Sonoma County District Attorney's Office

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The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office is dedicated to providing the members of our community with a safe place to live by holding the guilty accountable, protecting the innocent, and preserving the dignity of victims and their families. The purpose of this discussion is to present information relevant to the stated purpose of this site, regarding matters of public interest in the County of

Sonoma. We encourage you to submit your comments, but please note this is a moderated online discussion site. Please note that the comments expressed on this site do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the District Attorney's Office, its officers, agents, affiliates, or employees. If you have any questions concerning the operation of this online moderated discussion site, please contact us at 707-565-2311. By posting anything to this site, you agree to the following terms:

Users will treat others with respect. Users warrant that they own or have permission to post the information contained in their postings, including but not limited to video, photos, or digital reproductions and that no copyright or trademark infringement has taken place due to posting it on this site. Further, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office does not guarantee or warrant that any information posted by users on this site is correct, and disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. Postings are intended for public view and any personal information posted constitutes a waiver of any rights to privacy or confidentiality. Once posted, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office reserves the right to delete submissions that contain vulgar language, personal attacks of any kind, or comments that promote, foster or perpetuate discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation. Further, the [Local Agency] also reserves the right to delete comments that are: (i) spam or include links to other sites; (ii) clearly off topic; (iii) advocate illegal activity; (iv) promote particular services, products, or political organizations; (v) tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems; or (vi) infringe on copyrights or trademarks.

Countywide Organized Retail Theft OperationOn May 20, 2026, Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety (RPDPS), Sonoma Cou...
05/26/2026

Countywide Organized Retail Theft Operation

On May 20, 2026, Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety (RPDPS), Sonoma County Sherriff’s Office (SCSO), Windsor Police Department (WPD), Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD), Petaluma Police Department (PPD) and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Investigator’s Office participated in a countywide Organized Retail Theft (ORT) enforcement operation alongside allied loss prevention officers.

The following arrests were made by RPDPS:
Adrian Perez-Zamudio was arrested for:
◾Penal Code § 459.5(a) – Shoplifting – Misdemeanor
◾Perez-Zamudio was issued a citation to appear
Enedina Dominguez was arrested for:
◾Penal Code § 459.5(a) – Shoplifting - Misdemeanor
◾Penal Code § 666.1(a)(1) – Petty Theft with Prior Convictions - Felony
◾Health and Safety Code § 11364(a) – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Misdemeanor
◾Dominguez is being held without bail

The following arrest was made by SCSO and WPD:
Michael Broach was arrested for:
◾Penal Code § 459.5(a) – Shoplifting - Misdemeanor
◾Penal Code § 666.1(a)(1) – Petty Theft with Prior Convictions - Felony
◾Broach is being held without bail.

SRPD made two arrests, however, their investigation is ongoing and the names will not be released at this time.

Organized retail theft is a serious problem that affects both public safety and businesses. These crimes can lead to major financial losses, put employees at risk, and drive up prices for customers. Many of these thefts are carried out by organized groups that steal items to resell online, through third-party sellers, or through illegal resale operations.

The goal of this enforcement operation was to identify and stop people involved in retail theft, break up organized theft rings, recover stolen merchandise, and pursue criminal charges against those responsible. Investigators focused on crimes such as shoplifting, burglary, possession of stolen property, fraud, and conspiracy.

This operation was a team effort involving local retailers, loss prevention staff, and partner law enforcement agencies. By sharing information, conducting surveillance, and coordinating investigations, agencies worked together to reduce repeat thefts and help protect businesses and the community.

For questions regarding this operation, members of the public are encouraged to contact
◾Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Detective Sergeant Quinn at (707) 588-3514.
◾Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Specialist Emily Fuller at (707) 565-3941
◾Santa Rosa Police Department Public Information Officer Sergeant Patricia Seffens at (707) 543-3634

This , be aware of red flags and know your rights!
05/19/2026

This , be aware of red flags and know your rights!

