Man accused of Yreka Greenway murder surprises court with guilty plea Siskiyou Daily News A Yreka-area transient accused of murder surprised prosecutors on Tuesday when he changed his plea from "not guilty" to "guilty" midway through a preliminary hearing at the Siskiyou County Courthouse. Noah William Smith, age 20, is accused of severely beating 53-year-old Yreka resident Joseph Hendricks on Feb. 24 in a homeless encampment in the Yreka Greenway. Hendricks later died of his injuries. During Tuesday's preliminary hearing, Senior Deputy District Attorney Melissa Whetstine was preparing to present evidence when the defense handed a “plea form” to the judge, said Siskiyou County DA Kirk Andrus. Such forms are used for defendants to acknowledge that they understand their rights and to indicate a plea of guilty or no contest, Andrus explained.