Machete wielding thief who robbed pizza delivery driver not bailable, next court date June 29

Charles Kesserling looked shocked in Courtroom 2 today as he was arraigned on a petition to revoke probation this afternoon. He is in custody for the incident below. Judge Marilyn Miles said he is not bailable. Mr. Casey Russo from the Public Defender's office is appointed to defend Kesserling. DDA Whitney Barnes was in court for the People.

Next court date is June 29.

HCSO Press release:

On 05-26-2015 at 11:50 p.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to the Manila Community Center in Manila, regarding a robbery that had just occurred. When deputies arrived on scene they contacted the 22 year old male victim. The victim told the deputies that he is a pizza delivery driver. The victim said he received an order to deliver pizza to the Manila Community Center. The victim said when he arrived in his vehicle he was met by two adult males.

The victim asked the males if they had ordered a pizza and they replied, “Yes”. One of the suspects approached him and asked if he had any change for a $50.00 dollar bill. The victim said he told him, yes he had change. The victim said the suspect then produced a machete and order him to exit his vehicle. The victim described the machete as about 18” to 24” in length. The suspect then took the victim’s wallet, cell phone and took his keys to his vehicle.

The victim said the suspect told him to lie on the ground and said, if you move, I will kill you. After a few moments the suspect told the victim, get up and run. The victim said he got up and ran towards the ocean into a wooded area. The victim said he then stopped and he could hear a male voice yell, keep running or else. The victim said he then took off running again. The victim said when he stopped running the second time he heard his vehicle drive away from the area.

As deputies were taking the report from the victim, California Highway Patrol received report of a possible traffic accident. The vehicle involved in the traffic accident belonged to the victim .The victim’s vehicle had crashed into a wire fence at the intersection of Jackson Ranch Road and SR255. When CHP arrived they did not locate anyone around the vehicle.

The deputies were able to identify one of the two suspects in this case. The suspect who threatened the victim with the machete has been identified as 29-year-old Charles Albert Kesselring from Eureka. The victim was unable to provide a description on the second suspect.