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office is aware of public statements by Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) claiming th...
05/01/2026

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office is aware of public statements by Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) claiming the April 30, 2026 appellate decision in People v. Hsiung recognizes a right to use the necessity defense to justify trespassing onto private agricultural property. That claim is incorrect.
The Hsiung decision arises from criminal convictions following a jury trial in Sonoma County Superior Court in 2023, where Mr. Hsiung was convicted of conspiracy and trespass-related offenses for his role in organized protest actions at Sonoma County agricultural farms in 2018 and 2019, by the vegan animal rights group, DxE. Those incidents involved DxE activists entering private property without permission, interfering with operations, and removing animals. The Court of Appeal reviewed those convictions and addressed limited legal issues about what evidence the jury should have been allowed to consider. It did not create any right to trespass.
In fact, the court rejected the necessity defense. It agreed with the trial court that the conduct was not an emergency. The actions were planned, coordinated, and deliberate, not a response to immediate harm.
The Court also emphasized California law already provides a lawful way to address suspected animal cruelty. Individuals can file a sworn complaint with a judge, who can issue a warrant for law enforcement to investigate. The court noted in Mr. Hsiung’s case there was no evidence this process was used before the trespasses occurred. That is critical because the necessity defense only applies when there are no reasonable legal alternatives. Here, there was one, and it was not used.
The limited reversal in Hsiung had nothing to do with authorizing trespass. The court ruled only that the jury should have been allowed to consider whether Mr. Hsiung believed his conduct was lawful, even if that belief was mistaken. That is a question about a defendant’s state of mind, not a determination the conduct itself was legal. It does not create legal justification for entering private property or interfering with lawful businesses.
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez stated:
“The Appellate Court unequivocally held that ‘necessity’ is not a legal defense to Mr. Hsiung’s actions. To be clear, all future trespassers are on notice that so-called “open rescues” are not justified under this legal theory, and any claim to be “mistaken” about the law is no longer credible.
At best, DxE’s public statement about the appellate decision is a misunderstanding of the law; at worst, it is a deliberate misrepresentation of the Court of Appeal’s decision. The Hsiung opinion addressed a narrow issue about whether a jury should be able to consider a defendant’s honest but mistaken belief about the law. They felt that the jury should have heard this information, and I respect their decision. With one conviction remaining, we will decide the best path forward after reviewing the record.”
The District Attorney’s Office respects lawful protest and the right to advocate for changes in law or policy. Strong beliefs do not create a legal right to trespass, interfere with regulated industries, or take property.

SANTA ROSA MAN AND REPEAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR MAXIMUM TERM ALLOWED BY LAWDefendant Aaron ...
04/30/2026

SANTA ROSA MAN AND REPEAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR MAXIMUM TERM ALLOWED BY LAW
Defendant Aaron Perez-Gonzalez, 29 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Laura Passaglia to serve five years in state prison, the maximum prison term allowed by law, after pleading no contest to domestic violence with a prior conviction and committing a new act of domestic violence while awaiting sentencing.
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez stated, “Domestic violence is not a private matter. It is one of the most persistent and dangerous forms of violence in our community. It destroys lives in ways that extend far beyond any single incident. When offenders repeatedly ignore court orders and continue to harm the same victim, as happened here, it underscores exactly why accountability matters.”
On February 5, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report that Perez-Gonzalez had assaulted his girlfriend. The victim reported he slapped her multiple times and later punched her in the mouth, causing a laceration. Deputies observed visible injuries to her face and lip consistent with her account.
On June 11, 2025, just five days after pleading to the February 5th offense and while awaiting sentencing in that matter, Perez-Gonzalez again attacked the same victim. During an argument about the pending case, Perez-Gonzalez struck her in the mouth and later pushed her with such force that she fell face-first onto a curb. The impact caused facial trauma and a concussion.
At the time of this second assault, Perez-Gonzalez was subject to a no-contact criminal protective order. Evidence showed he not only violated that order but also attempted to pressure the victim to have it lifted.
This case did not occur in isolation. Perez-Gonzalez has a prior domestic violence conviction stemming from a 2019 incident in which he struck a different victim, caused facial injuries, and strangled her to the point of restricting her breathing. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in that matter and performed poorly on probation, which was terminated in July of 2023.
Judge Passaglia imposed the maximum term of prison allowed by law after considering Perez-Gonzalez’s history of domestic violence, his failure to comply with court orders, and the increasing severity of his conduct. Judge Passaglia specifically noted that at every single opportunity Perez-Gonzalez had been given at rehabilitation, treatment, or to change his ways he had “failed miserably.”
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Matt Hobson, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Hector DeLeon. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office headed the investigation.

