Still Missing CA - Classic (Orson West, 3) & Cincere (Orrin West, 4) Calif. City, *parents charged* 21 Dec 2020 #7

[DFWNF]

How did I miss the fact that there were dogs on the property? I really do not remember that detail. If there were dogs on the property wouldn't they alert to a stranger outside?

Depends on the dog, often breed, owner and training, and care. My current dog would not.

 

[GeorgiaRai]

Has video or a transcript of JW's interview been released outside of the courtroom? I'm not clear on her statement about keeping the boys separated. Was she saying that on a day-to-day basis, the children were kept apart, or was it specifically said in regard to homeschool, i.e., she had the littles play in another area while the older kids did schoolwork?

 

[Seattle1]

Refresher on the defendants' contact with their children during the investigation and post-arrest:

Judge hears motion to bar Cal City toddlers’ adoptive parents from visiting their other kids

A Kern County judge heard a motion Tuesday in the murder case of two California City toddlers’ adoptive parents which sought to prevent the couple from contacting their biological and

www.bakersfield.com

March 22, 2022

A Kern County judge heard a motion Tuesday in the murder case of two California City toddlers’ adoptive parents which sought to prevent the couple from contacting their biological and adopted children.

[..]

The Wests also have two other adopted children and two biological kids. Deputy District Attorneys Bryant Estep and Eric Smith filed a criminal protective order against the Wests to remove their visitation rights with those four children.

Defense attorney Alekxia Torres Stallings said during a morning hearing in Kern County Superior Court the prosecution’s motion seeks to stop the parents from talking about the case with the kids, or persuading or intimidating them. The prosecutors provided no evidence that the parents were doing so, other than filing the charges against the Wests, she added.

[..]

It is unclear if Judge Chad A. Louie granted the prosecutors’ motion, or adjudicated any other matter regarding the filing, because the public was barred from the afternoon hearing where it was scheduled to be heard.

When the public was allowed into the courtroom, Torres Stallings and Tim Hennessy, representing Jacqueline and Trezell West, respectively, said they “received the criminal protective order,” but there was no explanation as to what that meant or what was decided.

At the hearing earlier in the day, Torres Stallings said their clients visited their children twice a week for the past 10 months. These meetings were monitored. The Wests also underwent strict drug and alcohol testing while attending parenting classes, she said.

After the Wests were in custody, the visitation schedule was modified to one visit per month either in person or virtually, she added. Torres Stallings said she believes the parents will visit the children virtually, thereby removing a need for the criminal protective order.

[..]

A spokeswoman for Kern County Department of Human Services, under which Child Protective Services operates, declined to comment Tuesday, citing the gag order.

However, spokeswoman Jana Slagle previously answered The Californian’s emailed questions about custody issues, without speaking directly about the West case.

Removing a child from a parent’s custody and then determining the fitness of a parent is a long process, Slagle wrote in the email.

Those legally authorized to remove children include law enforcement and child protective services agencies, Slagle wrote at the time. After the removal, several court hearings ensue and each parent and child are provided with attorneys, she added.

A court must decide if reasonable cause exists to place a child into “protective custody.” A foster parent, or an approved relative, can receive the child, she wrote. Throughout the hearing process, the parent is given a “case plan” to follow, asked to continually visit their child and take classes that may address why the child was removed for safety reasons, Slagle previously wrote.

“For example, if a child was being physically abused, the parent would need to attend court-ordered classes to help him (or) her learn new ways to parent and possibly attend anger management, or substance abuse prevention classes,” Slagle wrote, not commenting directly on the West case.

Typically, a parent gets a six-month plan to complete, which is monitored by the court, social workers and attorneys. If a parent completes the plan, they can reunite with their children; if not, they could potentially lose custody, she added.

“This is a long process,” Slagle wrote.

Visitation orders are often implemented when parents seek to rehabilitate themselves and regain custody of their children, said paralegal Eric Miranda of Kilpatrick & Associates, a law office specializing in child custody and visitation that is not involved in the West case.

“It's to ensure that the relationship doesn't necessarily die with incarceration,” Miranda said. “They want to ensure that there's still that familial bond unless there is an absolute 100 percent need to terminate the parental rights. Terminating parental rights is like (a) last-ditch effort.”

 

[PommyMommy]

Yikes.

MAR 30, 2023

WEST TRIAL: Defense hammers Cal City officer over missing boys investigation

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — In blistering questioning Thursday, defense counsel suggested a California City police officer who investigated the disappearance of Orrin and Orson West failed t…

www.kget.com

In blistering questioning Thursday, defense counsel suggested a California City police officer who investigated the disappearance of Orrin and Orson West failed to properly document evidence and missed numerous signs supporting statements given by the boys’ adoptive parents.

