Sheriff: Auburn man 'goes off' on process server | Crime

AUBURN, CA - An Auburn man is accused of attacking a process server, shooting her numerous times in the face and upper body with an airsoft rifle, smearing mud on her face and throwing rocks at her car, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Department.

The alleged incident unfolded when the process server tried to serve Nicolas Mark Stenberg's girlfriend with eviction papers at their Mount Vernon Way residence Wednesday morning, said sheriff's spokeswoman Dena Erwin.

Investigators said the process server was hit around 20 times at close range by pellets from the airsoft gun, lacerating her face around her eyes.

Stenberg's landlord said she has been trying to evict him for not paying his rent and for damaging her home. Sofia Hottlen called the attack brutal and said it could have blinded the woman.

"Because he couldn't get through with the bullets into her car, he broke her window with the back of the rifle. And then after he ran out of bullets, he started throwing rocks at her," Hottlen said.

Just after the incident, Erwin said Stenberg's girlfriend called authorities to say a woman had "maced" her boyfriend. Stenberg told responding deputies he didn't know the woman and confronted her because she was trespassing.

The process server was treated at an area hospital and released.

Stenberg, 30, was booked into Placer County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism. He posted $25,000 bail and was released.