North County Report: Inside Luke Shaffer’s First Day in Court

It has been a busy couple of weeks in Encinitas. 

Newly elected Encinitas Councilmember Luke Shaffer is facing a felony assault charge, plus two misdemeanors. North County has been buzzing about the charges since I broke the news two weeks ago. Shaffer’s arraignment hearing happened yesterday, and this was the first time we learned more about what led to his charges.  

County prosecutors allege that Shaffer got into a dispute with an Encinitas resident over trash bins that were blocking a parking spot the councilmember wanted. Deputy District Attorney Chandell Boyce said Shaffer backed his truck into the resident’s outstretched palms, crushing one of his recycle bins in the process. Shaffer also allegedly told the resident that he’d never get a permit from the city again. You can read my story on the arraignment here. 

The Encinitas City Council is meeting tonight, and I’ll be curious to see if he shows up and if other members of the Council address the charges. I’ll keep you posted.  

A Big Turnout 

On Tuesday afternoon, as I was making my way to the Vista Superior Courthouse in North County, I wondered how many people I would see at Shaffer’s arraignment.  

I figured there would be at least a few reporters, but other than that, I expected to see Shaffer’s family, friends and maybe a few Encinitas residents. 

I arrived at the courthouse an hour before the arraignment was scheduled and, to my surprise, there were already about a dozen people sitting in the hallway outside of the courtroom waiting.  

Shaffer wasn’t there yet, but some Encinitas residents and people who know Shaffer personally were. 

As I settled onto a bench in the hallway, I could feel the energy around me. It was tense with a sort of nervousness in the air. People seemed restless, jittery and very chatty. 

A few minutes after I arrived, Rachel Hill, who said she was Shaffer’s campaign advisor, approached and requested a correction on one of my recent stories. I wrote that Assemblymember Carl DeMaio’s conservative political action network Reform California endorsed Shaffer when he was running for City Council last year.  

It did endorse Shaffer, but Hill thought that was inaccurate because Shaffer didn’t accept the endorsement. As we waited for the arraignment to start, the crowd grew even larger, and many of the people milling about the hallway seemed to know each other well. They greeted each other warmly while exchanging nervous looks. It quickly became clear – everyone was there to support Shaffer. 

They offered each other condolences, hugs and words of encouragement. I heard people say things like, “I can’t believe this is happening,” and “It will all be over soon.” One person said it felt like they were mourning.  

There were also many conversations about the charges being unfounded, politically motivated and some sort of effort to ruin Shaffer’s career and reputation, a sentiment I’ve also been floating on social media. 

Inside the Courtroom 

Shaffer and his wife didn’t arrive until about 15 minutes before his arraignment started. He wore a gray suit and a solemn expression, surrounded by several people who looked to be part of his team, including Hill. One man in the group sported a “Luke Shaffer” dad hat, which he had to remove before entering the courtroom. 

Once inside, Shaffer and his family sat at the back of the small, but packed courtroom. When the hearing started, he stood beside his attorney, Isaac Blumberg, at the podium in front of Judge Valerie Summers.  

Blumberg and Deputy District Attorney Boyce took turns saying their piece to the judge and going over details of the case. Shaffer pleaded not guilty to all the charges. He didn’t speak during the arraignment. 

The hearing was over in about 12 minutes, and the crowd began shuffling over to the media area to hear more from Boyce and Blumberg. 

The Briefing 

As we walked, I saw Shaffer’s wife crying and some of his supporters hugging each other. Shaffer still wore a solemn expression and only spoke quietly to his wife and team. 

As Boyce went over the details of the case again in the media area, I could hear whispers and a scoff or two from the crowd. Some were saying how ridiculous they thought the case was while shaking their heads. 

Boyce received no applause from the group after her remarks. 

Blumberg, with Shaffer standing to his right, said the case was a waste of the District Attorney’s resources and called it an “outrageous overreach.” He then took one question from the media before abruptly ending his remarks, receiving a round of applause from the audience. 

Shaffer and the group hung around the courthouse media area for several minutes as media personnel began to exit. Eventually, Shaffer and his wife exited the courthouse holding hands and their faces composed as they walked past the waiting reporters. 

What’s Next: A readiness hearing is scheduled for Oct. 22, followed by a preliminary hearing in November.  

In Other News 

• Oceanside leaders approved a modified version of a proposed tenant protections ordinance, rejecting a proposal to cap rent increases at 5 percent a year (instead of the state’s 10 percent) as well as a proposal to create a legal defense fund for residents facing eviction. (KPBS) 
• San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert announced her run for the 48th Congressional seat in 2026, which is currently held by Rep. Darrell Issa. If California passes the redistricting ballot measure Proposition 50, the new proposed 48th would bring in Vista and parts of Oceanside. (Coast News) 
• The Encinitas Planning Commission is postponing a vote on the proposed 120-unit Sage Canyon Apartments on El Camino Real until the developer addresses road improvements. (Coast News) 

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