Officer Brian Hansen responded with “I don’t know” or “I don’t recall” to numerous questions posed by attorney Alekxia Torres Stallings.

[...]

Hansen testified he didn’t know if he went inside the Wests’ van parked outside their California City home. He didn’t know if police seized “little fingerprints” found on a sliding glass door on the West home. He couldn’t remember if he identified himself as a police officer before questioning the Wests’ four other children, and was unaware if any of them had specialized needs or educational disabilities.

Torres Stallings noted Thursday was the first time Hansen, who has provided testimony at multiple prior hearings, said he viewed surveillance footage from a home on Harvard Avenue. Previously — and as recently as March 9 — he said he only viewed footage from two homes. The Harvard Avenue footage makes three.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

MAR 30, 2023

Day Three: West Boys trial continues as Cal City officer takes the stand

The West Boys trial enters its third day Thursday. Once again the focus has been on the efforts of law enforcement to find the two boys, Orrin and Orson West.

www.turnto23.com

UPDATE (4:28 PM): The trial resumed after lunch, with Officer Brian Hansen still testifying. Alekxia Torres-Stallings continued to question him.

Hansen stated that he was unaware of how wrong the date and time were on the California City Police Department (CCPD) cameras, referring to earlier when he explained that they were "bad." He also clarified that there was a misunderstanding between himself and prosecutor Eric Smith when he claimed that the body cameras were wrong in his testimony.

Hansen was then asked by Torres-Stallings if he interviews male and female suspects differently, to which he replied "not that I know of." He then was asked if he recalls touching Jacqueline West's thigh, which he claimed was instead her knee. A clip from the interview with Jacqueline is played for the court.

"You touched my client underneath the table, yes?" asked Torres-Stallings.

"Wherever her legs were," replied Hansen. He then claimed that the video clip in question was of him comforting Jacqueline, giving a reason for touching her leg.

[...]

 

[mickey2942]

Refresher on the defendants' contact with their children during the investigation and post-arrest:

Judge hears motion to bar Cal City toddlers’ adoptive parents from visiting their other kids

A Kern County judge heard a motion Tuesday in the murder case of two California City toddlers’ adoptive parents which sought to prevent the couple from contacting their biological and

www.bakersfield.com

March 22, 2022

A Kern County judge heard a motion Tuesday in the murder case of two California City toddlers’ adoptive parents which sought to prevent the couple from contacting their biological and adopted children.

[..]

The Wests also have two other adopted children and two biological kids. Deputy District Attorneys Bryant Estep and Eric Smith filed a criminal protective order against the Wests to remove their visitation rights with those four children.

Defense attorney Alekxia Torres Stallings said during a morning hearing in Kern County Superior Court the prosecution’s motion seeks to stop the parents from talking about the case with the kids, or persuading or intimidating them. The prosecutors provided no evidence that the parents were doing so, other than filing the charges against the Wests, she added.

[..]

It is unclear if Judge Chad A. Louie granted the prosecutors’ motion, or adjudicated any other matter regarding the filing, because the public was barred from the afternoon hearing where it was scheduled to be heard.

When the public was allowed into the courtroom, Torres Stallings and Tim Hennessy, representing Jacqueline and Trezell West, respectively, said they “received the criminal protective order,” but there was no explanation as to what that meant or what was decided.

At the hearing earlier in the day, Torres Stallings said their clients visited their children twice a week for the past 10 months. These meetings were monitored. The Wests also underwent strict drug and alcohol testing while attending parenting classes, she said.

After the Wests were in custody, the visitation schedule was modified to one visit per month either in person or virtually, she added. Torres Stallings said she believes the parents will visit the children virtually, thereby removing a need for the criminal protective order.

[..]

A spokeswoman for Kern County Department of Human Services, under which Child Protective Services operates, declined to comment Tuesday, citing the gag order.

However, spokeswoman Jana Slagle previously answered The Californian’s emailed questions about custody issues, without speaking directly about the West case.

Removing a child from a parent’s custody and then determining the fitness of a parent is a long process, Slagle wrote in the email.

Those legally authorized to remove children include law enforcement and child protective services agencies, Slagle wrote at the time. After the removal, several court hearings ensue and each parent and child are provided with attorneys, she added.

A court must decide if reasonable cause exists to place a child into “protective custody.” A foster parent, or an approved relative, can receive the child, she wrote. Throughout the hearing process, the parent is given a “case plan” to follow, asked to continually visit their child and take classes that may address why the child was removed for safety reasons, Slagle previously wrote.

