Erik D. Jones’s Blog

Residents of the Bora Bora lagoon awoke last night to sounds that would undoubtedly set off Bismark Dinius’ post-traumatic-stress-disorder: the sound of a speedboat crashing into the side of Rob and Teresa Sicade’s Seattle-based Baba 40 Yohelah.

The driver of the boat was apparently trying to flee the scene of another hit-and-run accident he was involved in.

No further details on the crash were available at this time.

Tom Perkins, the owner of the 289-ft mega sailing yacht Maltese Falcon, has found a buyer. The buyer was smart to hold off for the red-tag sailing event and purchased her at 45% off the original price of $180 million dollars. The identity of the buyer has not yet been disclosed.

Day two of the Lake County trial in which Bismark Dinius faces up to 3 years in state prison if convicted of felony boating under the influence laws.  The witnesses called by the prosecution included the phlebotomist who drew the blood for the blood-alcohol content (BAC) tests performed on sailboat owner, Mark Weber, helmsman, Bismark Dinius and speedboat owner and operator, Russel Perdock.  Mark Weber’s BAC was 0.18 while Dinius tested at 0.12.  Perdock’s results were 0.0.

James Beland was probably the most controversial witness called to the stand today.  Beland testified that he was fired from the Sheriff’s office after publicizing that he was ordered not to perform a breathalyzer on Perdock at the scene.  Beland had said he was told by Sgt. Dennis Ostini, a marine patrol officer, “No no no. Sheriff Perdock has already agreed to give blood at the hospital.”

LCSO Deputy Jerry Pfann, evidence detective, testimony suggested the evidence could have been tampered with.  Three people had access to the locker containing the samples, including Russel Perdock.  Pfann did not document the time he picked up the samples before sending them to the lab.

Day 3 continues tomorrow.

The trial in the much publicized case of Bismark Dinius began this morning in Lake County.  Last week, District Attorney Jon Hopkins dismissed the charge of manslaughter but maintains that Dinius should be tried for felony boating under the influence, a charge which carries a maximum sentence of 3 years in state prison.

As the trial began this morning, the DA was protesting the presence of cameras in the courtroom saying that it “put too much pressure on civilian witnesses.  The judge approved the request allowing film cameras in the back of the court provided they not show the faces of jurors.  More to come..

Legislators have been licking their chops for years to get their hands on one of the only state agencies that is completely self-funded, the Department of Boating and Waterways.  Just in the past year, California’s state governor has tried to terminate the department and roll it and its budget surplus into the Department of Parks and Recreation.  The justification for this has always been that it would be a cost savings measure, but the DBW is completely self-funded from fuel taxes and other fees paid by boaters.  DBW provides education about safe boating, grants and loans for marina improvements and development and environmental awareness and protection of the states fresh and saltwater rivers, lakes, bays and oceans that exist within the jurisdiction of California.

In other great news, the Department of Parks and Recreation’s $70 million dollar budget cut that would have closed over 230 state parks including San Francisco Bay’s Angel Island was reduced to just $8 million.  While some parks will need to close, the majority of those on the chopping block will remain open, including Angel Island.  At the last minute, legislators were able to find $62 million dollars to put back into the Department.