UKIAH – On May 22, 2024, a Mendocino County Superior Court jury returned from its deliberations in less than 30 minutes to announce it found Melissa Heather Derenia, 37, of Covelo, guilty of driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .08 or greater and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, both misdemeanors. Derenia is now ordered to return to court for a sentencing hearing on June 14, 2024.

The law enforcement agencies that investigated the case and presented testimony at the three-day trial were the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Justice forensic laboratory.

“We appreciate the work of law enforcement officers and criminalists at the California Department of Justice whose work contributes to our personal and public safety.  Driving under the influence and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm is a dangerous combination and certainly puts the public at risk,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.