Shasta Judge hears testimony in Steven King case during preliminary hearing

Shasta County defense attorney Lindsay Stone appeared relaxed throughout much of a two-hour preliminary hearing held in late July. Her client, 57-year-old Steven King, is accused of attempted murder, among other charges.

On April 6, King fired a gun at a man who approached his home, disfiguring the man’s right arm. In an audio recording of the 911 call King made that night, he can be heard expressing fears that the man approaching his trailer, now known to be Michael Hale, was collaborating with others King believed wanted to harm him. 

King was arrested that same night, arraigned on April 9, and has been held since that time on charges that include attempted murder. His bail is set at $500,000 according to Shasta County jail records. King appeared in court again for a preliminary hearing on July 24 to assess whether sufficient evidence exists to support a trial on those charges.

Deputy District Attorney Nolan Weber, who is prosecuting the case, called Hale to the witness stand during the hearing and asked him to reveal the damage done to his arm when he was shot. Pulling up his short-sleeve shirt to show extensive scarring in the arm above his dominant right hand, Hale said the injury from the shooting “basically changed everything” about his life, including his ability to work as a machinist. He said he’s had about eight surgeries, leaving him with little to no bicep muscle in his right arm. 

Throughout the hearing, King sat quietly next to his public defender, once leaning down to pick up a pen she dropped. His orange socks and undershirt remained mostly hidden under his dark-colored shirt and pants. He wore glasses but no handcuffs, entering and exiting the room with his hands behind his back as instructed by a law enforcement officer. King showed no particular emotion throughout the hearing, instead listening carefully and taking notes.

During questioning by attorneys, Hale at times showed anger, particularly in response to questions he was asked on the stand by King’s public defender Stone. At one point, Hale told Stone that he would respond to her line of questioning “only one more time.” In response, the Honorable Judge Daniel Flynn lifted a hand, responding gently that he should answer the question.

A small crowd of supporters joined Hale in the courtroom, including Supervisor Chris Kelstrom, and Anderson Council member Darin Hale, who is unrelated to Michael. Some of Hale’s other supporters could be heard loudly whispering during parts of Stone’s questioning, which appeared intended to discredit Hale’s account of the events leading up to his shooting.

King has been a vocal critic of the State of Jefferson (SOJ) movement and many local officials. In his 911 call, he mentioned SOJ leader Terry Rapoza among others, referring broadly to “terrorists” who he claims have threatened him and saying “they’ve been trying to take me out for a long time but its not going to happen anymore.”

Kelstrom told Shasta Scout he attended the hearing because of that past history between King and other community members including former Supervisor Patrick Jones. Kelstrom said he doesn’t know Hale well, attributing his decision to show up at the hearing as “more about being an enemy of Steven King.”

Speaking to Hale’s supporters outside the courtroom, Kelstrom noted the hundreds of emails he’s received over recent years from King indicating his anger toward current county officials.

“I never see him anymore” though, Kelstrom remarked, in what appeared to be a ironic reference to King being imprisoned now. Hale responded by reaching out to shake Kelstrom’s hand. “You’re welcome,” Hale said with a smile, aknowledging his role in King’s incarceration.

Dozens of other public officials and media members throughout the county have received the same group emails which are typically written in all capital letters and include a liberal sprinkling of profanity, along with insults to specific groups and individuals.

While on the stand, Hale described the events leading up to the shooting, testifying that he participated in a group motorcycle ride to the Lakehead area, stopping at BassHole Brews for lunch and drinks before heading home to Redding. Throughout the day, he grew increasingly frustrated after being tagged repeatedly online by an anonymous poster that he believed was Steven King. The posts included false allegations that angered him, Hale said, especially because of a history between King and Hale’s friend, Jesse Lane.

That evening, Hale said he briefly met a friend at a bar then had dinner and drinks at Shasta Lanes Bowling Center with his wife and others before getting in his friend’s rental car to visit someone off Twin View Boulevard. He realized that Steven King’s trailer home was nearby and decided to stop and “have a conversation” about the posts that had been made online that day. Not long after parking outside King’s trailer, Hale said, he was shot through the screen door while approaching the residence.

The judge also heard testimony from an RPD officer about a series of statements King made the night he shot Hale but much of that testimony was redacted from the record at Stone’s request due to concerns that King’s miranda rights had been violated. 

After more than an hour of testimony, Judge Flynn ruled that enough evidence had been presented for the case to move forward toward trial with existing charges intact. The decision does not indicate King’s guilt or innocence, only that enough evidence was presented to convince the judge that King could have committed the crimes he’s charged with.

He will appear in court again on Aug. 7 to enter a formal plea. He’s being charged with attempted murder, mayhem and several firearms charges, along with a number of enhancements to the alleged crimes.

2.11.2026 4:04 pm: We have updated the story to correct a title.

---

Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.