Judge denies release of 911 callback in Simlick murder case

A Sutter County judge on Wednesday signed a protective order prohibiting the release of police reports to the media in the case of Joseph Hayden Simlick, the 21-year-old Loomis man charged with murdering Jack and Susan Martin of Sutter.

It was the second court appearance for Simlick, who is being held without bail in Sutter County Jail.

The Appeal-Democrat and other media had requested copies of a recorded call the California Highway Patrol made to the Martin home the night of July 29 after receiving a 911 call from their Mulberry Street address. Susan Martin could be heard crying and shouting on the tape, according to the Sutter County Sheriff's Department.

Judge Chris Chandler signed the order at the request of Simlick's Sacramento attorney, Linda M. Parisi, who told him she had not yet seen the police reports.

A copy of the order was not available Wednesday.

Assistant District Attorney Jana McClung described the protective order as a "gag order" and declined to discuss it. Parisi denied it's a gag order.

In an interview, Parisi said she requested the order to prevent a change of venue because of pretrial publicity. Simlick has a right to be tried in Sutter County, she said.

The Appeal-Democrat also requested a copy of the search warrant detectives obtained July 30 before entering the Martins' home. Firefighters found their bodies after putting out a fire reported at 12:43 a.m. that morning. Simlick is suspected of setting the fire.

Simlick, dressed in the bright yellow-green uniform of the Sutter County Jail's maximum security unit, replied, "Yes, your honor," when asked by Chandler to waive time for a preliminary hearing.

Another hearing is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 8, when Chandler may set a date for the preliminary hearing.

About 20 family members and friends of Simlick attended Wednesday's hearing. About the same number of people attended on behalf of the Martins.

Besides two counts of first-degree murder, Simlick is charged with false imprisonment by force of the Martins' daughter, Kendall, before her parents were found dead.

CONTACT Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.