On March 16, 2023, at about 7:35 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a multi-residence property on Ole Hanson Road near Eureka for the report of an assault.

Deputies arrived at the property and located an 18-year-old female victim with serious facial injuries. The victim was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. During their investigation, deputies learned that the suspect, 54-year-old Bernelle Fay Moran, reportedly forced entry onto the property. Moran reportedly threatened multiple individuals on the property and then attacked the victim with a metal bar in the presence of a small child. The child did not sustain physical injuries from this incident. Moran fled prior to deputy arrival.

While investigating, deputies received information that Moran was in the area of the 1700 block of Anderson Avenue in McKinleyville. Moran was located and taken into custody without incident.

Moran was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm (PC 245(a)(1)), child endangerment (PC 273A(b)), criminal threats (PC 422), exhibiting a deadly weapon (PC 417(a)(1)), burglary (PC 459/461(a)), battery with serious bodily injury (PC 243(d)) and entering a property without consent (PC 602.5).

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

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Bernelle Fay Moran Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility