Former DA Riese’s arraignment delayed until Dec.

Judges Follett and Weir disqualify selves from case

Former District Attorney Michael Riese has more time to turn himself in to authorities after his arraignment scheduled for Tuesday was postponed until Dec. 13.

A complaint has been filed  by the state Attorney General’s Office accusing Riese, 48, of one count of driving under the influence of drugs, two counts of child endangerment and a single count of public intoxication, all stemming from an Aug. 22 incident.

His arraignment was postponed after Del Norte County Superior Court judges Robert Weir and William Follett disqualified themselves from the case.

Judge Michael Brown has been assigned to the case and is expected to preside during Riese’s arraignment. However, Riese has filed a request to disqualify Brown from the case.

On Aug. 22, Safeway employees called for a welfare check for Riese. They told police Riese “appeared confused and disoriented,” according to a police report.

Questioned outside the store, Riese told officers he was taking medication after undergoing knee surgery and had not slept for several days, the report stated.

Riese told officers he had walked to the store and was going to be picked up by his girlfriend, but his truck was in the parking lot, the report  stated.

When his girlfriend arrived, she told officers she was going to take him to seek medical treatment, the report stated.