The following is a press from the Mendocino County District Attorney:
A Mendocino County Superior Court jury returned from its efficient deliberations Wednesday morning to announce it had found the trial defendant guilty.
Defendant Harlan Nelson Hawk Williams, age 27, of Covelo, was found guilty by jury of felony carjacking, said offense having occurred in February of this year.
The jury also found true a sentencing enhancement alleging that defendant Williams was armed with a firearm during the commission of the carjacking
After the jury was excused, a bifurcated court trial was held where the trial judge found true another sentencing enhancement alleging that the defendant has previously been convicted of a Strike offense in the Mendocino County Superior Court in 2013.
The trial judge further found as true several aggravating circumstances, including that the defendant has numerous prior convictions, has served a prior prison term, and was on a form of parole when he committed the carjacking.
The defendant’s sentencing hearing is now scheduled for August 16th at 3:00 pm in Department A of the Ukiah courthouse.
The case has been referred to the Adult Probation Department for a background study of the defendant and a sentencing recommendation.
The law enforcement agencies that developed the evidence underlying today’s jury verdict were the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and the Round Valley Tribal Police Department.
The law enforcement agencies that provided evidence supporting the trial judge’s findings on the aggravating circumstances were the Mendocino County Probation Department and the District Attorney’s own Bureau of Investigations.
The attorney who presented the People’s evidence to the jury was Senior Deputy District Attorney Luke Oakley.
Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Keith Faulder presided over the three-day trial and will preside over the sentencing hearing on August 16th.
