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WEST JORDAN -- A Bluffdale man found guilty of attempted murder will spend three years to life in prison. In an unexpected twist, serious allegations were raised against the victim just after the sentencing.
Reginald Campos, who shot and paralyzed his neighbor, David Serbeck, heard the judge hand down his sentence in a West Jordan courtroom Thursday morning. In addition to the attempted murder term, Campos was sentenced to zero to five years on an aggravated assault charge.
Those sentences will be served consecutively.
The judge also ordered Campos to pay restitution and to have no contact with the Serbeck family for a lifetime.
Campos' attorney had filed a motion to reduce the attempted murder charge to manslaughter, which carries a lesser sentence. The judge denied that motion.
Judge calls self-defense claim "pure crap"
We, as a family, continue to pray for the Serbeck family. We have from the beginning and we continue now. I would daresay that Reggie, in the privacy of that cell, is doing the same thing.
–Conrad Campos
Before the sentencing, Campos tearfully told the judge he was being honest about what happened the night of the shooting. He said he was not in a rage when he confronted Serbeck.
Campos claimed he shot Serbeck in self-defense. But in July a five-man, three-woman jury found Campos guilty of attempted murder, a first-degree felony, and two counts of aggravated assault, which are third-degree felonies.
The verdict came after just three hours of deliberation following a three-day trial.
The judge said Campos' self-defense claim was "pure crap." He said what Campos did was a stupid, careless act that could have been avoided if Campos had called the police.
The judge also expressed concern that Campos has not shown any remorse. That's something Campos' family says is just not true.
"We, as a family, continue to pray for the Serbeck family," said Conrad Campos, Reginald's brother. "We have from the beginning and we continue now. I would daresay that Reggie, in the privacy of that cell, is doing the same thing."
Serious allegations raised against victim
In an unexpected twist, Campos' attorney Rebecca Skordas raised allegations against the victim, David Serbeck, after the sentencing.
Skordas says five women have come forward with allegations that Serbeck sexually assaulted, abused or raped them.
"I bring the truth, and those young women deserve their day in court as well," she said.
Skordas says the women are adults now, but were teenagers -- one only 14 years old -- when Serbeck allegedly committed these crimes.
Though Skordas says that at the time of the June 2009 shooting, Campos was not aware of these allegations, she says this shows her client was right to act on his instincts the night he followed Serbeck in Bluffdale.
"All of the information that has come to us has only solidified in his mind that, in fact, his daughter was threatened," she said.
Skordas also says she raised these accusations to explain why Campos has not publicly expressed remorse for the shooting.
July 27, 2009Man charged with attempted murder in Bluffdale shooting
July 28, 2009Family defends Bluffdale shooter, calling him a 'loving family man'
July 29, 2009Bail reduced for man charged with attempted murder
Oct. 9, 2009Draper man bound over for trial for role in neighborhood shooting
July 26, 2010Trial begins over neighborhood shooting
July 28, 2010Bluffdale man found guilty on all counts in shooting case
The judge would not allow Campos' attorney to raise the allegations against Serbeck in court, claiming it was irrelevant an attempt to "smear the victim."
As for the allegations against Serbeck, Unified police say they are under investigation.
Chain of events stuns Campos' family
Campos maintained he was defending himself when he shot Serbeck in his Bluffdale neighborhood in 2009. He claims Serbeck was following his young daughter.
Serbeck says he was part of the unofficial neighborhood watch and was patrolling the area because of recent thefts.
Both men were armed with guns.
Campos said Serbeck racked his gun, and that's when he shot Serbeck.
During the trial, Campos' friends and family tried to brace themselves for the possibility that he could be found guilty of attempted murder. Still, the verdict stunned them.
Campos' brother, Conrad Campos, said at the time, "I am truly shocked and amazed that the verdict came back as guilty on all three. Not even a reduction of the attempted murder."
Campos' family gathered outside the courtroom Thursday, saying they would stand by him. They also said they would appeal the case.
The family has 10 days to petition for a retrial, which they say they plan to do.
Campos' daughter Paige called her father "the best father a girl can ask for."
"I know that if I'm in danger that he will protect me. I believe that with all my heart," she said at the time.
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Story compiled with contributions from Sandra Yi, Shara Park and Mary Richards.
