Bluffdale man to stand trial

WEST JORDAN — A Bluffdale man accused of shooting and paralyzing a neighbor who was cruising through the area in an effort to prevent crime has been ordered to stand trial on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault.

Reginald George Campos, 43, is accused of firing two shots at David Serbeck, damaging his spine and leaving him paralyzed from the chest down after an apparent miscommunication the two men had in July regarding two young girls walking in the area of 1570 Iron Horse Blvd. (15375 South). Serbeck and another man, Troy Peterson, were driving through the neighborhood as part of a neighborhood-watch effort and questioned the girls about what they were doing.

One girl was Campos' daughter, who became frightened by the two men and called her father.

Serbeck testified that Campos was in a rage. Campos sought out Serbeck, started yelling and pointed a gun at him. Serbeck said he dropped his own weapon, kicked it away and told Campos, "Let's talk. What's going on?" according to prosecutor Nathan Evershed.

Serbeck testified that he then heard a girl inside Campos' vehicle yelling, "Don't listen to him. He's lying, he's lying."

Campos told Serbeck, "How stupid do you think I am?" and then the next thing Serbeck heard was gunshots.

Third District Judge Robert Adkins bound Campos over on a charge of attempted murder with injury, a first-degree felony, and two counts of aggravated assault, both third-degree felonies. Campos will be arraigned Oct. 26.

Campos did not take the stand, which is customary in preliminary hearings. However, Campos' version of events is substantially different from Serbeck's in police reports.

When Campos was speaking with a 911 dispatcher, Campos said, "(Serbeck) pulled a gun on me and cocked it … He got out of his car, pulled a gun on me, cocked it, and I let him have it."

Peterson, who is president of the homeowner's association in the area, said the community does not have an official neighborhood-watch organization. However, there had been crimes in the neighborhood, and Peterson said he got an e-mail from a neighbor with photos of cars that might have been involved in some crimes.

He showed the pictures to Serbeck, who told him, "I think I've seen these vehicles, I think I'm going to take a quick drive around the neighborhood."

Peterson joined Serbeck, along with Serbeck's daughter, and they drove through the area but did not see much.

Peterson said they did come upon "two gals" walking on the sidewalk, and one girl jumped into the street and Serbeck slowed down because he didn't know if the girls were going to walk into the street. Peterson testified that Serbeck said "hi" to the girls, and they continued driving.

Gregory Skordas, the defense attorney for Campos, questioned the fact that his client is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, which stem from allegedly pointing a gun at Peterson and Serbeck. Skordas recommended that one assault charge be merged with the attempted murder charge.

Adkins said the matter would more appropriately be addressed at a subsequent hearing.

e-mail: emorgan@desnews.com; lindat@desnews.com