TranslatePress Release Index
Sonoma County District Attorney Announces Results of First Annual Report From PG&E Independent Monitor
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that the Independent Monitor held its annual meeting yesterday, and released its First Annual Report, related to its oversight of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (“PG&E”). The Independent Monitor, Filsinger Energy Partners, was appointed last April 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
Sonoma Man Sentenced to 21 Years Prison in State Prison for Shooting at Deputy
Defendant Nathan James Smart, 44 years old of Sonoma, was sentenced today by the Honorable Mark Urioste to serve 21 years in state prison after pleading “no contest” last month to charges of assault with a firearm on a peace officer. Under the negotiated agreement, Smart also admitted sentencing enhancements for personal use of a firearm, and for a previous conviction of gross vehicular manslaughter dating back to 1999. Read full story
Insurance Broker Christopher Ramos Sentenced to Prison For Nine Years for Theft of Client Money
Defendant Christopher Ramos, a 45-year-old Insurance Broker from Santa Rosa, CA, was sentenced yesterday by the Honorable Karlene Navarro to 9 years in prison for stealing nearly $190,000 from clients. From around 2013 through 2016, Ramos operated CDR Insurance Agency. During this time, Ramos obtained money from clients for commercial and individual insurance policies. However, rather than applying the money towards the insurance policies the clients thought they were purchasing, Ramos stole the money and used it for his own for personal expenses. This left his victims without the insurance coverage they believed they had, and open to potential losses and liability. At the time of his crimes in Sonoma County, Ramos was already on probation in San Francisco County after being convicted for similar crimes there. Read full story
Yeti Coolers, LLC Settles Violations Related to Delayed Shipping in California
On July 11, 2023, Judge Brad DeMeo entered a Stipulated Judgement against Yeti Coolers LLC (“Yeti”) in the amount of $40,490 in Civil Case No SCV-273598. This Judgment settles allegations that Yeti misrepresented that customers would receive delivery of certain products by a specified date related to holiday promotions. The case was brought by the consumer protection units of the Sonoma, Napa, and Alameda County District Attorney’s Offices. Read full story
PetSmart Resolves Allegations of Price Overcharges and False Advertising
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that PETSMART LLC entered a Stipulated Judgment and will pay $1,460,000 to settle a civil law enforcement complaint that alleged that PetSmart engaged in false advertising and unfair competition. The action was filed in Santa Cruz County Superior Court by Rodriguez’s Environmental and Consumer Law Division along with the District Attorneys of Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, San Diego, Santa Cruz, and Ventura. The civil complaint filed by prosecutors alleged that PetSmart unlawfully charged customers prices higher than PetSmart’s lowest advertised price for items. Read full story
Influencer Sentenced to Jail for Knowingly Making a False Report of Attempted Kidnap
Kathleen Sorensen, 30 years old, formerly of Sonoma, whose Instagram video went viral in December 2020 after she falsely claimed a Petaluma couple tried to kidnap her children at a local Michaels store, was sentenced to jail today on a single count of knowingly making a false report of a crime. Read full story
Convicted Murderer to be Released on Parole
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that 60-year-old Fidencio Chavez, who in January of 2023 was found to be suitable for release on parole by the California Board of Prison Terms, will soon be released from state prison after Governor Gavin Newsom has elected not to intervene in the inmate’s release. In 1992, Chavez was convicted of First-Degree Murder for the stabbing death of victim Frank Tassara. Read full story
Santa Rosa man sentenced to serve 16 years in state prison for DUI and causing injury to multiple victims
Defendant Augie Lamar Delariva, 32 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Robert LaForge to serve 16 years in state prison after pleading “no contest” in April of this year to felony charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury. Read full story
District Attorney’s Office Participates in Unlicensed Contractor Sting
The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), conducted an undercover sting operation targeting unlicensed contractors in Sonoma County on June 13 and 14, 2023. The alleged unlicensed contractors were invited to submit bids for various construction projects at a designated property. Read full story
Santa Rosa man sentenced to life in prison for 2021 murder and attempted murder
Defendant Clifford Edward Adams, 56 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Troye Shaffer to 14 years plus 100 years to life in prison. Today’s sentencing follows a jury trial in December 2022 at which Adams was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and reckless driving causing injury. Read full story