Press Release Index
Sonoma County District Attorney Awarded Grant From the Office of Traffic Safety for Specialized DUI Prosecution Team
Santa Rosa, Calif. – District Attorney Jill Ravitch has announced that her office has obtained funds through a $464,132 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to continue a specialized prosecution team that handles alcohol and drug-impaired driving. Read full story
SONOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SETTLES CIVIL CONSUMER PROTECTION ACTION AGAINST NAKED WINES
Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced today that her office, together with the District Attorneys of Alameda, Napa, San Diego, and Shasta Counties, settled a consumer protection lawsuit against Nakedwines.com, Inc. (“Naked Wines”), an online seller of wine. The complaint, which was filed in San Diego County Superior Court, alleges that Naked Wines violated California’s Automatic Renewal Law. Read full story
SERIAL CHILD MOLESTER SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE
Defendant Jose DeJesus-Galindo, 43 years old, of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Robert LaForge to 125 years to life, plus life without the possibility of parole. Read full story
MAN DENIED YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PAROLE FOR 2001 SLAYING OF SANTA ROSA TEENAGER
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inmate William Ernesto Dominguez, 38 years old of Santa Rosa, was denied youthful offender parole following a hearing held on September 15, 2022 at High Desert State Prison, Susanville. Read full story
MAN SENTENCED TO SERVE 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR BRUTAL 2020 KNIFE ATTACK
Defendant Justin Takacs, 39 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Christopher Honigsberg to serve 20 years in state prison after being found guilty by a jury in June of this year to charges of mayhem after causing the violent disfigurement of his housemate back in 2020. Read full story
REPEAT OFFENDER GETS PRISON FOR DEATH THREATS AND BATTERY BY GASSING
Defendant Kevin Ruskauff, 50, was sentenced on August 31, 2022 by the Honorable Troye Shaffer to serve twelve years, eight months in state prison after he was convicted of five felony charges, including Criminal Threats, Resisting an Executive Officer by Threat or Violence, and three charges of Battery by Gassing. Read full story
Operator of Santa Rosa Drug House Sentenced to Serve 16 Years in State Prison on Charges of Involuntary Manslaughter
Defendant Toby Rosa, 50 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Robert LaForge to serve 16 years in state prison after being found guilty by a Sonoma County jury in April of last year of two counts of involuntary manslaughter, in addition to charges of administering methamphetamine causing great bodily injury, keeping a house for drug use, and possession of methamphetamine. Read full story
Rohnert Park Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Molesting Minors
Defendant Dana McGowan, 70 years old of Rohnert Park, was sentenced yesterday by the Honorable Christopher Honigsberg to serve 45 years-to-life in state prison following his pleas of “no contest” in June of this year to multiple charges of child molestation. Read full story
Man Convicted of Attempted Murder of Elderly Rohnert Park Man While Wearing Trump Mask and Santa Disguise Sentenced to Life in Prison
Defendant Gerald Jacinth, 76 years-old of Las Vegas, was sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Christopher Honigsberg to serve the maximum term of 30 years-to-life in state prison after being found guilty by a jury in July of this year of charges of premeditated attempted murder and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. The jury also found “true” allegations that Jacinth discharged a firearm and inflicted great bodily injury. Read full story
Rinehart Oil Settles Environmental Complaint Arising Out of Tanker Truck Spill
Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced today that her Environmental and Consumer Law Division (ECLD) has reached a settlement with Rinehart Oil, and driver Charles Pacheco, for environmental harm caused when one of the tankers overturned on Highway 121 in November of 2019 causing petroleum to spill into a nearby waterway. Read full story