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Last defendant in racial beating sentenced

Posted: May 3, 2012 - 8:29pm
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Travis Campbell
Travis Campbell

The second defendant in a Feb. 6, 2011, racially-motivated attack in downtown Brainerd will serve more than five years in prison for the crime.

Travis Arnold Campbell, 30, Pequot Lakes, was sentenced Thursday in Crow Wing County District Court to five years and nine months in prison by Judge Richard Zimmerman. Zimmerman said Campbell — wearing a faded blue jail uniform with his waist and hands in shackles — will be given credit for time served and a third of his sentence will be served on supervised probation, during which he is to have no contact with the victim, Willie Navy.

Campbell previously had pleaded guilty to severely beating Willie Navy, who suffered serious head injuries in the attack. Navy attended Thursday’s sentencing and said justice has been served.

Campbell and another defendant, Lucas Eastwood, 27, Backus, were charged with felony first-degree assault, felony third-degree assault, gross misdemeanor fourth-degree assault motivated by bias after attacking Navy after the three left a bar in downtown Brainerd in the early morning hours of Feb. 6, 2011. Eastwood was sentenced in October to eight years, and seven months in prison for his part in the crime.

“You (Campbell) have a lot of time to serve and I hope you take advantage of what they (prison) can offer you,” said Zimmerman. “I expect that Navy would hope that you will be a better man coming out of prison ... I hope you realize that your stupid actions impacted Navy’s life and he didn’t even bother you and you changed his life.”

Before Zimmerman sentenced Campbell, new details of the case were presented, which resulted in Campbell pleading guilty to first-degree aggravated robbery. Campbell admitted to taking money from Navy’s pocket during the assault. Campbell also admitted that he had a folded pocket knife in his fist during the beating of Navy.

The judge asked Campbell several questions to make sure he understood the court procedures and what he was admitting to, such as he was not claiming his innocence and that he caused serious harm to Navy. Most of Campbell’s answers were either “yes sir” or “no sir.” When Zimmerman asked Campbell what he was pleading guilty to Campbell said: “I assaulted somebody and injured Willie Navy.”

Campbell answered “yes sir” when asked if he was entering his guilty plea on his own free-will, that he was thinking clearly and he was not being threatened to plead guilty.

When the judge asked Campbell if he wanted to say anything to Navy or the court, Campbell paused for a second and then said, “No sir.”

Before the sentencing, Navy gave a brief victim impact statement.

In a light tan-colored suit and black shoes, Navy addressed the court and said, “I wanted justice to be served and I wanted him to speak the truth and he told the truth ... I got some justice on the case.”

Navy, 54, who suffered numerous facial injuries in the attack, said he’s had health problems since the attack and to make matters worst his mother had passed away. Navy said he suffers from severe headaches, is dealing with depression and he still has problems with his eyes.

Navy’s injuries after the attack included fractured bones around his eye and the injuries have caused dizziness, light-headedness, double vision, scarring to his left cornea, fluid leakage, light sensitivity, headaches and the inability for both eyes to track together.

After court, Navy, who no longer wears an eye patch, said that he can see good out of one of his eyes, but the other eye is still blurry, and he continues to have a lot of fluid leakage.

According to court documents, Campbell, Eastwood and other friends were at a downtown bar on Feb. 5, 2011, and Campbell didn’t know Navy, but had contact with him in the bar. Campbell clarified that there was a verbal argument with Navy in the bar.

Outside the bar, Campbell and Eastwood followed Navy toward South Eighth and Laurel streets, with Navy and Eastwood “verbally sparring” ahead of Campbell.

Eastwood and Campbell, who drank beer and smoked synthetic marijuana that night, punched Navy. In total, Campbell admitted to punching Navy about 20 times and kicking him about five times.

Navy suffered significant injuries and spent four days at Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd, including time in the intensive care unit.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851. Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl.

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I_disagree_with_dems
4934
Points
I_disagree_with_dems 05/03/12 - 10:27 pm
4
1

racial beating or no racial beating they deserve what they got

May the Mr. Navy find it within himself to get over this horrible act and get healed physically, emotionally and mentally/.

Now our liberal state and judges need to punish criminals that do this same act with reverse situations and within racial lines as well.

A criminal act is a criminal act no matter if it is racially motivated or not. Or am I wrong?

lakelander
708
Points
lakelander 05/03/12 - 10:51 pm
3
1

what the heck?

"In a light tan-colored suit and black shoes, Navy addressed the court."

I am reading this and trying to ascertain why the victim's clothes he wore to court are being described. Is this common? I don't recall any other victims having their shoe color mentioned.

Medic211
289
Points
Medic211 05/04/12 - 07:06 am
3
4

reply to dems

your right all crimes are crimes and should be treated equally, unless your rich, celebrity, politician or can pass it on to someone else.....Amy Sensor is a great example...something tells me I would have a slightly harsher sentence for the same crime.

CuperNick55
24
Points
CuperNick55 05/04/12 - 10:14 am
5
3

Respect for Mr Navy

I can honestly say that I dont know if I could be as calm and kind as Mr Navy is being. He deserves absolute respect for being able to handle himself as well as he does!

I_disagree_with_dems
4934
Points
I_disagree_with_dems 05/04/12 - 01:01 pm
3
1

lucky, you need help

the fact is they beat him to an inch of his life.

Does having a criminal record mean you deserve a beating like he got?

Your comment is whats wrong with this world, you should be ashamed of yourself.

sadiemarriedlady
24633
Points
sadiemarriedlady 05/04/12 - 02:14 pm
1
5

Birds of a feather

Now we get to pay for the cost of the prisoner and the medical and living cost of the man they destroyed.
Maybe he will be able to work, but the injuries look like disability to me. I guess stay out of bars, but I do wish Mr Navy well. I don't know his history, but do hope he now respects the law.

NanLee60
14876
Points
NanLee60 05/05/12 - 06:42 am
1
0

What if he...

What if he had been beaten outside of a church, does he have to stay out of churches now?
You don't know his history but hopes he "now" respects the law? Why is he blamed for his beating? Witnesses say he didn't start it or do anything wrong. Having a few or a lot of drinks means you should get beaten?
Was Amy Senser's victim guilty for running out of gas? Being a minority?
Something is wrong with that reasoning.

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