Courtesy Photo After an emotional Preliminary Hearing, the DUI Hit and Run charges against Del Norte Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Randy Hooper will proceed as a felony case.Hooper was represented by Defense counsel George Mavris. Keith Morris in a special assignment, represented the Attorney-General after the Del Norte District Attorney Katie Micks recused herself due to a conflict of interest.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Superior Court Judge Karen Olson Dept. oversees the case.Three witnesses delivered testimony during the Preliminary Hearing; the District Attorney Investigator, the CHP and the victim of the Hit and run, Megan Postma. The details of the April 19th late evening event at the Elk Valley Casino where Hooper was questioned about paying his liquor tab. Hooper did in fact pay his bill but casino staff sensed he may have had too much to drink. Staff began to escort Hooper from the Casino, and offered him a taxi to drive him home to Gasquet. Courtesy photo, provided by victim Megan Postma Hooper blew a .189 blood alcohol reading. It was also learned Hooper was reported drinking at Port’O Pints at the Harbor, earlier in the afternoon.Hooper declined the taxi and headed to his vehicle, a white Toyota truck, casino staff in pursuit.According the CHP Report, and with Sheriff’s deputies en route, Hooper sped down the road exceeding the 21mph speed limit toward the round-about, and west on Sand Mine Road to 101 north. The collision occurred when Hooper’struck struck the stationary Postma vehicle. Postma counted to 15 one thousand when Hooper began to move. She followed. The CHP considered the accident a hit and run. Unknown to all parties, apparently the Hooper vehicle was disabled with a broken front axle. Questions arose regarding new injuries sustained by Ms. Postma in the April 19th incident.Buoyed by positive character letters from Sheriff Garrett Scott, former Sheriff Dean Wilson (now Supervisor Wilson) and in an effort to mitigate the charges,attorney Mavris attempted to have all felony charges reduced to misdemeanors by a process call paragraph 17b. Judge Olson pondered the Hooper request anddecided to decline the request to reduce the charges.The case resumes September 9 at 8:30 in Dept. 1 googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });