Jury find Geoffrey Campbell guity of assault and false imprisonment

On December 6, 2022, a Humboldt County jury found 36-year-old Geoffery Robert Campbell guilty of assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment.  Judge Feeney did not allow the jury to deliberate on an additional charge of attempted murder.

Evidence presented at trial showed that on July 25, 2022, at about 3:00 AM, at an indigent campsite in the Arcata Marsh, Campbell struck the victim at least three times in the head with a sledgehammer.  

The victim testified to his injuries as well as significant blood loss at the scene.  Campbell held the victim captive and refused the victim’s pleas to go to the hospital.  Ultimately, the victim escaped to the nearby Chevron station where station employees summoned law enforcement.  Officers from the Arcata Police Department (APD) came to the victim’s aid and coordinated transportation to Providence St. Joseph Hospital.  

APD Officer Riley Tippin also provided critical investigation of the case, including locating and interviewing an independent witness.  In addition to the assault and false imprisonment charges, Campbell was on probation for commercial burglary at the time of the assault and Judge Feeney found that Campbell’s conduct violated the terms of his probation. 

Deputy District Attorney Wayne Philips prosecuted the case with the assistance of District Attorney Investigator Martin Morris and Deputy Probation Officer Tanner Thrash.  Deputy Public Defender David Nims represented Campbell.  Campbell will be sentenced on January 5, 2023.