BREAKING: Hughes Arrested for 1981 Alavarez Murders

[compared2what?]

Aren't there also a lot of people who have suffered in silence, taking the rap for a much bigger conspiracy?

I don't know that I'd say "a lot." In fact, very few, if they're really suffering in silence, I'd say, when organized crime's in the picture. Most defendants in his position take the best offer they can get, irrespective of whether it comes from the cops or the gangsters. He's not holding a very strong hand on the homicide charge. And my guess would be that''s not the only thing they've got on him. Or the most recent thing, either. He's got the safety of his family to preserve, and probably wants to avoid as much potential asset forfeiture as he can, if that's an issue. Which it definitely might be.

But, you know. Those are precisely the reasons why the silence surrounding the case is a positive rather than a negative indicator. It suggests that the prosecutors are serious enough about what they're doing to do it right.

[compared2what?]

It doesn't seem like this situation would be very hard to manipulate at all by the shadowy forces that must be paying attention to all of this...

The only shadowy forces who'd have a reason to pay attention would be the shadowy forces who are potentially in jeopardy themselves. In which case, they have their own problems to worry about. Ad I really think you're underestimating how much hard work it takes to manipulate such a situation. I mean, it could happen. But it's not like they have super-powers, they're just people. And therefore imperfect.

[Searcher08]

I would submit that being (religiously) brainwashed need not be a barrier to association with the Octopus. Just up thread I cited the example of General Rios Montt, who seemed to feel no particular contradiction between killing off whole villages and being a devoted "believer".

So I really have no idea about Jimmy Hughes in terms of this- I suppose we're going to find out a great deal more about him in the months (or years) ahead...

As to the potential of "the System" to uncover in this case the sordid workings of..."the System"- on that there is I think still reason to be concerned. After all, Detective Powers' mission here is to convict a murderer. Nothing wrong with that, per se.

So there existss the potential for a big revelation of truth, and a potential for justice, but there also exists the potential for coverup.

Nothing is guaranteed here- but that's what makes it so important...

I think there might be a very valuable line of inquiry to pursue down the Christian Missionaries line; the person I know who seems to have done the most around this is Daniel Hopsicker. There was all sorts of weird stuff he unearthed, particularly at the intersection of Missionary organisations and... aircraft, a place on the Venn Diagram I think the Wally Hilliard inhabits.... during the 80s Central America had a lot of 'liberation theology' supported by the local Catholic churches, many members of the clergy were among those killed, disappeared and many of the children brutalised in that war found a new 'family' in SM13.

[compared2what?]

I think there might be a very valuable line of inquiry to pursue down the Christian Missionaries line; the person I know who seems to have done the most around this is Daniel Hopsicker. There was all sorts of weird stuff he unearthed, particularly at the intersection of Missionary organisations and... aircraft, a place on the Venn Diagram I think the Wally Hilliard inhabits.... during the 80s Central America had a lot of 'liberation theology' supported by the local Catholic churches, many members of the clergy were among those killed, disappeared and many of the children brutalised in that war found a new 'family' in SM13.

I was thinking of something a little more straightforward than that. International or foreign-based religious missionary and relief charities make excellent multi-purpose cut-outs and/or front groups for any and every kind of crime that calls for large-scale money laundering. And there's a pretty extensive record of their being used that way. (Secular ones too, actually, but never mind.) Cult and non-cult alike.

And...Hmm. Although that example sounds like a somewhat different scenario than the one that I had in mind, you're definitely right to think of Daniel Hopsicker in a general sense. I'd be a little surprised if he weren't alert enough to recognize and follow up on suspiciously circumstanced exempt organizations when he runs into them, especially when they're in the same general ambit as known drug-traffickers. Because he's got such a connoisseur's eye when it comes to recognizing the implications of precisely that kind of anomalous corporate structural detail that it practically borders on genius. And if there were any justice in this world, he would have won the MacArthur for it years ago, if you ask me. He's just infinitely underappreciated and if I had any money, I would give it to him.

