Correction Made in Sentencing of Jake Combs for the Murder of Trevor Earley

Jake Combs

On Monday, the Honorable Judge Kaleb Cockrum corrected a misstatement made last Friday in the sentencing of Jake Combs for the murder of 25-year-old Trevor John Earley in Alderpoint in 2022. The correction came after an inadvertent misstatement by the judge who had initially stated Combs was to serve a total of 100 years to life, while the intended sentence was 50 years to life.

According to District Attorney Stacey Eads, “At the sentencing hearing last Friday, October 6, Honorable Judge Kaleb Cockrum stated his intention to sentence Combs to the maximum.  However, when he sentenced Combs he misstated that Combs was to serve a total of 100 years to life.  The sentencing clarification hearing was scheduled expeditiously to ensure the record was corrected and Combs was lawfully sentenced to serve the maximum, 50 years to life in prison.”

Combs’ sentencing stems from an incident that occurred on January 6, 2022, following a social gathering at a friend’s residence. According to witness testimonies and evidence presented during the trial, the situation took a fatal turn when Combs’ dog bit the victim, Earley. Earley, visibly upset and in pain, reacted by issuing a threat towards the dog, leading to escalating tensions.

As Earley spoke to another friend on the front porch, Combs retrieved a loaded 9mm pistol. Without warning, Combs approached Earley and shot him. Following the gunshot, Combs fled the scene, but he was eventually apprehended by law enforcement officers on Highway 36.

The jury’s found Jake Combs guilty in August.

During the sentencing hearing last Friday, October 6, Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm advocated for and the Probation Department recommended the maximum term of 50 years to life, which comprises two separate 25 years to life terms to be served consecutively. Honorable Judge Kaleb Cockrum expressed his intention to sentence Combs to the maximum penalty, but he inadvertently misstated the sentence as 100 years to life during the sentencing.

Recognizing the error and the urgency of the situation, a sentencing clarification hearing was scheduled Monday to ensure the record was corrected.

Earlier:  

• Fatal Shooting in Alderpoint Last Night; Suspects Believed to Have Crashed on Hwy 36
• 29-Year-Old Arrested for Murder in Connection With Today’s Shooting in Alderpoint
• Trevor Earley Memorial Event to Benefit Southern Humboldt Youth Football and Cheer
• Trevor Earley: ‘Loved his people fiercely’
• Trial For Suspect in Murder of Trevor Earley Begins with Dramatic Opening Statements
• Humboldt County jury Convicted Jake Combs of First Degree Murder for the Killing of 25-Year-Old Trevor Earley
• Jake Combs Sentenced to 100 Years to Life in Prison Today for the Murder of Trevor Earley