“For example, if a child was being physically abused, the parent would need to attend court-ordered classes to help him (or) her learn new ways to parent and possibly attend anger management, or substance abuse prevention classes,” Slagle wrote, not commenting directly on the West case.

Typically, a parent gets a six-month plan to complete, which is monitored by the court, social workers and attorneys. If a parent completes the plan, they can reunite with their children; if not, they could potentially lose custody, she added.

“This is a long process,” Slagle wrote.

Visitation orders are often implemented when parents seek to rehabilitate themselves and regain custody of their children, said paralegal Eric Miranda of Kilpatrick & Associates, a law office specializing in child custody and visitation that is not involved in the West case.

“It's to ensure that the relationship doesn't necessarily die with incarceration,” Miranda said. “They want to ensure that there's still that familial bond unless there is an absolute 100 percent need to terminate the parental rights. Terminating parental rights is like (a) last-ditch effort.”

@Seattle1, I had to copy and reply to this statement from Kern County CPS, because it doesn't seem like that lengthy process was followed when the biological parents of Orrin and Orson had their parental rights terminated. Nor does it seem like they followed their own stated policy above, of placing children with biological relatives first.

I wonder if the adoption will be reviewed.

 

[PommyMommy]

Day Three: West Boys trial continues as Cal City officer takes the stand

The West Boys trial enters its third day Thursday. Once again the focus has been on the efforts of law enforcement to find the two boys, Orrin and Orson West.

www.turnto23.com

Jesse Dobbins has been called to the stand. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

According to Dobbins, he worked at NASA. He claims he moved "to get out of California... Respectfully," earning a laugh from the court. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

According to Dobbins, he is a Texas resident who once lived in California City. Dobbins gave footage to the police during the search for the missing boys. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins claims he had first met Jacqueline and Trezell West when they moved into their California City home. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins is describing times he had talked with the Trezell West before the boys were reported missing. He says that he had seen children in the house and thought he had heard more in the back. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

According to Dobbins, the children he had seen were "little ones, hip height." #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins confirmed that he is the owner of the Google Nest camera. He also confirmed that he was not home when CCPD first contacted him. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

According to Dobbins, the Nest subscription service only allowed still photos. He had upgraded to a higher package after being contacted by CCPD about footage. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins is describing the area that his Nest camera captures. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins had never informed Trezell that he owned a Google Nest doorbell camera. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins says that he took screenshots of the still shots from his doorbell camera and sent them to the CCPD. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins claims that the CCPD later came to Dobbins to try and retrieve the footage. Dobbins provided his account email and password in order to help with the search. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

A screen recording of a small clip from the Nest doorbell recorded off of Dobbins' Nest app on his phone is played for the court. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

A video of the Wests thanking Dobbins for food he had brought them after the boys went missing is played for the court. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

According to Dobbins, he had taken screenshots of each Nest video that was sent to his phone through the app. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Smith has finished questioning Dobbins. Hennessy will now begin questioning him. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

 

[Seattle1]

@Seattle1, I had to copy and reply to this statement from Kern County CPS, because it doesn't seem like that lengthy process was followed when the biological parents of Orrin and Orson had their parental rights terminated. Nor does it seem like they followed their own stated policy above, of placing children with biological relatives first.

I wonder if the adoption will be reviewed.

It appears that CPS did follow procedure according to the Court(s) that dismissed the multiple bio-family lawsuit(s) launched against CPS for lack of factual basis.

I recall how much was misstated very early when bio-mom started hitting the national networks and fact-checking revealed holes in her story.

Since CPS records are sealed, hard to sort fact from fiction except if you're the judge in the case.

This decision was just recently and/or before trial.

Federal judge dismisses $40M lawsuit against Kern DHS by biological family of Cal City brothers

Jan. 30—A federal judge dismissed a $40 million lawsuit filed against the Kern County Department of Human Services and others by the California City brothers' biological family because it lacks a factual basis to prove their allegations against defendants, according to an order filed Monday...

finance.yahoo.com

 

[PommyMommy]

Day Three: West Boys trial continues as Cal City officer takes the stand

The West Boys trial enters its third day Thursday. Once again the focus has been on the efforts of law enforcement to find the two boys, Orrin and Orson West.

