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David Morales Sentenced to 37 Years, 4 Months for Voluntary Manslaughter and Attempted Murder
Just after midnight on March 25, 2023, defendant David Morales fired 10 bullets at a group of young men at a large party hosted off Hall Road in Santa Rosa, killing 20-year-old Raul Ramirez-Reyes and seriously wounding 20-year-old Brian Garcia. Morales was arrested later that same day and charged with murder and attempted murder, as well as firearm enhancements. On July 22, 2024, Morales pled no contest to voluntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement for the killing of Raul Ramirez-Reyes, and attempted murder with firearm and great bodily injury enhancements for Brian Garcia. On September 3, 2024, the Honorable Judge Robert LaForge sentenced Morales to a term of 37 years and 4 months in state prison. Read full story
Seasonal Russian River bridge closed after dam failure
The Sonoma County Public Infrastructure Department has closed the summer crossing of the Russian River at Vacation Beach in Guerneville after a section of a seasonal dam failed, causing abnormally high river flows and damaging a County road. The area is currently closed and should be avoided. Read full story
David Averill Sentenced to Life In Prison For Kidnapping Victim At Gunpoint For Extortion
On the morning of May 16, 2023, defendants David Averill and Thomas Griego accosted a 61-year-old woman and her 74-year-old husband at their home located within the city limits of Sonoma. Mr. Averill and Mr. Griego went to the residence to force the victims to give them the combination to their safe so they could steal their money. Both defendants were charged with kidnap to commit extortion, residential burglary, conspiracy, and assault with a firearm, as well as firearm enhancements for several of the charges. In April 2024, a jury trial was held and both defendants were found guilty of all charges. On August 27, 2024, the Honorable Judge Robert LaForge sentenced David Averill to the maximum potential term of 34 years-to-life in prison. Read full story
Former Child Parent Institute Employee Sentenced to Prison for Child Molestation
Defendant Victor David Magallon, 44 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced Monday August 19th by the Honorable Judge Troye Shaffer to serve 28 years in State Prison for the repeated molestation of two children. Magallon’s sentencing follows his convictions in December 2023 at the conclusion of a jury trial at which he was found guilty of two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14. Read full story
County halts enforcement of all-electric building code after U.S. District Court ruling
Sonoma County has suspended enforcement of a building code that prohibits natural gas or propane appliances in most new residential construction after a federal court ruled that local ordinances preventing the use of gas appliances are overridden by federal law. Read full story
Sonoma County’s higher-than-average suicide rates to be focus of September 7 ‘Connection is Prevention’ event
Sonoma County has a problem: Suicide rates are high here. On average, there are 73 deaths by suicide each year in Sonoma County, making it the ninth leading cause of death. The Sonoma County suicide rate of 14.3 per 100,000 residents is considerably higher than the California rate of 10.5. Read full story
Rohnert Park Man Sentenced to Life Without The Possibility Of Parole For Torture, Kidnap For Financial Gain, And Sexual Abuse Of A Child
Jose Centeno, 57, of Rohnert Park, was sentenced today by the Honorable Troye Shaffer to six consecutive sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole, three consecutive life sentences, and an additional 39 years in the California Department of Corrections. Today’s sentence was imposed after a jury found Centeno guilty in July of three counts of kidnapping for financial gain, three counts of torture, and nine counts involving the sexual abuse of a child. Read full story
Sonoma County Fifth Supervisorial District to partner in hosting sea otter awareness event on September 3
The public is invited to attend an event on Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Doran Beach to learn more about sea otters and the impact they have on our local marine ecosystem. The event will include a sea otter sand sculpture competition that will be judged by District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves enhanced tenant protections for Sonoma County renters
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday tentatively approved a set of tenant protection measures that, if approved on second reading, will provide new rights to renters in the unincorporated areas of the county. Read full story
Sonoma CountyDistrict Attorney Announces Results Of Second Annual Compliance ReportFrom PG&E Independent Monitor
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that the Independent Monitor held its second annual meeting yesterday, and released its Second Annual Compliance Report, related to its oversight of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (“PG&E”). The Independent Monitor, Filsinger Energy Partners, was appointed in April 2022 to monitor PG&E’s compliance with various safety measures imposed upon the company by a Stipulated Judgment between the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office and PG&E and ordered by Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Patrick Broderick on April 8, 2022, related to the 2019 Kincade Fire. Read full story