"Their actions wreaked havoc all over Eureka and put everyone in danger"

 

No other media bothered to show up in court for Brandon and Jesse Widmark's sentencing. 

Sheriff William Honsal, DA Investigator Kyla Baxley, many HCSO deputies here including Deputy Luke Mathieson who was the court bailiff, Deputy Chad Crotty who was escorting inmates so he was in and out of the courtroom.

Other media did not even show up after my initial post during break. This is so disrespectful to law enforcement and the victims. I was here, every day for over a month and at every hearing mainly because of law enforcement but also because this case impacted Eureka where I live. Law enforcement keeps us safe and risks their lives everyday. I made a special effort to be there this morning even though I could not afford to be there for hours. I know some of the deputies better than others. I have known Deputy Raleigh Willoughby and his family for years. 

Today, the only victim impact statement in court was by Deputy Willoughby who was there via Zoom. DA Investigator Greg Hill read his statement and did a great job. 

Some of the victims were in court sitting behind me. Sheriff Honsal, DA Chief Investigator Kyla Baxley and HCSO deputies in the rows behind them. I know some investigators are currently with Deputy DAs in jury trials and more law enforcement would have been there but they are all working.

Several members of Jesse Widmark's family were there, including his aunt. There were two people who were related to Brandon Widmark. Those here for the Widmark brothers were on the other side of the courtroom.

Judge Steven Steward announced his tentative. He did some research  after attorney arguments and then made his final ruling and sentence after court resumed at 11 a.m. One of the criteria Judge Steward mentioned was that the sentence should be a deterrent to others.

When I have time, I will add remarks from attorneys and the Judge.

Judge Steward and Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees both said the case is complicated, there are many charges. What is obvious is the Widmark brothers are getting a life sentence. I said that several times before and after the trial. What will be stayed; not stayed; determinate or not with several counts is not something I am rushing to type and may wait for court minutes. Probation was confused  there were corrections in court. 

Final ruling.

Brandon Widmark: Life with possibility of parole. He has to serve his determinate term of 32 years, 8 months first, then 7 to life sentence . He will be eligible for parole after 7 years. 806 total custody credits.

Jesse Widmark: Life with possibility of parole. He has to serve hos determinate term of 39 years, 4 months first. Then 20 to life sentence. 815 custody credits. Eligible for parole after 27 years although hard to hear and court minutes do not have that information. Since he is a youthful offender, Jesse will be eligible for parole before Brandon. 

Ms. Andrea Sullivan is Jesse Widmark's attorney. Ms. Linkous is Brandon Widmark's attorney. 

There is a hearing tomorrow to dismiss the remaining counts. The court minutes from 4/18 show what counts were dismissed for Brandon and Jesse Widmark. Brandon's extradition case from Humboldt was dismissed. Oregon can chose to extradite Brandon from CDCR.

DA Press Release (issued 4/17 after my post was published):

Today, the Honorable Judge Steven Steward sentenced brothers Brandon Michael Widmark, age 29, and Jesse ChakChak Widmark, age 20, to serve life in prison for their April 2023 crimes in Eureka.  On March 18, 2025, following a 7-week trial, a Humboldt County jury returned verdicts of guilt as to each of the defendants for the attempted murder of a peace officer, multiple counts of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, forcefully resisting a peace officer, and robbery. Additionally, Brandon was convicted of felony hit and run causing injury, evading an officer and causing injury, child abuse, false imprisonment, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Judge Steward sentenced Brandon to serve 39 years 8 months to life in prison, and Jesse to serve 56 years 4 months to life in prison.

On April 18, 2023, the brothers robbed a man in a back parking lot of the Bayshore Mall in Eureka and fled the scene in a lifted red Ford truck with Arizona license plates.  Brandon, who drove the truck with his brother in the rear passenger seat, girlfriend in the front passenger seat, and her toddler in the rear center seat, struck a pedestrian at the intersection of Washington and Summer Streets. He fled, leaving the seriously injured pedestrian in the street.   Reports of these crimes were made, providing police officers with initial details regarding the crimes and suspects in the red truck.   

Shortly thereafter, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputy Raleigh Willoughby observed the red truck and attempted a traffic stop.   The truck fled from Dep. Willoughby through the Cutten area, northbound on Dolbeer Street toward Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital, and past the Washington Elementary School at a high rate of speed.   Deputy Willoughby did not pursue at a high speed out due to public safety concerns, including it was nearly time for school dismissal.  Nonetheless, Brandon continued to drive recklessly, all the while refusing pleas from his girlfriend to pull over and let her and her child out of the vehicle.  At the intersection of Dolbeer and Harris Streets, Brandon collided into a vehicle causing serious injury to the people inside the vehicle.  

The defendants got out the of the now-disabled truck, and armed themselves with rifles, aiming at the pursuing Dep. Willoughby in his marked patrol vehicle. Jesse fired one shot at Dep. Willoughby, missing his head by less than two feet, but striking his patrol vehicle. As this happened, both were fired upon by arriving HCSO Lt. Conan Moore, Dep. Chad Crotty, and Dep. Luke Mathieson; each defendant was shot seven times. 

Although Brandon was shot before he was able to fire a round, he continued to manipulate his firearm in a manner consistent with trying to clear a malfunction or to load a round into the chamber. Brandon refused commands to drop his weapon and was subsequently fired upon by Lt. Moore that ultimately resulted in Brandon dropping his rifle.

Immediately after eliminating the threat, Dep. Willoughby, Lt. Moore, Dep. Crotty, and Dep. Mathieson began administering life-saving efforts to the brothers. The defendants were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital where they remained until they were medically able to be housed at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.  

District Attorney Stacey Eads stated “I am extremely grateful for the heroic actions of the officers involved.  The thoughtful verdicts of the jury and Judge Steward’s sentencing imposed are just, and with this outcome may these two defendants never harm another again.”    

Due to the nature of the officer involved shooting, the Critical Incident Response Team, led by Eureka Police Detective Ray Nunez and Humboldt County District Attorney Investigator Ryan Hill, was deployed to take command of the scene and the investigation. Their efforts, along with the efforts of the four Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office personnel, led to the successful prosecution of this case, the jury’s verdicts, and ultimately the appropriate sentence for both defendants.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District attorney Roger Rees, with assistance from District Attorney Investigators Ryan Hill and Greg Hill, Victim Advocate Ben Duhem, as well as countless others.  Brandon was represented by attorney Rebecca Linkous, and Jesse was represented by attorney Anakalia Sullivan.