www.turnto23.com

On the night the boys went missing, Dobbins was at a family Christmas party, according to him. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins says that his original Nest subscription package only caught still photos. Short video clips were not taken until he upgraded his system, according to him. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins does not know if he heard a TV or if he heard children at the Wests' home, but he knows that he did not hear adults. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Torres-Stallings is now questioning Dobbins. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins says that the children he saw were as tall as Trezell's hip. Trezell is made to stand in court for reference. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins describes surveillance cameras on other neighbors' homes. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins is describing other neighbors on his street. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins bought pizzas and let civilians and police use his home and garage during the search for Orrin and Orson West. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins is answering questions about the civilian search, as well as the media interviews that took place at the Wests' house. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

According to Dobbins, he had witnessed someone drive to the Wests' house and throw a brick through their window around ten days after the boys went missing. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

According to Dobbins, he was also being harassed during the search, with people "going through" his trash and entering his yard. He had to change his number due to unsolicited phone calls. His grandmother was also harassed with phone calls. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Law enforcement had contacted Dobbins after he had moved to Texas in order to retrieve more information and take his phone in 2021. Dobbins did not know what information they were retrieving. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins is unaware if law enforcement followed up with Google Nest about his account. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Dobbins has been excused from the stand. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

The court has entered a 15 minute recess. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

 

[PommyMommy]

Day Three: West Boys trial continues as Cal City officer takes the stand

The West Boys trial enters its third day Thursday. Once again the focus has been on the efforts of law enforcement to find the two boys, Orrin and Orson West.

www.turnto23.com

The trial has resumed. Robyn Plantz has taken the stand. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz is a former California City resident who lived on Proctor Boulevard for 21 years. She is now a resident of New Mexico. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz describes her house and claims that she and her family (husband and grandkids) spent a lot of time in their backyard because they enjoyed it. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

A photo of Plantz's backyard is shown for the court. She points out where she would often sit. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz describes holes and gaps in her backyard fence. Photos of the gaps are shown for the court. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz describes her discovery of the Wests moving in behind her home. She claims that she had never seen anyone or any animals aside from Trezell in the backyard. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz claims that her dog had barked at a man going in and out of the gate at the Wests' house. "I knew that he was at least looking for something. I didn't see him bring anything in." She does not confirm if this man is Trezell #WESTBOYSTRIAL

According to Plantz, the man was either collecting wood or trash. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

"There was never, in 21 years, children in that backyard," according to Plantz. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz claims that she saw a white van (suspected to belong to Trezell) drive by once on the day the boys went missing. She did not see the van again. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz is describing citizen search efforts for the missing boys. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz only assisted on the search for one day because she needs to care for her disabled husband, Joe. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Smith has finished questioning Plantz. Torres-Stallings is now questioning her. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Torres-Stallings points out that Plantz had previously told Detective Hernandez that she had not seen any law enforcement or people searching for one to two days after she had seen the man (Trezell) collecting wood. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz told Hernandez previously on record that she did see a dog. She claims that she does not recall this. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Torres-Stallings is asking questions about an "overlap" in Plantz's fence. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz says that she has had glasses since she was six years old. She is farsighted and has an astigmatism in both eyes. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz says that she has seen the man (Trezell) after 5 p.m. It was close to dark, according to her. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz admits that she had given two news interviews, but she "didn't know what [she] was doing."#WESTBOYSTRIAL

On the news, Plantz claimed that she had not been interviewed by law enforcement. She claims that this is because she did not realize she was interviewed by law enforcement because the woman who interviewed her says it was "for law enforcement," not "by." #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Hennessy is now questioning Plantz. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Hennessy is asking questions about Plantz's dog. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz describes what she did after she noticed her dog barking at the man in the other yard (Trezell). #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Hennessy has finished his questioning. Smith is now questioning Plantz again. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

"My memory is bad in a lot of areas," said Plantz when asked if she remembers the sequence of events that night. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz claims that she does remember events well before explaining her version of the events on the night she noticed a man in the yard behind hers. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz thinks, but does not swear, that the man (Trezell) was wearing a dark ski-type hat. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz admits that she was nosey and looked through the fence. She says that she saw Trezell picking up wood. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

"There were never any children. Ever," said Plantz. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Plantz has been excused from the stand. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

The court has entered a sidebar. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

Court has been released for the day. The trial will resume next week. #WESTBOYSTRIAL

 

[Knox]

I might be coming down with a reasonable doubt.

I want to know more about this used diaper, who used it, and why we're only hearing about it now.

Me too. Where did the defense get the picture, where was it found and when?

 

[Knox]

The trial will be on hold for about a week in anticipation of Spring Break. Everyone will return on April 10.

