Warning! Difficult Testimony in Child Molestation Trial; School Threat Defendant Seeks Diversion and More — Inside Humboldt Courts

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.

WEDNESDAY’S ROUND-UP:

IN THE CASE OF: Daryl Jones — Alleged Threatening School Shooter Wants Mental Health Diversion

[Daryl Ray Jones – Booking Photo]

Daryl Ray Jones, 31, was arrested in March 2025 in Lawton, Oklahoma on Humboldt County warrants after investigators identified him as the suspect behind a wave of threatening phone calls that triggered lockdowns at schools and businesses across northern Humboldt County in early 2025. The calls included graphic threats of mass murder, rape, and violence against children. Jones was extradited to Humboldt County and has been in custody since.

A trial setting hearing is scheduled for this morning. Defense has filed a petition for mental health diversion under PC1001.36 — the same legal mechanism sought in the James Atkins attempted murder trial earlier this week. If granted, Jones would be placed in a mental health treatment program in lieu of trial. If he completes treatment successfully, the charges could be dismissed.

A judge initially declared doubt about his competency to stand trial, delaying proceedings for months. After a lengthy preliminary hearing that stretched across multiple sessions, a judge upheld more than 30 counts against him in March 2026. Notably, Jones had a prior history in Humboldt County — investigated for stalking at Cal Poly Humboldt in both 2021 and 2023, both cases submitted to the DA’s office.

According to testimony during the preliminary hearing, Jones admitted he made the calls because he wanted to make people afraid, and that he believed contacting schools would get him the help he needed. 

IN THE CASE OF: Trinidad Gomez — Mother’s Testimony in Child Molestation Trial

Editor’s Note: Although the mother’s identity was discussed in open court, RHBB has chosen not to publish her identity in order to better protect the privacy of the child at the center of the case. 

Trinidad Cortez Gomez of McKinleyville has been in custody without bail since July 2025, facing two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14. 

The alleged acts — described in the charging information as happening at his McKinleyville residence and in his vehicle — span a period from June 2020 through June 2024, when Jane Doe was between the ages of 10 and 13. Testimony Wednesday revolved around those accusations.

On Tuesday May 26, with DA Whitney Timm prosecuting and conflict counsel Owen Tipps defending, opening statements were delivered and the People called their first witness, HCSO Deputy Meghan Hwang, HCSO Sergeant Destiny Henderson, Rachel Fuentes, and Jane Doe herself – briefly before court broke for the day. RHBB was not present for those proceedings, but has reviewed court minutes.

On Wednesday, this reporter was in the courtroom beginning at 1:30 p.m. for what proved to be compelling and deeply uncomfortable testimony from the mother of Jane Doe — who is now 15, but was only 13 at the time of the alleged crimes. The mother of Jane Doe testified that she met the Defendant Trinidad Gomez at Dow’s Prairie School in the McKinleyville Unified School District, where he worked as a bus driver and custodian. Their relationship became sexual within a couple of months, she said, after he struck up conversation with her via online platforms, and she confirmed, the “dating” relationship continued for roughly five years.

The witness described the relationship as “emotionally, mentally, and financially abusive” several times. She told the court she experienced housing insecurity during part of that time, and would occasionally stay overnight at Gomez’s apartment with her children — herself sleeping with Gomez in his bedroom while her kids slept in the living room on couches and an air mattress. She also confirmed that Doe rode alone in Gomez’s vehicle on a few occasions, including a roughly one-hour stint to grab a milkshake from a local 24-hour diner in December 2023 to celebrate the girl achieving something in school.

DA Timm’s direct examination surfaced a series of disturbing details. 

The witness confirmed when asked whether Gomez had ever expressed sexual desires for her child, she said “yes” and told the court he would “send me really disgusting texts” about Doe, and that she would respond, “stop it, that’s my daughter.” 

The mother confirmed to the court that she had reported to DA Investigator Ryan Hill that Gomez had mimicked sexual acts during intercourse with her, describing the victim, and that allegedly, he had told her directly he wanted them all to sleep together in the same bed.