Anyway. The media rarely if ever highlights or draws much attention to the inevitable clutch of bogus or corrupt and frequently religiously oriented charities that are inevitably lurking quietly in the background of practically every deep-political scandal in which high-ranking U.S. government officials have ever been implicated since the dawn of time. But that obviously doesn't mean that they're not there. Or that they aren't routinely used in the furtherance of just about any and every one of the lucrative illicit enterprises that do so very much to keep global criminal conspiracies robustly in the black. People are just seemingly so heavily conditioned to think of religious good works as...well, good for that ever to really register as a systematic thing, rather than a quirk that's unique to this or that particular case, no matter how many times they encounter an instance of it. Unless, of course, they're Islamic charities. If you want to get technical about it. But you know what I mean.

Same goes double for orphanages and/or juvenile rehab facilities wrt either (a) child sex trafficking; (b) some form of the same kind of systematized abuse that destroys the human capacity for the autonomous exercise of judgment, will and agency in children and adults alike to varying degrees and for a variety of purposes by cults, intelligence agencies, and criminal organizations the whole world over, from MK Ultra to Guantanamo; or (c) both.

Obviously, that doesn't mean that every children's home is another Boy's Town. Or that every international relief charity is in cahoots with the CIA and/or the Medillin Cartel and/or La Cosa Nostra and/or some collaborative enterprise involving the Russian Mafia, the Mossad, Lawrence Rockefeller, and some obscure Yakuza-affiliated street gang in the Bay Area. Or whatever.

But....You know. There's more than enough precedent for it that when you run across what appears to be a religious charity and/or a children's charity occupying some lonely island that happens coincidentally to be surrounded on every shore by vast oceans of shady organized criminal activity and political corruption, you ought to at least make a note in the margin to consider whether objectively speaking, it has anything very notable in the way of the requisite concrete components and conditions that are a good hypothetical match for the kind of criminally corrupt business you'd probably suspect it of being if you weren't so accustomed to viewing it through a lens that cloaked it in a presumptively impenetrable aura of moral irreproachability.

I mean, you should probably do that anyway, under all circumstances, just on question-everything and appearances-can-be-deceiving grounds. But you should definitely do it when the circumstances include a location that's a known destination for sex tourism -- including child sex tourism -- and the place is being run by someone who's had close associations with drug and/or weapons trafficking in the past. I mean, I totally concede that those are vague and circumstantial indicators or a viable possibility and not hard or conclusive evidence of an established fact.

But insofar as it might sometimes prove to be the latter, you'd at least be a little more likely to discover it if you were alert to the former than if you weren't. Right? I mean, that's not exactly a controversial approach, it's just bleakly pragmatic. However, that's not the worst kind of pragmatism you can have when you're dealing with bleak realities, imo.

So. Let this officially mark the approximately 903rd time I've tried to impress the notion that charities and non-profits of every stripe are quite frequently pure sinkholes of unalloyed evil on an implacably indifferent world and failed. Thanks in advance for your patience, everybody.

[American Dream]

WWW.NEWSMAKINGNEWS.COM

JIMMY HUGHES PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO THE ALVAREZ TRIPLE EXECUTION.
LAWYERS RENE SOTORRIO AND STEVE HARMON WILL DEFEND HIM

by Kathryn Joanne Dixon 12/16/09


Rev. James "Jimmy" Hughes pled not guilty Tuesday to four charges of murder regarding Fred Alvarez, Ralph Boger and Patty Castro. Alvarez and his friends were found dead in Alvarez's home in Rancho Mirage in 1981. Hughes, appearing in Riverside Superior court in Indio, waived reading of the charges against him and waived time for the preliminary hearing. He appeared in court with his attorneys, first chair Rena A. Sotorrio and second chair Steve L. Harmon.

