Chop Shop Felon Heads to Prison, Alleged Would-Be Cop Killer Awaits Trial, Combs Murder Retrial Continues: Inside Humboldt Courts

Photo on the left from the alleged chop shop run by Fidler. On the right is a booking photo of Daniel Ray Fidler from a HCSO Press releaser in June of 2024.

Humboldt County Superior Court handles a steady flow of criminal cases each day, but most proceedings pass without much public notice unless they result in major developments.

In this column, Redheaded Blackbelt provides a regular look at what’s moving through the local courts—tracking hearings, trials, and filings in cases that are either well known or warrant closer public attention. As always, any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

IN THE CASE OF: James Pawlyk – Alleged Would-Be Cop-Killer

[Booking Photo of James Martin Pawlyk from HCSO]

Back in 2017, a press release stated in regard to Pawlyk, “the two week crime spree, perpetrated by the mysterious cowboy hat wearing subject claiming to be an FBI Agent, has finally came to an end.”

James Martin Pawlyk, 59, was arrested the same day as the alleged offenses and has remained in custody ever since, with bail set at $750,000. 

The felony information filed by District Attorney Stacey Eads in April 2025 charges Pawlyk with attempted murder of a peace officer (Count 1, targeting Deputy Hal Esget), attempted willful, deliberate and premeditated murder of another alleged victim, a woman (Count 2), and a further charge of attempted willful, deliberate and premeditated murder of another man (Count 3).

Pawlyk also faces assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon targeting Deputy Esget (Count 4), and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon — a motor vehicle — targeting the other victims (Counts 5 and 6). A special allegation attached to those charges cites a prior serious felony conviction from 2019 in Humboldt County.

Pawlyk entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity on all six counts on June 17, 2025. 

At a status conference Wednesday before Judge Killoran, Deputy District Attorney Rees stated the prosecution had not yet received a report from court-appointed expert Dr. Chamberlain. The DA requested a two-week continuance, but Judge Killoran granted the defense’s request for a 30-day continuance. Pawlyk’s next appearance is set for June 5 in the Felony Court. 

As of this week, Pawlyk has been in custody for 707 days. No trial date has been set.

IN THE CASE OF: Daniel Fidler – Felon with a Chop Shop

Photo on the left from the alleged chop shop run by Fidler. On the right is a booking photo of Daniel Ray Fidler from a HCSO Press releaser in June of 2024.

A Fortuna man is headed to state prison after a judge resolved the final question in his case Thursday. Daniel Ray Fidler, 52, was arrested in June 2024 following the discovery of an alleged chop shop operation at his home. There were also three separate vehicle pursuits — on three consecutive days — involving Eureka PD, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, and Fortuna PD. 

When investigators searched his home, they found a Taurus “The Judge” revolver, ammunition, and 64 sets of vehicle keys and key FOBs. Fidler is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. 

According to the HCSO, “Mutual aid was requested and Fortuna Police coordinated officers’ efforts in an attempt to establish a perimeter around the creek and wooded area,” at least in part, because the HSO had learned that allegedly, “Fidler was potentially in possession of a handgun and was making comments regarding “suicide by cop.”” 

A Taurus “The Judge” pistol was recovered among several dozen car keys during the execution of a search warrant. [Photo by Humboldt County Sheriff]

Thursday’s hearing before Judge Steven Steward settled a dispute over how much credit Fidler gets for time already served in jail. His attorney argued for 4,019 days of credit, but the court denied that figure, finding that the defense improperly counted time that overlapped with a separate case. Fidler was awarded 907 total custody credit days. 

He was remanded to the Sheriff for transfer to a state prison reception center, and advised of his right to appeal. The four-year sentence runs back-to-back with a separate kidnapping case, meaning he’ll serve both sentences in a row.

IN THE CASE OF: Jake Combs – Alderpoint Murder Retrial

Overlooking the Eel River from the “Trevor John Earley Memorial Bridge” (the Alderpoint bridge), the family of Trevor Earley (inset) has found meaningful ways to honor him after he was killed in 2022. [Composite image by Lisa Music, with photos provided.]

Jurors were shown photographs of evidence including a white T-shirt bearing reddish stains, heard testimony regarding DNA testing performed at the state crime lab, and listened to firearms analysis presented by DOJ criminalists specializing in ballistics and forensic science. Multiple jurors submitted written questions to the expert witnesses throughout the day, suggesting close attention to the technical testimony.

