Case Explained: District Attorney’s case review: February 2026 – Legal Perspective

Editor’s note: This is a periodic review of the Plumas County District Attorney’s Office activities and criminal cases, written by Plumas County District Attorney David Hollister.

Thank you all for your support and efforts in making Plumas County a safe and just place to live, work and play. By law, the district attorney is the chief law enforcement officer in the county. While a district attorney’s duties are not limited to criminal prosecution, California law provides that the district attorney’s most essential duty is investigating and prosecuting criminal offenses on behalf of the people.

2025 year in review

During 2025, the DA’s office reviewed 954 criminal investigations from local law enforcement agencies leading to criminal charges being filed in 530 new cases, not counting juvenile cases or probation violations. During the year we made 4,176 court appearances on behalf of Plumas County at court proceedings ranging from arraignment to motions, trials to sentencing.

We are, and have been for the last year, fully staffed, maintaining one of the most experienced county offices in Plumas County. For the 15th consecutive year, the Plumas County District Attorney’s Office did not have a conviction reversed on appeal. From an office management perspective, I cannot be more proud of the hard and effective work each and every one of the employees of the DA’s office performs in service to our community.

Partnerships

In addition to the DA staff, we are fortunate to work with many dedicated local law enforcement partners. Sheriff Chad Hermann, California Highway Patrol Commanders Ryan Pederson and Lacey Carney, and California Fish and Wildlife Lt. Kyle Kroll (among many) have helped us create a professional atmosphere built on trust, transparency and communication and we are fortunate to live, work and play in a county kept safe by their excellent efforts.

Nearly every day, we are beset with news of challenges to the pursuit of justice and law and order in our state and national criminal justice systems. In Plumas County, your district attorney’s office understands our role in seeking justice. We strive, in every case, to obtain justice for Plumas County the right way. We understand the citizens of Plumas County take this responsibility seriously and demand not only the right results but the right approach.

In addition to our traditional — and paramount — role of prosecuting cases in court, we also serve Plumas County in many other ways. We protect and manage estate for citizens who pass away without a will or heirs. Additionally, we serve attend parole hearings, serve on the Child Death Review Team, advise the grand jury and host quarterly meetings with all Plumas County law enforcement leaders.

Some other efforts important to the district attorney’s office in serving Plumas County include the following programs.

Alternative Sentencing Program

As we begin 2026, the community justice court has already graduated three clients whose lives have transformed from addiction, homelessness, abandonment and unemployment to those of sobriety, hard work, family, community connection and employment. It is heartwarming to see those who have taken from our community transform into healthy, happy, responsible citizens who are giving to our community.

In addition to the traditional prosecution of crime, the DA’s office houses and supports the award-winning Alternative Sentencing Program. ASP exists to assist low-level offenders in the journey of becoming clean and sober, curb drug-related crime, reduce impaired driving and reunite broken families. ASP is responsible for creating responses to the ever-changing criminal justice system while keeping Plumas County relevant and up to date with programs mandated by state and federal governments, including administering Plumas County’s highly successful drug court (community justice court).

ASP works with the courts throughout Plumas County, ancillary service providers and nonprofits as well as law enforcement to ensure high-quality evidence-based reentry and reintegration programming is being offered. In addition to its traditional drug court role, ASP assists the court and involved parties with the calendars for Proposition 36, which mandates treatment for repeat offenders, and Assembly Bill 1810, which statutorily mandates mental health diversion.

Truancy

The Plumas County District Attorney’s Office continues to partner with Plumas County schools in combating truancy. Our goal in addressing truancy is not to prosecute parents but, rather, to engage in all efforts to assist a family in having their children attend school and thrive during their Plumas County education.

The academic success of our children is of such importance that the DA’s office dedicates a prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Brian Hagen; one of its investigators, Shawn Adams; and ASP Manager Stephanie Tanaka to assist with truancy prevention, attend School Attendance Review Board hearings and, as a last resort, prosecute for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Abandoned cars

In 2025, the DA’s office, led by Assistant District Attorney Graham Archer, joined the sheriff’s office and code enforcement, with support from public works and the board of supervisors, in a targeted program to remove the many abandoned cars harming the beauty of our county. In response to citizen complaints, our efforts led to the removal of 33 vehicles at a cost of $25,000.

