Jake Combs sentenced today, 60 years to life, defense motion for new trial in homicide case denied

11:28: Justice for Trevor; again. For this post, the photo I chose is to honor Trevor and his family.

Thank you Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm.

Deputy Public Defender Emery Welton and Ryan McClurg lose. They put the Earley family through hell for an unrepentant criminal and loser. Maybe Emery Welton should go work with Lindy Clancy's lawyer. Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum found no juror misconduct.

Jake Combs sentenced  today 60 years to life in two Humboldt County cases. The prison term includes a third  case from Kern County.

Motion for new trial in homicide case denied.

11:18 Trevor Earley's family and supporters just left the courtroom. From the smiles on their faces, take a guess what Judge Cockrum's ruling was on the defense motion for new trial.

11:04 Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum is still making remarks on the defense motion for a new trial in Jake Combs homicide case. I was in the courtroom briefly.

Court minutes included. 

DA press release (4:32 p.m.):

Today, the Honorable Kaleb Cockrum sentenced Jake Henry Combs (33) to serve 50 years to life in prison for the 2022 murder of Trevor John Earley (25) of Alderpoint. Combs received an additional 10-year prison sentence for assaulting another inmate and possessing methamphetamine while housed at the jail.

Earlier this year, a jury convicted Combs of first-degree murder for the second time, after his first murder conviction from October of 2023 was overturned by the Court of Appeal due to the trial court admitting evidence of Combs assaulting another inmate.

On the night he was murdered, January 6, 2022, Earley was with two friends, as well as Combs, in Alderpoint. That night, Combs’ dog, a Cane Corso, bit Earley in the nose, causing significant injury. After the bite, Earley told Combs to remove the dog from the property and threatened to harm the dog if he did not. In response, Combs retrieved his unregistered, non-serialized, loaded 9mm pistol from his backpack.

While Earley stood on a front porch talking with a friend, Combs approached, out of Earley’s view, and at close range shot and killed Earley. Combs fled the scene in his vehicle and, a short time later, collided with an embankment, causing him to roll his car on Highway 36. Combs was later arrested while walking along the roadway with his dog. 

District Attorney Stacey Eads said, “Reaching the just outcome reflected in today’s sentencing has been a lengthy and extremely difficult process for Mr. Earley’s family and loved ones. May they finally be allowed some sense of justice and peace knowing their loved one’s killer is behind bars.”

Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm prosecuted Combs with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Martin Morris and Victim Witness Advocate Michala Pelren.