Daryl Ray Jones in Court Today for School Threats Case

Daryl Ray Jones is scheduled to appear in Humboldt County Superior Court this morning, Monday, August 25, at 10:15 a.m. in Courtroom 4 for his preliminary hearing. Prosecutors allege that Jones was behind a series of anonymous threats this spring that forced multiple Humboldt County schools into lockdown.

The investigation centered on a series of incidents in March. On March 18, a call claiming a shooter was outside Eureka High School forced the campus into lockdown. In the days that followed, threats targeted Sunny Brae Middle, Arcata Elementary, Jacoby Creek, Grant Elementary, and Pacific Union Middle schools, leaving northern Humboldt students and families to endure the fear of children huddled in classrooms, waiting for an all clear that, even when it comes, cannot erase the terror of the moment.

Screenshot of Humboldt County Superior Court calendar

Arcata Police Sergeant Luke Scown told Redheaded Blackbelt that the multi-agency investigation relied heavily on technical evidence, as Jones allegedly used multiple phone numbers and online methods to make the threats difficult to trace. The FBI was consulted, and ultimately, investigators say, they were able to link the threats to Jones. He was arrested on March 21 in Lawton, Oklahoma, on Humboldt County warrants and extradited back to the county on April 11.

District Attorney Stacey Eads, while not commenting directly on the Jones case due to its pending status, has previously spoken about the challenges of prosecuting cases involving threats and harassment. She noted that prosecutors must balance protecting victims and community safety with ensuring charges can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, all while working with limited resources.

Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson called the threats “real trauma for local schools, families, and institutions,” adding that the disruptions rippled across classrooms, workplaces, and neighborhoods. He emphasized the county’s ongoing work to expand behavioral health services, including rebuilding the Sempervirens facility and opening new residential treatment centers.

Today’s hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for Jones to face trial on the charges connected to the wave of school lockdowns in March.

Earlier:

• Lockdown at Eureka High School: EPD on Scene, Investigation Underway
• Sunny Brae Middle School Lockdown Believed to be Linked to Ongoing Series of School Threats
• Investigation Underway for Ongoing Threatening Phone Calls Targeting Humboldt Schools and Businesses
• Arcata Elementary Placed on Lockdown This Morning Following Anonymous Threat Amid Series of School Incidents
• [UPDATE 1 p.m.: Another School] Pacific Union Middle School Briefly Locked Down After Anonymous Phone Threat Amid Ongoing Series of Incidents Across Humboldt
• Oklahoma Man Arrested for String of Threats to Humboldt County Schools
• Oklahoma Man Arrested for Humboldt County School Threats Had Prior History of Harassment Here
• Daryl Ray Jones, Accused of Numerous Threats That Led to School Lockdowns, Now in Humboldt County Jail