Thumbnail photo by Heather Polen Hooper | Courtesy LinkedIn After viewing video footage from Elk Valley Casino and hearing from the alleged victim in the case, a Del Norte County Judge denied a motion to reduce hit and run and driving under the influence charges against County Administrative Officer Randy Hooper from felonies to misdemeanors. During a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Judge Karen Olson said it would be up to the people to decide whether the charges against Hooper should be reduced. “[It’s] not in the interest of justice,” Olson said. “Accountability and justice go hand-in-hand regardless of how many Board of Supervisor members or sheriffs you know. This is not a core issue of the case. Reducing charges may occur in the future, but that is on the people.” Another court date has been scheduled for Sept. 8. Local attorney Keith Morris is prosecuting the case under the direction of the California Attorney General’s office since District Attorney Katherine Micks and Assistant District Attorney Todd Zocchi have recused themselves. George Mavris is representing Hooper as his defense attorney. Hooper’s felony hit and run and driving under the influence charges stem from a two-vehicle collision that occurred near Sand Mine Road and U.S. 101 at about 10 p.m. April 19. The defendant allegedly had a blood alcohol level of 0.198, California Highway Patrol Officer Edgar Anaya testified on Tuesday. Hooper was booked into the Del Norte County jail and later released on $225,000 bond. According to testimony from Jennifer Williamson, an investigator for the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office, Elk Valley Casino staff asked Hooper to leave the casino multiple times. But when he was asked to pay his bill, he showed what one staff member phrased as “passive defiance” and refused, allegedly saying he “knew everyone at the sheriff’s department.” Footage shows Hooper leaving the building as a cab was pulling up. Though casino staff secured the cab for Hooper, the defendant walked toward his truck. Staff members attempted to approach Hooper but he left the casino, approaching the speed limit sign at the end of the property in about 23 seconds, according to Williamson, who interviewed casino employees during her investigation. During Tuesday’s hearing, the alleged victim, Megan Postma, said that she had left Elk Valley Casino at about 9:55 p.m. on April 19 to return to her hotel. She said she saw headlights behind her on Sand Mine Road before stopping at the stop sign when she was hit from behind and pushed out onto U.S. 101 facing north. Postma testified that she felt that she was sideswiped as Hooper wound up in front of her where he stopped his truck. Postma said she counted for about 15 seconds before she reached for her phone when she saw Hooper allegedly begin to drive away. Though the CHP described Postma’s injuries as minor in their report the night of April 19, on Tuesday she told Morris that she has been out of work since July 1 and will be out of work until she has surgery in October. According to Postma’s testimony, though she has degenerative disc disease, she has been able to play sports, including softball and soccer. However, she said, following the April 19 collision, she is no longer able to play sports. When Morris asked if she needed assistance with daily activities, Postma said she’s unable to put her hair in a pony tail due to weakness in her right wrist. She said she also needed help using the bathroom as well as taking dishes out of the oven since she has lost feeling in her right arm. In response to questions from Mavris, Postma said the pain, numbness and tingling in her right arm is a result from the collision on April 19. Mavris questioned her about test results from MRI scans performed at Asante Health Center, which did not show any injuries. He said he was unable to see evidence of injuries in Postma’s medical reports associated with the collision. During Tuesday’s hearing, Morris said County Administrative Officer Neal Lopez, Sheriff Garrett Scott and a former county sheriff submitted letters supporting Hooper. “I take exception to people in political positions writing letters,” Morris said. “If this was a sentencing, it would be appropriate but this is not. I am very disappointed that a sitting sheriff submitted a letter — I don’t like that at all.” Mavris countered by saying “there is a distinction [between] bad people doing bad things and good people making mistakes.” When Olson asked Postma for her thoughts on reducing Hooper’s charges, the victim said she felt like that would diminish accountability. “I celebrated six years sober in March,” she said. “I wish he had taken the taxi. We would not be here if he just took the taxi.” Following Tuesday's hearing, Redwood Voice Community News asked Hooper if he was part of the team that negotiated the budget on behalf of the Del Norte County Sheriff's and District Attorney's offices or if he recused himself. "I am actually going to wait on any public comments," Hooper said. When asked if he would recuse himself from future budget negotiations with the DA's office and sheriff's department to avoid the appearance of impropriety, Hooper's lawyer, answering on behalf of his client, said neither of those offices have anything to do with the case since the Attorney General is the one prosecuting it.