Jury Finds Covelo Woman Guilty of DUI and Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Her Vehicle
Facebook post from the Mendocino County District Attorney:
A Mendocino County Superior Court jury returned from its deliberations in less than 30 minutes Wednesday afternoon to announce it had found the trial defendant guilty as charged.
Defendant Melissa Heather Derenia, age 37, of Covelo, was found guilty of both driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol .08 or greater, a misdemeanor, and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, also a misdemeanor.
After the jury was excused, a sentencing hearing was scheduled for June 14, 2024 at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon in Department H of the downtown Ukiah courthouse. Defendant Derenia was ordered to return to court on that date and time for sentencing.
The law enforcement agencies that investigated the case and presented testimony at this week’s trial were the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Justice forensic laboratory.
The prosecutor who presented the People’s evidence to the jury was Deputy District Attorney Joshua Hopps.
Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Keith Faulder presided over the three-day trial. Judge Faulder will preside over the sentencing hearing on June 14th.
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Oh oh Covelo! I think the unusual thing would be to find anybody driving NOT buzzed and WITHOUT a gun. Beautiful land, broken people…
And who are the numbskull public defenders (yes, I’m assuming the defendant didn’t pay out thousands of $ for private counsel) who keep taking these loser cases to trial?
I think that if the defendant really wants to go to trial… they have to do it.
Yes, I think you’re right. I was probably a bit hasty with my comment. Probably in most cases where the evidence of guilt is overwhelming, the Public Defenders try to get the defendant to accept reality and make the best plea bargain they can. But the cost of everyone’s pay and benefits for one hour x a three day trial is going to be a nice chunk of change.
Wow, do you know why they are there????????
Ever read the monument on the way in from 101?
Probably not the only bad apple in the barrel from the sticks of mendo.