Healdsburg Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Discharging Firearm with Gross Negligence

Defendant Robert Marroquin, 61 years old of Healdsburg, was sentenced yesterday by the Honorable Christopher Honigsberg to serve 6 years in state prison after pleading “no contest” in March of this year to one felony count of discharging a firearm with gross negligence, and admitting a prior “strike” offense.

The charge resulted from an incident that occurred at approximately 4:30 in the morning on January 5, 2022, when Marroquin’s neighbors were awakened to the sound of a bullet penetrating the glass door of their six-month-old child’s bedroom. A subsequent Sheriff’s Department investigation revealed that Marroquin had discharged a firearm from his property, causing the damage. The investigation further revealed that for months the defendant had been dangerously shooting firearms in the area. A law enforcement search of Marroquin’s bedroom uncovered a rifle, ammunition, suspected methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.

At the sentencing hearing, Honigsberg noted the neighbors’ “significant fright,” and described Marroquin’s actions as “extremely dangerous.” The court then imposed the aggravated term of three years in prison for the underlying offense, and doubled it because of Marroquin’s prior strike conviction, amounting to a total term of six years. Marroquin was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Bertz. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department headed the investigation.

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Contact Information: 
Brandon Gilbert 
Media Coordinator
Office of the District Attorney
(707) 565-3098