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The California nomad known as “Mule” was released from the Santa Rita Jail last Friday, with no charges filed before his arraignment was scheduled to take place.
Mule — whose given name is John Sears — has been traveling on foot throughout the West for decades now, passing through the Tri-Valley last week on his winter migration down to San Diego. He roams with animal mules alongside him to help carry his supplies; currently he’s with a dappled 27-year-old named Little Girl.
But last Wednesday night, the 69-year-old was arrested in Castro Valley on suspicion of trespassing and obstructing law enforcement. He was held at Santa Rita Jail in lieu of posting his $10,000 bail, with his arraignment scheduled for last Friday morning at the Dublin courthouse.
Candice Fields, a criminal justice attorney in Sacramento, was set to represent Mule during his court appearance last week, but the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office declined to pursue the case, she said.
“On Friday morning, while waiting for the arraignment calendar to be heard, the prosecutor contacted me to inform me that charges would not be filed,” Fields said.
According to Mule’s Facebook page, he was released from Santa Rita at 9:15 p.m. Friday and reunited with Little Girl, who had been cared for by the organization Horses Healing Hearts, Inc. while he was in jail.
The reason Mule was arrested was similar to that of past citations he’s received. According to California Highway Patrol officials, one of their officers was out on patrol around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening when he saw Mule and Little Girl on the other side of a chain-link fence near the intersection of Castro Valley Boulevard and Center Street.
The fence divides the two roads from an embankment that leads directly to Interstate 580. Citing safety concerns for the mule and the fact they were on state-owned property, the officer asked Mule to come to the other side of the fence, according to CHP officials. When Mule refused, the officer contacted his supervisor and other officers, and at 6:50 p.m. they placed Mule under arrest.
The allegations against Mule were trespassing and obstructing a peace officer, and shortly thereafter he was taken to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, according to the CHP.
Mule, who is originally from around Los Altos, spent 30 years working as a tree-cutter in his younger days. For a while, he would work during the winters and roam during the summers, and when he reached his mid-50s, he decided to roam full-time.
“I belong to an ageless, old way of life, a nomadic way of life,” Mule said. “We all used to live like this, with our animals, traveling. That’s very strong in me, so I gravitated to not lose it.”
He’s also made it his mission to oppose urbanization and to ask lawmakers for a country-wide interstate trail system, which he does by delivering a “Declaration of Emergency” to every city hall, congressional member office and state capitol by which they pass.
Last week’s arrest was not his first run-in with the law — according to his website, Mule has received at least eight citations and been arrested at least one other time since embarking on his nomadic journeys. Attorneys will sometimes offer to represent Mule pro bono in court.
Fields had been following Mule’s journey for some time.
“As an equestrian trail rider, I share his concerns about trail access and safety, and his belief that being outside, in nature, improves our physical and mental well-being,” Fields said. “When I met the Mules a few years ago, I hoped that if he ever needed my help that he would reach out to me for assistance. Since this is a man who doesn’t need much, I was happy to have the chance to support Mr. Sears.”
Mule is now continuing on his trek to Southern California, delivering his declaration on his way.
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While Mule was in jail at Santa Rita, the organization Horses Healing Hearts, Inc. took care of his animal mule, Little Girl. Pictured from left to right: Melissa Austin, Laura Vaughn and Kelsey Aguirre (Photo courtesy of Laura Vaughn) -
After Mule was released from jail, he continued on his journey. He plans to be in San Diego by November, delivering his “Declaration of Emergency” to any councils or city halls he comes across along his way. (Photo by Erika Alvero)
