CA - Orson & Orrin West (3&4), MEDIA, MAPS & TIMELINE - NO DISCUSSION

[PommyMommy]

JUN 10, 2022

Cal City Boys: Trezell, Jacqueline West arraigned on new indictment​

The adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West were arraigned Friday on new charges of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy.

[...]

The grand jury returned a superseding indictment that includes the new charges as well as those brought in the original indictment in March. In all, the Wests face two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of child cruelty, falsely reporting an emergency, involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy.

[...]

Trial remains set for July 25.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUN 10, 2022

California City boys' adoptive parents face additional charges​

[...]

A grand jury originally had indicted them each for two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of willful cruelty to a child and one count of falsely reporting an emergency in the boys’ deaths.

A superseding indictment, which the reconvened grand jury granted Tuesday, states a timeline under the conspiracy charges. On or about Sept. 1, 2020 to Sept. 20, 2020, Trezell and Jacqueline West "formulated a plan to report" a person, whose name has been redacted, "missing." On or about Sept. 17, 2020 an "unknown co-conspirator killed" another person, whose name has been redacted, according to the superseding indictment.

[...]

A readiness hearing is set for July 15. Trial is set to begin July 25. Both Jacqueline and Trezell West are held on no bail.

 

[rosesfromangels]

JUN 10, 2022

Cal City Boys: Trezell, Jacqueline West arraigned on new indictment​

The adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West were arraigned Friday on new charges of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy.

[...]

The grand jury returned a superseding indictment that includes the new charges as well as those brought in the original indictment in March. In all, the Wests face two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of child cruelty, falsely reporting an emergency, involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy.

[...]

Trial remains set for July 25.

In my amateur opinion and speculation, the conspiracy charge is going to seal their fate. Since the alleged crime transpired in California, I pulled an explanation of conspiracy from a CA lawyers site:

"...The crime of Conspiracy pursuant to California Penal Code Section 182 PC requires a prosecutor to prove the following elements:

1. The defendant intentionally entered into an agreement with another person or persons to commit a crime.
2. The defendant committed an overt act in furtherance of this agreement
3. The overt act was committed in California....."

More detail can be found here:

California Penal Code Section 182 PC: Conspiracy

Free Consultation - Former LA Prosecutor and Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Kraut provides expert advice on California Penal Code Section 182 PC: Conspiracy

www.losangelescriminallawyer.pro

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[PommyMommy]

JUN 20, 2022

CAL CITY BOYS: Another claim filed in deaths of Orrin, Orson West​

www.kget.com

The maternal grandfather of Orrin and Orson West has filed a claim against the county arguing the children were wrongfully removed from their parents’ home, marking the latest legal action taken in connection with the boys, who are presumed dead.

The claim filed by attorney Waukeen McCoy on behalf of Leif Dean says Dean tried to get custody of the boys but “he was never given notice of the Child Protective Services’ proceedings, and his requests to take them were ignored.” The claim seeks an amount in excess of $25,000.

[...]

Others who have taken legal action against the county are the boy’s mother, Ryan Dean, maternal grandmother, Dana Moorer, father, Charles Pettus, and paternal grandmother, Brenda Pettus.

Ryan Dean and her mother are seeking $40 million from the Kern County Department of Human Services, alleging negligence on its part contributed to the boys’ deaths.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

June 21, 2022

Biological mother of 2 Kern County brothers who died in foster claims sons were unlawfully taken​

The biological mother of two small boys who died while in the state foster care system has filed a federal lawsuit alleging her sons were unlawfully taken from her and placed with foster parents who are now charged with killing them.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUN 19, 2022

Maternal grandfather of Cal City toddlers files claims against CPS​

www.bakersfield.com
[...]

Leif Dean, the maternal grandfather, seeks upward of $25,000 in a civil case against Child Protective Services, an agency under the Department of Human Services. He maintains the agency ignored his requests to gain custody of Orrin, 4, and Orson West, 3, after they were adopted by Trezell and Jacqueline West. The claim is filed under the Kern County Board of Supervisors Tuesday agenda.

“His rights … were taken away and divested when CPS did what they did and handled everything inappropriately,” said Antonio Castillo, Dean’s attorney. The biological family “begged and pleaded with CPS to put the boys” in their custody, Castillo added.

[...]

Castillo is also representing the toddlers’ biological father, Charles Pettus, and paternal grandmother, Brenda Pettus, who have filed a lawsuit against CPS making similar allegations. He said he hopes to add Dean to the lawsuit. Kern County has rejected the claim, the attorney added.

[...]