As a necessary component to a program removing abandoned cars, the DA’s office receives investigative reports from local law enforcement agencies and prosecutes those abandoning vehicles on our roads whenever legally possible.

Officer-Involved Shooting Response Team

At your DA’s office, we watched the recent officer-involved shooting incidents across the country with close attention. Without commenting on the shootings themselves, the investigative responses and commentary by involved agencies did not command the necessary respect and reassurance needed in these types of incidents.

It is critically important to share that Plumas County has maintained, and operated under, an officer-involved shooting and critical incident memorandum of understanding for the past 12 years. Our 21-page document sets forth the protocol for responding to such an incident from investigation to commentary to charging decision to ensure the investigation is accurate, efficient and worthy of our citizens’ trust.

Signatories to the MOU include the DA’s office, sheriff’s office, Quincy and Susanville CHP offices, and CDFW and it is supported by other local, state and federal agencies. This MOU can be found on the Plumas County DA’s website. Its publication was supported unanimously by Plumas County law enforcement partners to demonstrate our commitment to transparency and process in such critical incidents.

Community service

Not lost among the many accomplishments of the staff of the district attorney’s office is dedication to serving our community.

As an office, we pick up trash, keeping Highway 70 clean through the California Department of Transportation Adopt-a-Highway program. We host the Quincy Community Supper, serving a hearty meal of enchiladas, rice, beans and salad for 100-plus members of our community. We also provide educational opportunities, allowing local college students to intern in our office to learn about criminal law as well as serving as a mentor for a local high school senior who prepares a mock trial for their senior project.

Criminal case update

Below is select followup reporting of cases previously in the news. Space does not allow the updating of all pending or recently concluded cases. Should you have a question about the status of a case, please do not hesitate to contact the DA’s office directly by email or phone: [email protected], 530-283-6303.

Murder charge – People v. Benjamin Piper

On Oct. 7, 2024, Benjamin Forest Piper, 39, of Quincy, was arrested for felony assault after neighbors called law enforcement, having observed Piper beating and stomping on the victim on Lawrence Street in Quincy. Piper was arrested after a foot pursuit and physically resisting and threatening responding deputies.

On Nov. 15, 2024, Judge Douglas Prouty found Piper not competent to stand trial. Piper was referred to the Department of State Hospitals for its restoration of competency program and criminal proceedings were suspended. On Nov. 22, 2024, the victim died from complications from his injuries suffered in the alleged October assault.

The Plumas County District Attorney’s Office, on Feb. 18, 2025, and after an extensive investigation and receipt of an autopsy report, filed an amended criminal complaint accusing Piper of murder. The criminal proceedings were reinstated Aug. 15, 2025, when Piper was found competent to stand trial.

The case is currently set for March 6 for motions and trial setting.

Harmful matter sent to a minor – People v. Roderick Bolin

Roderick Tyler Bolin, 32, of Quincy, was charged with sending harmful matter to a person he believed to be minor after being arrested May 31, 2023. The arrest occurred when members of a group called Predator Poachers contacted the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office regarding an internet sting they had created where Bolin messaged a picture of his anatomy to a person he believed to be an 11-year-old girl.

Following many delays, jury trial began Nov. 19, 2025, and concluded the following day with Bolin being convicted as charged. On Jan. 2, Judge William Abramson sentenced Bolin to two years in state prison.

I extend my appreciation to Assistant District Attorney Brian Hagen for trying the case, as well as to Alix Rosin, from Predator Poachers, for his patience and willingness to travel across the country to testify.

Embezzlement of Bucks Lake firefighters’ funds – People v. Jeffery Iversen

On Dec. 16, 2022, Jeffery Michael Iversen, 64, now of Florida, was charged in a one-count criminal complaint with felony embezzlement. Iversen is alleged to have embezzled $302,395.70 from Bucks Lake Fire Department Inc. and Bucks Lake Volunteer Firefighters Inc. On June 9, 2025, the date set to begin jury trial, defendant Iversen pleaded no contest to felony embezzlement in violation of Penal Code Section 503/514.

At trial, Assistant District Attorney Graham Archer was prepared to present evidence that Iversen wrongfully diverted $302,395.70 away from the Bucks Lake Fire Department and transferred $202,209.66 of that money to his personal bank account. The money embezzled was from the United States Forest Service and intended to reimburse the Bucks Lake Fire Department for the department’s efforts fighting the North Complex Fire in summer 2020. 

