"PEPPER SPRAY," CONSPIRACY CHARGES DISMISSED FOR ONEIL, STEPHENS, WILLIAMSON

One felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping and four felony counts of Assault With a Caustic Chemical have been dismissed against James Oneil, Gregory Stephens, and Wyatt Williamson. Judge Marilyn Miles dismissed the charges Friday in a Humboldt County Superior court room.  
 
The five dismissals are part of an eleven count felony complaint filed by the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office against Oneil, Stephens, Williamson and a fourth suspect Trevor Bohn, stemming from an alleged home invasion at the Park West Apartments in Fortuna in September. All charges against Bohn were dismissed on Thursday. During the alleged invasion, the victims, Eli Scott and Perdeda Cowan claimed they and their children were sprayed with bear pepper spray after the four men allegedly entered the family’s apartment.  
 
Oneil, Stephens, and Williamson are still being held for felony count six in the case against them by the people of the state of California; First Degree Burglary with a Person Present.   Stephens and Williamson are being held for felony count 7; Attempted Kidnapping of Eli Scott, and for felony counts 8 and 9; False Imprisonment by Violence of Eli Scott and Perdeda Cowan. Those same counts were dropped for James Oneil.  
 
Felony counts 10 and 11 filed against the suspects for False Imprisonment of John and Jane Doe, two juveniles affected by the alleged pepper spray, have been downgraded to misdemeanor charges that both Stephens and Williamson will be held two. The count has been dismissed for Oneil.  
 
Although dismissed in court, Judge Miles suggested that count two of the complaint, Assault With a Caustic Chemical of vitriol, corrosive acid, flammable substance, and caustic chemical with intent to injure Eli Scott may be downgraded to a lesser assault offense.  
 
Oneil, Stephens, and Williamson waived jail time in court Friday.  
 
They will be arraigned for their respective remaining charges on March 14th at 2 p.m.