Hearing delayed in Humboldt school-threat case against Daryl Ray Jones

A Humboldt County Superior Court hearing for Daryl Ray Jones was pushed back after attorneys and the court ran into scheduling conflicts and concerns that some judges may have ties to schools touched by the threats. The delay left the case in limbo even as it continued to carry heavy consequences for families, school staff and public safety agencies across Humboldt County.

The hearing on Thursday, May 28, was supposed to address a possible trial date and review Jones’s mental health diversion status. Instead, the court set a new hearing for Tuesday, June 2, at 8:30 a.m. The practical stakes are straightforward: the court still has to decide who can properly oversee the case, whether the matter is ready to move toward trial, and whether diversion questions remain part of the process.

Those issues have grown more complicated because of earlier recusals. Judge Steven Steward disqualified himself, and Judge Cockrum also stepped aside after saying his son was a victim. That leaves the reassignment and conflict-check process central to the case, especially in a matter tied to schools and businesses that were directly affected by the alleged threats.

Jones is accused of making more than 20 threatening phone calls across the region, a campaign that local law enforcement said began in January 2025. On March 19, police said the calls had reached more than 20 schools and businesses in Humboldt County. That same day, at least five schools reported lockdowns: Arcata Elementary, Sunny Brae Middle School, Fuente Nueva Charter School, Trinidad Elementary and Grant Elementary.

The disruption went beyond the courtroom. Parents told KRCR that threats had come up five or six times during the school year, and one family said fear had changed how it used school services. The Humboldt County Office of Education shared law-enforcement statements and directed schools to threat-assessment procedures, reflecting a countywide response that treated the calls as both a safety issue and a trauma issue.

The court record has also been shaped by competency questions. On April 24, 2025, Jones was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation after a judge raised doubts about his competency. On May 15, 2025, the court ordered a second mental evaluation after Judge Tsenin granted a request for a second opinion. Earlier reporting said Jones initially faced 19 felony charges, and later proceedings kept 32 counts after a preliminary hearing.

The case also reached beyond Humboldt County when Jones was arrested in Lawton, Oklahoma, on March 21, 2025, on Humboldt County warrants tied to the alleged threat spree. As the court works through conflicts, evaluations and charging questions, the June 2 hearing will show whether this long-running case finally moves forward or remains stuck in procedural review.