According to the DA, the witness had one day overslept at Gomez’s apartment when his son had walked in and discovered the witness there, who awoke with surprise, and admitted to the court that this upset Gomez. This was, as described by Doe’s mother, an unfortunate moment because, as she described it, Gomez had not wanted their relationship to be out in the open, and later confirmed that he considered their relationship to be unexclusive per the defendant. 

A Facebook Messenger thread produced by Timm during what amounted to an impeachment of her own witness showed the witness had written to Gomez to appease him, stating that “[Jane Doe] and I will snuggle the hell out of you,” she told him while apologizing to Gomez following the incident. 

The witness maintained the message was not sexual in nature — that she only meant ‘watching a movie on the couch’ together. The text thread also captured Gomez’s reply, which delivered the most dramatic moment of the testimony as DA Timm read aloud the reported statement by the defendant reflecting his alleged anger at the witness, stating, “I would fuck the shit out of both of you!” 

A later text from the witness, also entered into evidence, told Gomez it was permissible for him to put his arms around Jane Doe in her sleep to stop her from flailing in her sleep — a text, DA Timm established for the jury, sent after Gomez’s explicit message.

The witness also confirmed for the court that her daughter had told her she was “very uncomfortable” with Gomez and declined an invitation to come to the Defendant’s home for a dinner, movie and sleepover night, according to her mother. She then confirmed her daughter had disclosed touching to her. She said she confronted Gomez about it, telling the DA, “yes. I was upset” but also clarified that she did not report it to the police at the time. 

The mother said she was “torn from both sides” and did not know what to do. The witness acknowledged she continued the relationship even after her daughter disclosed the abuse, and even after she learned police were investigating.

The witness clarified upon cross examination that she had given Gomez permission to drive her daughter to get a milkshake prior to being aware of any police investigation, and prior to the date that her daughter disclosed to her any wrongdoing by Gomez.

The trial continues, with further witnesses expected. This account is based on firsthand courtroom observation.

Earlier: Humboldt Man Faces Felony Child Abuse Charges in Court Today 

IN THE CASE OF: Tiffany DiGiovanni — Three Cases, One Preliminary Hearing

Unit R at 2941 California Street in Eureka, where Digiovanni allegedly set fire to her own residence on May 17, 2026. A window to the left of the door has been boarded over; a second window to the right appears broken out, and yellow caution tape can be seen to the side of the entryway. Digiovanni was arraigned Wednesday on felony arson charges and remains in custody. [Photo by Ryan Hutson.]

Tiffany Lynn DiGiovanni, 46, also known as Tiffany Lynn Thacker, was first arrested in May after allegedly threatening to kill her neighbor and smashing the rear window of her travel trailer. A judge granted her supervised release on a GPS ankle monitor — but within weeks, she had allegedly vandalized a window belonging to a second victim and then set fire to her own residence at 2941 California Street in Eureka.

She has remained in custody since May 20. At an O/R bail hearing on May 22, her request for release without posting bail was denied and she was remanded. Combined bail across her three cases totals $105,000 — $25,000 each on the criminal threats and vandalism cases, and $55,000 on the arson charge — none of which has been posted. Conflict counsel and DA Roger Rees are handling the matter, with a preliminary hearing set for June 2.

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

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.

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

EARLIER:

•  Alleged Murder in Defense of Dog, Possible Plea Deal for Repeat Sex Crimes, and Wrongful Death at the Lamplighter Inside Humboldt Courts
• Retrial on The Same Facts, the Same Photographs, the Same Dead 25-Year-Old: Combs Jury Deliberates, and Separate Eureka Felony Case Progresses Inside Humboldt Courts
• Guilty Again: Jake Combs Retrial Ends as Prosecutors File Toddler Death Case and Sex Abuse Defendant Takes Plea, Inside Humboldt Courts
• Child Sex Abuse Trial Underway, Alleged Courthouse Arsonist Committed to State Hospital and More, Inside Humboldt Courts
• Local Felon Accused in Baseball Bat Beating, Alleged Arson in Eureka, a Child Predator Sting, and a Pedophile Sentenced to 125 Years to Life, all Inside Humboldt Courts
• Wrongful Death Suit; County Faces Contempt; Peeping Tom Held to Answer; Homicide and Robbery Co-Defendants Go to Prelim; and Billboard Wars – Inside Humboldt Courts