The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office:
A Mendocino County Superior Court jury returned from its deliberations in less than 30 minutes Wednesday afternoon to announce it had found the trial defendant guilty as charged.
Defendant Melissa Heather Derenia, age 37, of Covelo, was found guilty of both driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol .08 or greater, a misdemeanor, and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, also a misdemeanor.
After the jury was excused, a sentencing hearing was scheduled for June 14, 2024 at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon in Department H of the downtown Ukiah courthouse. Defendant Derenia was ordered to return to court on that date and time for sentencing.
The law enforcement agencies that investigated the case and presented testimony at this week’s trial were the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Justice forensic laboratory.
The prosecutor who presented the People’s evidence to the jury was Deputy District Attorney Joshua Hopps.
Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Keith Faulder presided over the three-day trial. Judge Faulder will preside over the sentencing hearing on June 14th.