Judge Dale R. Wells set a felony settlement conference on April 9, 2010, 1:30, in department 3-P. Although the conference is termed a "settlement conference", it is, in fact, a hearing to set the date of the preliminary hearing and any other matters. Hughes has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit the murders, a violation of Penal Code 182(A)(1) and three counts of murder, violations of 187(A) regarding each of the three victims. These three counts carry an enhancements as serious felonies pursuant to PC 1192.7(c)

The conspiracy to commit murder charge against Hughes alleges that on June 27, 1981, he conspired with John Philip Nichols, John Paul Nichols, Glen Heggstad and other unidentified persons to commit the murders. It is alleged that the object of the conspiracy "was to prevent Fred Alvarez from exposing illegal activities of John Philip Nichols, occurring at the Cabazon Indian Reservation".

John Paul Nichols and Glen Heggstad, although named as conspirators to commit murder, have not been arrested. Deputy Attorney General Michael Murphy has not explained their legal status to the public. John Phillip Nichols died in 2001. The illegal activities of John Philip Nichols occurring on the reservation have yet not been defined publicly by Murphy. The defendant's attorneys acknowledged that they received discovery documents from Murphy.

Hughes was a tribal security officer for the Cabazon's and Alvarez was a tribal member. John Phillip Nichols, was a "consultant" to the Cabazon Indians. Read his resume. His son is John Paul Nichols.

Hughes, 52, was arrested in Miami while on a plane ready to take off for Honduras, where he has been a preacher for many years. There is no allegation in the complaint that he fled prosecution or hid from it since the murders. He testified before a grand jury which investigated the murders in 1985 and did not return with a bill of indictment.

The judge set bail and $1 million conditional on Hugh's surrendering his passport. Deputy Attorney General Michael Murphy did not object to this bail amount.

Hughes's attorney Steven L. Harmon, is a prominent Riverside County defense lawyer who has practiced criminal defense, in both federal and state arenas, for over thirty years. He teaches at the National Criminal Defense College in Macon Georgia, the Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy in San Diego, and at the Death Penalty Colleges held at the University of Santa Clara Law School and the University of Michigan School of Law. Harmon will be second chair to Sotorrio whose office is in Miami Florida.

Sotorrio, born in Havana, practices criminal law and appeals in federal and state courts, business law and international law. He is the Chairman of the Advocacy Subcommittee of the ABA's Florida Regional White Collar Crime Subcommittee. He has been an instructor for the pilot court program for the Harvard Law School Center for Criminal Justice in Guatemala City. He has also lectured at ABA conferences in Santiago de Chile and San Juan de Puerto Rico.

The Riverside County Court has published the following minutes regarding this hearing:

Case INF066719 Defendant 754056 HUGHES, JAMES


Action: Felony Incustody Arraignment Date: 12/15/2009 Time: 1:30 PM
Division: 3P Hearing Status: DISPOSED

HONORABLE DALE R WELLS PRESIDING.
COURTROOM ASSISTANT: DLR-D. RUBALCAVA
COURT REPORTER: JG-J. GIMINEZ
PEOPLE REPRESENTED BY DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
M. MURPHY.
DEFENSE REPRESENTED BY PVT R. SOTORRIO/
PVT S. HARMON.
EFENDANT PRESENT.
DISCOVERY PROVIDED TO DEFENSE COUNSEL.
DEFENSE COUNSEL ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF DISCOVERY.
DEFENDANT ARRAIGNED.
DEFENDANT WAIVES READING OF THE COMPLAINT/INFORMATION.
COUNSEL STIPULATES TO ADVISEMENT OF RIGHTS.
PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO ALL COUNTS.
DEFENDANT DENIES ENHANCEMENT(S).
DEFENDANT WAIVES 60 DAY RULE.
BAIL SET IN AMOUNT OF $1000000.00.
COURT ORDERS DEFENDANT TO SURRENDER PASSPORT
TO THE JAIL IF BAIL IS POSTED.
DEFENDANT ORDERED TO RETURN ON ANY AND ALL FUTURE HEARING DATES.
REMAINS REMANDED TO CUSTODY OF RIVERSIDE SHERIFF.
MINUTE ORDER PRINTED TO INDIO JAIL.
SAVE MINUTE ORDER TO CASE
MINUTE ORDER OF COURT PROCEEDING