On Dec. 17, 2025, Judge Douglas Prouty placed Iversen on two years of formal probation, a term of which included that Iversen serve 360 days in county jail. The DA’s office has requested that the court order Iversen to pay restitution to the victim(s) in the sum of $310,562.90 (which Iversen is contesting) to the Bucks Lake Fire Department. A ruling from the court is expected any day.

I thank Assistant District Attorney Graham Archer for his tireless work on this complicated case, the volunteers and board members of the Bucks Lake Fire Department and Bucks Lake Volunteer Firefighters organization, and Plumas County sheriff’s detectives Kris Frazier and John Fatheree for their efforts investigating the defendant’s wrongdoing and their time spent preparing for trial.

Forcible rape – People v. Basaldua-Garcia

On Oct. 30, 2025, a Plumas County jury found Guadalupe “Lupe” Basaldua-Garcia, 41, guilty of forcible rape and sexual penetration by a foreign object, each committed Aug. 24, 2024, in Quincy. Evidence presented at trial established Basaldua-Garcia, a traveling firefighter from Sonora, met the victim, a local woman, while working in the area.

He befriended her over the course of three days before taking her to a closed U.S. Forest Service helitack facility and later to his motel room. There, despite her repeated refusals and requests for him to stop, he forcibly penetrated her. Following the assault, Basaldua-Garcia took the victim to Quintopia. The victim sent a text message to a friend reporting the rape and passed a note to the bartender, written on the back of a food ticket, reporting he had sexually assaulted her and she could not escape him.

The bartender took steps to ensure the victim’s safety and flagged down a Plumas County sheriff’s deputy. Deputies arrested Basaldua-Garcia later that night at his motel room. In addition to testimony from the victim and law enforcement, the prosecution corroborated the victim’s account with a forensic sexual-assault examination, DNA analysis and surveillance video.

The prosecution also presented evidence Basaldua-Garcia had a propensity to commit sexual assaults, in the form of the testimony of another woman, who told the jury Basaldua-Garcia had raped her when she was swimming in a river canyon in the Stairs Recreation Area in Tulare County in 2016. Basaldua-Garcia was tried and acquitted regarding that incident in Tulare Superior Court in 2022.

On Dec. 19, 2025, Basaldua-Garcia was sentenced to eight years in state prison by Judge Douglas Prouty.

I extend my appreciation for the efforts of Assistant District Attorney Brian Hagen in prosecuting this case, the members of the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation and the victim for her courage, patience and drive to see justice served.

Transportation of methamphetamine and escape – People v. Robert Wahlberg

On Jan. 2, Robert Lee Wahlberg, 60, of Beckwourth, was sentenced to four years in state prison following his convictions for transportation of methamphetamine and escape.

Wahlberg was originally arrested on March 28, 2025, when he was found to be transporting 29 grams of methamphetamine in a hidden engine compartment in his truck. On July 22, 2025, and while pending trial on the transportation case, Wahlberg ran from correctional officers while being loaded into the jail van following his hearing at the Plumas County Courthouse in Quincy.

I thank Sgt. Tyler Hermann and Deputy Daniel DeCoite for their initial stop and seizure and Court Security Officer Ravion Bell for chasing down and apprehending Wahlberg as he fled.

Challenges and solutions for 2026

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,” said our 32nd president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. At your district attorney’s office we recognize there are some challenges ahead.

We have seen a tremendous turnover in both the Plumas County criminal justice system and law enforcement leadership positions, leading to the loss of much institutional knowledge. We recognize that the increase of news received through unvetted social media and decrease of news from responsible journalists makes our job harder. We understand the public’s views of law enforcement may be challenged by recent events occurring at the national level. We also are acutely aware we continue to operate under the same laws and with the same challenges in criminal prosecutions as larger counties but with a fraction of the resources.

Despite these challenges I want to assure each of you that we at the DA’s office, and our partners in Plumas County law enforcement, are up to the task. Plumas County is blessed to have many talented law enforcement professionals who are dedicated to providing as safe and just a county as possible.

There is a great deal of promise and hope for all who live, work and play in Plumas County — it continues to be a spectacular place on many levels. On behalf of the DA’s office, it is an honor to serve Plumas County and we are all grateful for the opportunity to provide the highest level of service in the most cost-effective manner. Thank you, again, for your support and efforts. Should you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at the DA’s office.