The defense contends that Eugene Lincoln and Leonard Peters were ambushed by the police as they walked home on a lonely dark road about 10 p.m. on the evening of April 14, 1995. Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies Bob Davis and Dennis Miller were stationed on Little Valley Road in hopes of apprehending a suspect who was wanted for the shooting in Covelo earlier that day. Neither Eugene "Bear" Lincoln, nor Leonard "Acorn" Peters were suspects in any crime.
The prosecution contends that both Eugene Lincoln and Leonard Peters, when confronted, fired upon the police. Deputy District Attorney Aaron Williams expressed concern that Lincoln's lawyers were dragging out the case to benefit the defense. But Ukiah attorney Phil DeJong, part of Lincoln's defense team, said that Williams was overreacting. He said that Serra's heavy caseload would make it impossible for him to go to trial at this time. DeJong said that Lincoln is disappointed that his trial will be delayed for six months, because he is looking forward to being vindicated. Lincoln, an Indian of Wailaki, Concow and Little Lake descent, has a wide variety of supporters, including Native American, environmental and civil rights activists.
Judge James Luther is retiring at the end of the year, when Superior Court Judges elect, Henry Nelson and Ron Brown, will take two of the county's three Superior Court seats.
In further developments in the case, Judge Conrad Cox is weighing his decision on whether or not to charge District Attorney Aaron Williams and Sonoma County Sheriff's Detective Roy Gourley with contempt of court. DA Williams, prosecutor in the Bear Lincoln case, and Gourley, lead investigator in the case, have been accused of illegally questioning Eugene "Winterhawk" Lincoln, Bear Lincoln's nephew, shortly after the April 14, 1995 shootings. According to Winterhawk's attorney, Jan Cole-Wilson, the younger Lincoln, a minor at the time, was questioned by both Gourley and Williams without either an attorney or guardian present, violating Judge Cox's order. His decision will be in our next update on this case.
Attend all the hearings that you can! Please call the Mendocino Environmental Center for times/dates on hearings/trial - 707/468-1660.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 1996
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