Office of the District Attorney - Maggie Fleming, District Attorney
NEW RELEASE
June 8, 2016
Today a Humboldt County jury found Charles Kesselring IV guilty of carjacking, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, theft of a vehicle and evading an officer. The crimes occurred on May 26, 2015.
The events began around noon when Deputy Tomlin of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department identified and pursued a stolen vehicle while on patrol near Harris and Harrison. The pursuit continued into Eureka, where Deputy Tomlin ended it near Eureka High School to limit risk to the public. However, shortly thereafter citizens assisted the deputy in locating the defendant who had left the car and run into an apartment. Because the crime is not classified as a serious or violent crime he was cited and not booked into the jail.
Shortly before midnight Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a robbery in Manila. The victim, a pizza delivery person, said when he stopped his car at the Manila Community Center a man with distinctive tattoos brandished a machete, ordered him out of his car, demanded his wallet and threatened to kill him. The victim later identified the defendant as the person who committed the carjacking and robbery.
The defendant was arrested in Ukiah on May 29, 2016 after evading the Ukiah police in a vehicle.
The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison. Following additional court proceedings on June 9, 2016 a sentencing date will be set. The case was tried by Deputy District Attorney Jackie Pizzo and defended by Christina Albright.