Woman Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Role in 2022 Shooting Near Union Hotel

Defendant Valerie Saenz, 26 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Troye Shaffer to serve 9 years in state prison after pleading “no contest” in May to charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery, two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, shooting at an occupied vehicle, and destroying evidence.

District Attorney Rodriguez stated, “Although Ms. Saenz did not pull the trigger during this robbery, she was a very active accomplice to this brazen and violent incident. The victims are lucky to have survived. The defendant absolutely deserved to be sentenced to state prison.”

The charges resulted from an October 2022, shooting near the Union Hotel in Santa Rosa. Prior to the shooting Saenz and her co-defendant Marcell Battiest conspired to rob victim Sergio Mora-Morfin of marijuana. Saenz knew Mora-Morfin from elementary school, and the two would regularly meet-up to smoke marijuana. According to social media discussions between Saenz and Battiest, the two conspired to rob Mora-Morfin of marijuana because, as Saenz put it, “He’s the easiest I feel. He trusts me.” In response to that message, Battiest replied, “And if bruh trusts you enough to just pull up with 10 – 20 [pounds] that’d be legit.” Saenz suggested Battiest obtain a firearm for the robbery, to which Battiest responded, “Ok. I’ll grab one let’s just set it up.” Saenz orchestrated for Mora-Morfin to meet her in a vacant parking lot across from the Union Hotel in Santa Rosa, and Mora-Morfin showed up in his vehicle with approximately 30 pounds of marijuana and a friend, the second shooting victim, Garcia-Polvos. Saenz arrived on foot in the parking lot and then called Battiest, who she indicated would be the “buyer.” Battiest arrived in his vehicle shortly thereafter. Moments later, Battiest shot Garcia-Polvos twice in the back, and as Mora-Morfin entered the driver’s seat of his vehicle to flee, Battiest shot him once in the neck at close range. Saenz and Battiest then fled the scene in Battiest’s vehicle, throwing the 9mm ghost gun that used in the shooting out of the car and into the roadway. Both were arrested on November 2, 2022.

Both victims were rushed to the hospital where for weeks they were treated for their extensive and life-threatening injuries, from which they’re still recovering to this day.

During Monday morning’s sentencing hearing, Judge Troye Shaffer stated, “The defendant’s actions were an immediate public safety risk to not one, but two separate victims, [and] the aggravating factors in this case do hold great weight with the court.”

The co-defendant in the case, Marcell Battiest, was convicted by a jury in September and is facing a life sentence. His sentencing date is scheduled for December 13, 2023.

Although Saenz was sentenced to serve 9 years in state prison, due to the passage of Proposition 57 in 2016, The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will classify her as a “non-violent” offender, and she will be considered for release on parole after serving only 3 years of her sentence.

The case was handled by Deputy District Attorney Matt Hobson and investigated by the Santa Rosa Police Department.

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Contact Information
Media Coordinator, Carrie Trevena 
Media Spokesperson Assistant District Attorney Brian Staebell
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California (707) 565-3098