Warrant issued for Troy man accused of partner assault

An arrest warrant was issued for a Troy man after he failed to appear for a court hearing in consecutive weeks.

Caleb Brian Kelso, 33, is accused of assaulting a girlfriend earlier this fall at a camp site off the Bull River Road.

Kelso was arraigned Oct. 7 on a felony charge of partner or family member assault, third offense. He pleaded not guilty and was later released on his own recognizance following a Nov. 12 court hearing.

But Kelso missed a pre-trial conference on Nov. 18. His attorney, public defender Ben Kolter, said it was likely Kelso didn’t receive the notice about the hearing. He requested a continuance and deputy county attorney Lauren O’Neill had no objection.

But when Kelso missed a second straight required appearance Nov. 25, O’Neill sought a warrant for his arrest and District Judge Matt Cuffe granted the request.

According to the narrative by county officer Luke Hauke in the charging document, he was at the scene of an accident Sept. 15 when he received the report of a domestic incident on Keeler Rattle Road.

When he arrived, he spoke to U.S. Forest Service law officer Will Chambers and the alleged victim, a 25-year-old woman. Chambers said he driving up the road when saw the woman walking and saw she had a bloody nose and blood on her clothes. She waved to get his attention and reported the alleged assault that had happened about 40 minutes ago.

Hauke spoke to the woman who said she her nose hurt and a “crunchy” feel and sound after Kelso allegedly struck her. She also said when she woke in his RV camper a bee was in her hair and she sat up. She said, “Caleb started cussing me out, calling me names and told me to get the (expletive) out of my RV.”

As she tried to gather her belongings, the woman said Kelso pushed her, came at her and struck her in the nose. She also said he grabbed a hammer and yelled at her to leave or, “I’m going to bash your (expletive) head in.”

Hauke also saw a mark on her neck, which she said occurred when Kelso allegedly threw a circular object at her.

Hauke then went to the camper and spoke to Kelso. The accused said the woman started fighting and stuff and screaming. He said when she couldn’t find the cat food to feed the kittens, they fought about that.

According to court records, Kelso has a 2015 conviction for negligent endangerment. He also had a 2018 partner or family member assault case dismissed. He was sentenced to serve time in a state facility after a probation violation.

A conviction for partner or family member assault may result in a prison term of five years.