Kate Dixon © December 16, 2009
katedixon@newsmakingnews.com

[Cordelia]

So. Let this officially mark the approximately 903rd time I've tried to impress the notion that charities and non-profits of every stripe are quite frequently pure sinkholes of unalloyed evil on an implacably indifferent world and failed. Thanks in advance for your patience, everybody.

Having my eyes opened after working closely with three non profits, I have to agree. I discovered some clues to the legitimacy of an organization are the backgrounds of the founders, those who are funding it, and those who are actually running the show. Even if the purpose of the original charitable, religious or educational institute is well intentioned and benevolent, it can quickly be co-opted and the actual agenda becomes something very different.....

[American Dream]

WWW.NEWSMAKINGNEWS,COM

AMENDED COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST JIMMY HUGHES IN ALVAREZ EXECUTIONS
by Virginia McCullough 12/21/09


An amended complaint naming special allegations of multiple murder under Penal Code 190.2(a)(3) was filed against defendant James “Jimmy” George Hughes by Deputy Attorney General Michael T. Murphy on Friday, December 18, 2009 in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Riverside, Indio Branch.

This particular code section reads as follows:

190 (a) The penalty for a defendant who is found guilty of murder in the first degree is death or imprisonment in the state prison for life without
the possibility of parole if one or more of the following special circumstances has been found under Section 190.4 to be true:

(3) The defendant, in this proceeding, has been convicted of more than one offense of murder in the first or second degree.


The three victims killed on or about June 29, 1981 and named in the amended complaint are Fred Alvarez (Count 2 – Murder), Patricia Castro (Count 3 – Murder) and Ralph Boger (Count 4 – Murder).

In Count 1, Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, it is alleged “that on or about June 27, 1981, in the County of Riverside, State of California James Hughes did unlawfully conspire with John Nichols, John Paul Nichols, Glen Heggstad and other persons whose identities are unknown, to commit the crime of Murder, in violation of Penal Code section 187, subdivision (a), a felony”.

These allegations remain the same as stated in the original complaint.

The alleged motive behind the triple execution remains the same as in the original complaint “to prevent Fred Alvarez from exposing the illegal activities of John Philip Nichols, occurring at the Cabazon Reservation”

The next hearing, in Riverside referred to as a settlement conference, will be held on April 9, 2009 at 1:30 pm in Department 3P.

In the interim Jimmy Hughes is being held in lieu of a $1 million bail at the Riverside County Jail in Indio, California and he can receive mail at the following address:

James George Hughes
Booking Number 200954932
Riverside County Jail
Post Office Box 1748
Indio, California 92202

Hughes is represented by Florida Attorney Rene Sotorrio and Riverside attorney Steven L. Harmon in

People of the State of California
v.
James Hughes - Case No. INF066719
Defendant #754056

Virginia McCullough © 12/12/09

[Kate Dixon]

[quote="American Dream"]WWW.NEWSMAKINGNEWS,COM

AMENDED COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST JIMMY HUGHES IN ALVAREZ EXECUTIONS
by Virginia McCullough 12/21/09

Ppublisher's note:

THE RIVERSIDE SUPERIOR COURT HAS NOW PUBLISHED A RULING
THAT THERE IS NO BAIL IN THIS CASE
3:30 p.m. Pac Time

[American Dream]

desertfae

Any California licensed attys that want to help my case, plz email me desertfae@gmail.com
2:37 PM Dec 16th from TweetDeck



http://twitter.com/desertfae

[American Dream]

Court records: Suspect feared for his life

Monica Torline • The Desert Sun • December 15, 2009

http://www.mydesert.com/article/2009121 ... /112150002


Jimmy Hughes, the only suspect to be arrested in the “Octopus Murders,” once had fears about a contract out on his own life.

The suspicions are detailed in a 1984 court document Hughes filed seven months after leaving his job with the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians.
Hughes worked for the tribe from 1980 to 1984. He said he left after realizing tribal administrator John Philip Nichols and members of his family were taking part in activities that “were criminal,” including issuing contracts to commit murder.

After parting ways, Hughes said he was working with Nichols' former business partners to look into whether money was being skimmed from profits at the tribe's gambling enterprise. Hughes stated in court documents that he initiated contact with law enforcement agencies “to report to them what I knew concerning Nichols' illegal activities, including a contract to commit murder.”

Following a meeting at the Riverside County District Attorney's Office in April 1984, Hughes said he received a death threat in the form of a photograph attached to his car windshield. It was a chilling image of a dead body.

“I was told that there was a contract on my life by a friend,” he stated, adding that he believed a $30,000 cash withdrawal was made to pay for the “hit.”

None of his allegations were ever proven.

A year later, when Nichols pleaded no contest to murder solicitation charges in a different case, Hughes was in the courtroom for sentencing.

“I want them to see me,” he said at the time about his desire to face Nichols and his family. “It will blow their minds.”

[Dr_Doogie]

In Hughes's original story that led to his immunity deal, he said that he was the "bag man" and Old Man Nichols was the one who put out the hit. Allegedly, Heggstad was offered the "hit" and refused resulting in him being listed as a co-cospirator since he did not notify authorities of the plot. But in Hughes's original tale, who was the actual gunman? I know that the current position of the Prosecution is that Hughes pulled the trigger, but who did Hughes say did the job in the 1980"s?

[compared2what?]

WWW.NEWSMAKINGNEWS,COM

AMENDED COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST JIMMY HUGHES IN ALVAREZ EXECUTIONS
by Virginia McCullough 12/21/09

Ppublisher's note:

THE RIVERSIDE SUPERIOR COURT HAS NOW PUBLISHED A RULING
THAT THERE IS NO BAIL IN THIS CASE
3:30 p.m. Pac Time

And your point is...?

[compared2what?]

desertfae

Any California licensed attys that want to help my case, plz email me desertfae@gmail.com
2:37 PM Dec 16th from TweetDeck



http://twitter.com/desertfae

And your point is...?

[Kate Dixon]

WWW.NEWSMAKINGNEWS,COM

AMENDED COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST JIMMY HUGHES IN ALVAREZ EXECUTIONS
by Virginia McCullough 12/21/09

Ppublisher's note:

THE RIVERSIDE SUPERIOR COURT HAS NOW PUBLISHED A RULING
THAT THERE IS NO BAIL IN THIS CASE
3:30 p.m. Pac Time

And your point is...?

This is a death penalty case now.

[Kate Dixon]

In Hughes's original story that led to his immunity deal, he said that he was the "bag man" and Old Man Nichols was the one who put out the hit. Allegedly, Heggstad was offered the "hit" and refused resulting in him being listed as a co-cospirator since he did not notify authorities of the plot. But in Hughes's original tale, who was the actual gunman? I know that the current position of the Prosecution is that Hughes pulled the trigger, but who did Hughes say did the job in the 1980"s?

There is at least speculation along the lines you make above.

But

Hughes said he delivered the money he received in the presence of JPN to men in Idelwyld, CA,

What is your source for the staetment that Glen Heggstad was offered the hit and decline, yet is named now as a co-conspirator because he refused to report to authorities. I think refusing to report and offer does not make him a co-conspiratory unless, in general, he had a DUTY to report or unless he was sure that the conspiracy was going to be carried out by another person. Did he have a duty as a covert operative on a payroll?

Why weren't the leads followed up during the grand jury investigation in order to arrest people who are now arrested?