Castillo said the standard procedure dictates asking the biological family to take care of the children before removing parental rights, and CPS didn’t do that.

[...]

Graham, the assistant county counsel, said Kern County will have 45 days to review the claim.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUN 23, 2022

Brothers allegedly killed by adoptive parents were unlawfully taken from biological mother, suit says​

www.nbcnews.com

The biological mother of two California brothers alleged to have been killed by their adoptive parents filed a federal lawsuit saying her sons were removed from her care unlawfully.

Ryan Dean said she tried multiple times to regain custody of Cinsere and Classic Pettus but was denied. ...

[...]

Dean took the child to the emergency room, where she was informed that both of Cinsere's legs were broken. An X-ray did not show any other injuries, according to the suit.

Dean was told at the hospital that Kern County Human Services would be taking the child and placing him with a foster family because hospital staff members believed he had been abused. The suit says no allegations of abuse were lodged against Dean when Cinsere was removed.

Classic was removed days after his birth in 2017 because the human services department said "they like to keep siblings together," the lawsuit says.

Dean said in the suit that she fought to get her children back but that she was repeatedly denied. In 2018, the boys were removed from their foster home and placed with the West family. Dean was never given an explanation for the move, according to the lawsuit.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

Cal City Toddlers: New Case Developments​

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 15, 2022

Trial of Trezell, Jacqueline West was pushed back to October

www.turnto23.com​

The postponement was at the request of the attorney for Trezell and Jacqueline West. The attorney said he needed more time to go through a large amount of what is called discovery or evidence for the trial.

CAL CITY BOYS: Adoptive parents’ trial pushed back to October​

www.kget.com

The postponement was made over the objection of the Wests. Timothy Hennessy, representing Trezell West, told the court the October date is the earliest he’ll be ready as he needs to review a voluminous amount of discovery.

Murder trial for adoptive parents of Cal City brothers postponed until October

www.bakersfield.com​

Kern County Superior Court Judge Brian McNamara granted a readiness hearing Oct. 17 to determine if attorneys are ready for trial to begin. ...

... The defense must conduct its own investigation, and review the prosecution’s documents, Hennessy added.

Trial of West boys' adoptive parents postponed to October​

bakersfieldnow.com

The couple will stand trial October 24.

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 14, 2022

Trial of West boys' adoptive parents postponed to January 2023​

Trezell's attorney said he needs more time to review the case.

Their pre-trial readiness date is set for January 20, 2023 and a jury trial date on January 30, 2023.

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 14, 2022

WHERE ARE THE BOYS: Trial for adoptive parents of Orrin, Orson West postponed to January​

[...]

The Wests, who were set to begin trial later this month, are now scheduled for trial on Jan. 30 after defense counsel said they were still receiving evidence — including thousands of pages of documents on information retrieved from cellphones and computers — and need more time to prepare.

Judge John W. Lua granted the postponement over the objection of the Wests, finding it necessary for defense attorneys to properly prepare.

Alekxia Torres Stallings, one of Jacqueline West’s attorneys, said they had received DNA evidence and body-camera footage and were awaiting the cellphone and computer evidence.

[...]

A gag order issued in March remains in effect and bars prosecutors and the Wests’ attorneys, investigators and court staff from speaking about the case.

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 21, 2022

2 years since Orrin & Orson West reported missing,toy drive and candlelight prayer planned

Wednesday, December 21, 2022, marks two years since four-year-old Orrin and three-year-old Orson West were reported missing from their adoptive parent’s home in

bakersfieldnow.com

Wednesday, December 21, 2022, marks two years since four-year-old Orrin and three-year-old Orson West were reported missing from their adoptive parents’ home in California City.

[...]

Trezell and Jacqueline West pre-trial readiness date is set for January 20, 2023 and a jury trial date on January 30, 2023.

A toy drive was being held Wednesday morning at the Big Shotz Bar and Grill in Lancaster for the missing brothers with dozens lined up the street.

A candlelight prayer was planned for Wednesday evening, December 21, 2022 at 5 p.m. in front of the Kern County Superior Court, located at 1415 Truxtun Avenue.

Also see:

Trial in the disappearance of Orrin and Orson West set to begin in January

Community members held a candlelight vigil for the boys two years to the day after they were first reported missing from California City. The boys' adoptive parents are set to stand trial for murder.

www.turnto23.com

'Bring them home, Lord': Vigil remembers Cal City brothers missing for 2 years

Two years ago Wednesday, California City brothers Orrin and Orson West went missing from their adoptive parents’ home, and pain surrounding that instance continues to hurt their family.

www.bakersfield.com

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 21, 2022

Toy drive, vigil held 2 years after Orrin, Orson West reported missing

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Two years have passed since the community was rocked by the disappearance of two young boys in California City. Dec. 21, 2020, was the day Orrin and Orson West we…

www.kget.com

[...]

