Sentenced

Joseph Hale

Joseph Michael Hale, a former mediator for Humboldt County Superior Court and an employee of Humboldt County Child Welfare Services (CWS), pled guilty to four misdemeanor counts of secretly filming or photographing under a person’s garments without their consent, in violation of PC 674 (j) (2). The four incidents he is charged with occurred on June 29, 2022, June 5, 2022, April 17, 2022, and January 5, 2022. On June 5 of this year, Hale pled guilty to all charges.

Following his guilty plea, Joseph Michael Hale was sentenced on June 6, receiving formal probation for a period of one year. He has also been ordered to register as a sex offender in accordance with Penal Code section 290, Tier 1. The terms of his probation include serving 280 days in jail, attending counseling, making restitution, and consenting to search and seizure of his person, vehicle, and place of residence.

One victim speaking to us under the condition that she remain anonymous told us in the four incidents before the court, Hale took photos up the victims’ skirts, “[T]he photos of the four victims were all from like under a table…There were also many other images on his phone…that were of a similar nature, but they were either unidentifiable as to who it was…or from over a year ago… .”

Hale was indulging in a practice called “upskirting” in the cases before the court, according to the victim. “Upskirting” refers to the act of secretly capturing explicit photographs or videos, typically of a person’s private areas, without their knowledge or consent, often done in public places, and is federally illegal.

According to the victim we talked to, “There were 4 victims, all of who spoke at either the arraignment or the sentencing date, and one victim was 17 when photographed by [H]ale. He knew these victims through work and through his positions in the community, and the judge said that the way he gained access was the epitome of abusing a system of trust. The judge also agreed with what some of the victims said, that he didn’t think he would be caught.”

She added, “I felt that it was his worst nightmare to be caught abusing the trust and friendship people had with him, and I do hope that he gets the help for his issues that he so desperately needs.”

According to John Chiv who was present for the victims’ statements before the court,

The victims were in tears. One could not even read her statement…One victim who only went to Passover meal at her grandparents and did not even know Hale was film[ing] under the dinner table while Hale was sitting between his wife and her grandmother. One of the victims said she was now distrustful of men and can…not wear what she normally would.” (Read more of what John Chiv said occurred in the courtroom here on his website.)

The case presented a unique challenge due to potential conflicts of interest involving parties associated with the case and members of the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office. Consequently, the prosecution of the case for Humboldt County was carried out by Dale Trigg, Assistant District Attorney of Mendocino County and the case was over seen by Mendocino County judge Ann Moorman as all local judges had to recuse themselves because they had worked with Hale in his capacity as a county employee.

The charges which Joseph Michael Hale pled guilty to violated the privacy and dignity of the victims involved. The court’s decision to impose jail time, probation, and mandatory registration as a sex offender underscores the gravity of the offense.

Earlier:

• Joseph Hale, Humboldt’s Only Family Law Mediator on Leave After Arrest by DA’s Office (Redheaded Blackbelt provided a comprehensive look at the potential ramifications of Hale’s arrest to family court at the time of Hale’s arrest in 2022.)
• Former Court Employee Charged with Four Counts of Secretly Recording Under a Person’s Clothing Without Consent
• Power & Abuse: A Closer Look at the Indictment and Alleged Conduct of Courthouse Family Custody Mediator Joseph Hale