Day 3 of murder trial for missing boys: Defense questioning police practices

On day three of the West trial, the attorneys for Trezell and Jaqueline are questioning the methods used by California City police in the investigation and

bakersfieldnow.com

 

[Seattle1]

Me too. Where did the defense get the picture, where was it found and when?

IMO, the Prosecution made many allegations in their opening where one expects an easy clarification such as the exterior rubbish bins were checked on this date for evidence versus the bins inside the house but the CA City police testimony (Brian Hansen) did no favors today to fill in any holes.

Two babies went missing (allegedly) late December 2020 -- and it saddens me these children did not have the A-Team from the beginning.

 

[mickey2942]

Me too. Where did the defense get the picture, where was it found and when?

Anyone can make a mess in a little diaper. That doesn't mean it was from the boys. No DNA. Meaningless.

 

[Knox]

IMO, the Prosecution made many allegations in their opening where one expects an easy clarification such as the exterior rubbish bins were checked on this date for evidence versus the bins inside the house but the CA City police testimony (Brian Hansen) did no favors today to fill in any holes.

Two babies went missing (allegedly) late December 2020 -- and it saddens me these children did not have the A-Team from the beginning.

The FBI & KCSO became involved on day 2, it's the defense's job to make investigator's look bad. They can make all sorts of allegations, just like Alex Murdaugh's team did. But how did that case end?

CalCity PD wasn't the shiniest tool in the shed. But it's still too early to determine how much of an impact this will have on jurors. We haven't yet seen the FBI, KCSO or BPD investigators testify.

Missing California City boys being investigated by FBI, multiple agencies

UPDATED: Dec. 24, 2020. 9:00 p. m. : Four year-old Orrin West and three year old Orson West have been missing since Monday night, when their adoptive parents say they last them in the backyard at the California City home. The Father tells Eyewitness News he realized he left the side gate opened...

bakersfieldnow.com

 

[Seattle1]

The FBI & KCSO became involved on day 2, it's the prosecution's job to make investigator's look bad. They can make all sorts of allegations, just like Alex Murdaugh's team did. But how did that case end?

CalCity PD wasn't the shiniest tool in the shed. But it's still too early to determine how much of an impact this will have on jurors. We haven't yet seen the FBI, KCSO or BPD investigators testify.

Missing California City boys being investigated by FBI, multiple agencies

UPDATED: Dec. 24, 2020. 9:00 p. m. : Four year-old Orrin West and three year old Orson West have been missing since Monday night, when their adoptive parents say they last them in the backyard at the California City home. The Father tells Eyewitness News he realized he left the side gate opened...

bakersfieldnow.com

Since police should be working for the prosecution, I think OP means it's the defense attorney's job to make investigators look bad.

True, except for what I personally witnessed today, the defense didn't even have to try to make the investigator look bad. He was doing that all on his own! I'd never seen anything like Officer Hansen's testimony before. JMO

ETA: For anybody not familiar with the trial, although the defendants are being tried together, they each have separate defense teams. Each defense attorney cross-examined the state's police witness today. For some unknown reason, officer Hansen refused to answer questions posed by JW's defense team that he earlier answered for TW's defense. MOO

 

[Knox]

Anyone can make a mess in a little diaper. That doesn't mean it was from the boys. No DNA. Meaningless.

Yes, that's my point. Obviously they had ample time to stage certain things, but never thought about kids footprints, diapers in the trash, tooth-brushes. But they did remember to put toys next to the bunk bed.

I can't wait to hear when either of the boys last saw a Dr, social worker or anyone outside the family.

 

[Knox]

Since police should be working for the prosecution, I think OP means it's the defense attorney's job to make investigators look bad.

True, except for what I personally witnessed today, the defense didn't even have to try to make the investigator look bad. He was doing that all on his own! I'd never seen anything like Officer Hansen's testimony before. JMO

Corrected, lol. My original point still stands, get the spoiled fruit out of the way first and move on to more competent investigators.

 

[k-mac]

"Flores says that his primary task was to keep the Wests in his sight."

I didn't get why he said that. Wouldn't his primary task be to find the missing boys?

I am just referring to the gun for this post.
should have stated! sorry

He doesn't remember seeing trezells gun or securing it and putting the gun in his own pocket.

Wouldn't securing a firearm the HIGHEST priority and most important job he has is securing the scene??
I mean he was tasked with holding on to it.

sloppy.

moo

 

[katydid23]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1641143391353176074

The lack of context is giving me fits. The police did photo lineups? Of whom? I thought no one was seen on cameras. Any ideas?
edited for grammar

They probably put pictures of local sex offenders on the paper.