A toy drive in honor of the boys was held Wednesday at Big Shotz Bar & Grill in Lancaster, and a group gathered for a candlelight vigil outside Kern County Superior Court on Truxtun Avenue in the evening.

Members of Orrin and Orson’s biological family attended the event in Lancaster. They said they were extremely thankful that so many people are keeping the boy’s names alive.

“It’s been two years since today that they were reported missing. They were reported deceased by the DA three months before they were reported missing. It’s frustrating,” Rosanna Wills, an extended family member of Orrin and Orson, said.

[...]

A gag order remains in effect and limited details have been released regarding the evidence that led to the Wests being indicted.

Multiple lawsuits are pending, with the boys’ biological parents suing the county and arguing negligence by the Department of Human Services contributed to the deaths. Human Services ignored reports of suspected abuse by the Wests, according to a suit filed by the boys’ mother.

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 20, 2023

Hearing postponed for Cal City brothers' adoptive parents until next week​

A hearing to determine if attorneys are ready for the murder trial of the adoptive parents of two California City brothers’ who prosecutors say were killed was postponed Friday until next week.

Attorneys simply said in court they would return Wednesday afternoon for a readiness hearing. A trial date is still scheduled for Jan. 30.

 

[PommyMommy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1616499068532051969

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 20, 2023

CAL CITY BOYS: Hearing for Trezell, Jacqueline West moved to next week

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A hearing has been pushed to next week to determine whether attorneys are ready for trial in the case of the couple accused of killing adopted children Orrin and …

www.kget.com

A hearing has been pushed to next week to determine whether attorneys are ready for trial in the case of the couple accused of killing adopted children Orrin and Orson West.

Trezell West, 36, and Jacqueline West, 33, are due back in court Wednesday. Their attorneys on Friday morning requested the new hearing date.

Jacqueline and Trezell West to face jury trial

Jacqueline and Trezell West are expected to be in court next Wednesday for a readiness hearing and begin their jury trials the following Monday, Jan. 30.

www.turnto23.com

A member of the West boy's biological family told us about the emotions surrounding this case.

"There's a little anger. We're angry because there could've been a different outcome if things would've went right from the beginning," said Rosanna Wills, the biological aunt of the West boys. "This would've never happened. I mean, there's a little anger. We all going through something on top of this. We just want it to hurry up and get justice."

 

[PommyMommy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1618322979754233863

https://twitter.com/x/status/1618324687855161345

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 25, 2023

WHERE ARE THE BOYS: Trezell, Jacqueline West assigned courtroom for trial

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The couple charged with murder in the deaths of adopted sons Orrin and Orson West were assigned a courtroom for trial Wednesday morning. Trezell and Jacqueline We…

www.kget.com

The couple charged with murder in the deaths of adopted sons Orrin and Orson West were assigned a courtroom for trial Wednesday morning.

Trezell and Jacqueline West are due back in Superior Court on Monday in the courtroom of Judge Charles R. Brehmer to schedule future hearings. It’s likely the trial won’t start for at least several weeks as Brehmer’s courtroom is currently occupied with another case and several attorneys handling the West matter are in trial.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 25, 2023

Readiness hearing postponed for couple accused of killing Orrin & Orson West​

[...]

"What I was going to do was go ahead and put you in Department 4, Judge Brehmer, for all purposes on January 30th with a readiness date on that date," Judge Eric Bradshaw, said.

The Judge Bradshaw Wednesday said there is a delay.

"My plan is to assign this case to a trial court for all purposes.," Judge Bradshaw, said. "That courtroom is currently occupied in another trial."

[...]

The readiness hearing and the jury trial are both scheduled on the county court's website for Monday morning. A public affairs officer with the court tell me the status and scheduling for the trial will be talked about at that time.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 25, 2023

Hearing pushed to Monday on whether attorneys ready for murder trial of Cal City toddlers' adoptive parents​

A readiness hearing was scheduled for Monday, which is when the trial was supposed to begin. Judge Eric Bradshaw told the four attorneys — two each representing Trezell and Jacqueline West — and he said they "may or may not be ready" for trial at that time.

It's possible postponements could result Monday because Chief Trial Deputy Eric Smith prosecuting the West case is involved in another jury trial. Jury selection was underway Wednesday for another trial in the courtroom where Bradshaw assigned the West case.