The proceedings marked the third day of witness testimony before Judge Kaleb Cockrum in Courtroom One. Combs, 34, is being retried on a charge of first-degree murder after the First District Court of Appeal overturned his earlier conviction in May 2025, ruling that jail surveillance footage introduced during the original trial had been improperly admitted into evidence.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm is prosecuting the case. Combs is represented by Deputy Public Defenders Emery Welton and Ryan McClurg.

According to prior testimony and court proceedings, prosecutors allege Earley was shot at close range outside an Alderpoint home after an argument connected to Combs’ dog biting Earley in the face. The defense reserved opening statements earlier in the retrial.

Witness testimony is expected to continue Friday.

NOTE: Because independent courtroom reporting is expensive and time-intensive work, portions of this update are based on official court minutes and records rather than full in-person courtroom coverage. Reader support helps fund more firsthand reporting from inside Humboldt County courtrooms.

IN THE CASE OF: Michael Chaudier – Sex Offender Registry Violations

We checked. Chaudier is not on the publicly available list of registered sex offenders. [Screengrab form Megan’s Law Website of registered sex offenders.]

A Humboldt County judge ruled Thursday that Michael John Chaudier, 64, is too mentally ill to stand trial and is unlikely to recover enough to do so. The ruling affects four open cases against him simultaneously.

Chaudier – also known as Michael J. Chandier and Michael Claudier – has been in Humboldt County Jail since November of 2025. His lead case charges him with felony failure to register as a “transient sex offender” as required, meaning he has been found guilty of at least one prior sex offense, and also is unhoused, so is considered “transient” in the system but has failed repeatedly to register as such. 

A cropped image of the 2025 Felony Complaint signed by Senior Deputy DA Whiney Timm describes the violation of parole.

Court records show he has been convicted of the same type of registration violation at least five times in Humboldt County going back to 2019. A second case charged him with failure to register upon release from incarceration. In that case, he pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor in September 2025 and was sentenced to 164 days in county jail, but a probation violation was filed in January 2026. On top of that, two additional older sex offense cases were also part of Thursday’s proceedings.

His attorney “declared doubt” about Chaudier’s mental competency in February 2026, triggering a suspension of criminal proceedings under the law. The court then appointed Dr. Ben Brunetto to evaluate him, and in March, the court found Chaudier not competent to stand trial. 

Thursday’s hearing was the next step: both the DA and defense argued their positions, and Judge Christopher Wilson ruled it is not in the interest of justice to pursue competency restoration and ultimately go to trial. Chaudier was referred to the Public Guardian for an LPS Conservatorship evaluation – a civil process that could result in an involuntary mental health conservatorship rather than criminal prosecution.

A status hearing on the mental health based conservatorship is scheduled for June 4, 2026. Criminal proceedings in all four cases remain suspended.

Humboldt County Correctional Facility. [Composite image for Inside Humboldt Courts by Ryan Hutson]

This column is mostly based on court records and daily calendars but may include a reporter in the courtroom. This reporting is intended to give readers a clearer sense of how criminal or civil cases progress over time. When court hearings produce significant new information those developments may be covered separately in a more thorough news article. As with all criminal matters, individuals named here are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

If you know of a case that has significant public interest that you would like followed, email us at [email protected] 

*NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect the correct place of residence of James Pawlyk to Jacoby Creek, replacing the incorrect location of Willow Creek. 

EARLIER:

• Inside Humboldt Courts: Trials Move Forward in Several 
• Inside Humboldt Courts: Courthouse Arsonist Deemed Incompetent, Disbarred Attorney No-Show, and a WinCo Robbery Trial Heads to June 
• Inside Humboldt Courts: Trials Pending, Healthcare Scrutinized, Alleged Pedophilia & More
• Inside Humboldt Courts: Murder Retrial Advances, Nordic Case Nears Settlement, and Double Homicide Defendants Sentencing Set
• Inside Humboldt Courts: Murder Retrial Opens in Jake Combs Case as Jury Hears Graphic Testimony; Judge Denies New Trial in Child Abuse Conviction
• Inside Humboldt Courts: Combs Retrial Continues; Cal Poly Peeping Tom Back in Court; Elder Abuse Alleged at Arcata Drug House