The Sonoma County AB 114 panel welcomes all community-based programs, government entities, and schools to apply for fund...
04/22/2026

The Sonoma County AB 114 panel welcomes all community-based programs, government entities, and schools to apply for funding pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 11489.

Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez today announced support for Assembly Bill 46 (Nguyen), legislation that ...
03/12/2026

Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez today announced support for Assembly Bill 46 (Nguyen), legislation that would give courts greater discretion to consider public safety when deciding whether a defendant should receive mental health diversion.
The bill would allow courts to consider whether a proposed treatment plan is clinically appropriate to address the mental health disorder underlying the offense and whether a defendant poses a substantial and undue risk to the physical safety of another person if treated in the community.
Mental health diversion programs are intended to help individuals receive treatment while reducing their involvement in the criminal justice system. However, recent court decisions interpreting California’s diversion statute have limited a judge’s ability to deny diversion in some cases, even as tragic incidents across the state have shown that some individuals placed in diversion programs still pose a serious danger to public safety.
District Attorney Rodriguez noted, “Diversion programs can play an important role in helping individuals receive the mental health treatment they need. However, judges must also have the ability to fully evaluate whether the proposed treatment plan will address the behavior that led to the crime and whether releasing someone into a diversion program could pose a risk to others. Unfortunately, the original mental health diversion bill was extremely flawed in this regard. While AB 46 is not a perfect fix, it is a good start to restoring some balance to ensuring courts can consider both treatment needs and public safety when deciding whether diversion is appropriate.”

Juan Ferrel-Gonzalez, 42 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Ken Gnoss to serve a total senten...
03/10/2026

Juan Ferrel-Gonzalez, 42 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Ken Gnoss to serve a total sentence of 342 years to life in prison after being convicted in December of 2025 of multiple sexual assault crimes against 4 minors.

District Attorney Carla Rodriguez stated, “We are thankful for the jury’s service in this case and believe that the lengthy sentence is appropriate considering this defendant’s deplorable actions against four separate victims.”

The crimes first came to light in 2018 when one of the four victims reported to a school counselor that she had been sexually assaulted by Ferrel-Gonzalez. Over the course of the investigation, Santa Rosa Police Department detectives discovered the defendant had sexually assaulted three additional children. All victims had been assaulted between 2008 and 2018 and were between the age of 8 and 16 years old at the time of the abuse.

The four child victims each testified during the trial, at the conclusion of which the jury found Ferrel-Gonzalez guilty of 27 separate felony offenses involving various acts of child molestation. The jury also found true additional allegations that there were multiple victims in the case.

The Honorable Ken Gnoss presided over the trial and issued the sentence on March 10, 2026. The Court sentenced Ferrel-Gonzalez consecutively on all counts, finding that the crimes all involved separate victims, or the same victim, but on separate occasions. As a result of the California Legislature’s enactment of “elder parole,” despite the life sentence, Ferrel-Gonzalez will become eligible for parole consideration after serving only 20 years of his sentence.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Ashley W Hendon, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Dave Linscomb. Detective Justin McLean of the Santa Rosa Police Department headed the investigation.

National Consumer Protection Week Block unwanted calls and text messages. Take steps to block unwanted calls and to fil...
03/05/2026

National Consumer Protection Week
Block unwanted calls and text messages. Take steps to block unwanted calls and to filter unwanted text messages.

Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect. Honest organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers.

If you get an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s real, it’s still best not to click on any links. Instead, contact them using a website you know is trustworthy. Or look up their phone number. Don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID.

Resist the pressure to act immediately. Honest businesses will give you time to make a decision. Anyone who pressures you to pay or give them your personal information is a scammer.

Know how scammers tell you to pay. Never pay someone who insists that you can only pay with cryptocurrency, a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram, a payment app, or a gift card. And never deposit a check and send money back to someone.

Stop and talk to someone you trust. Before you do anything else, tell someone — a friend, a family member, a neighbor — what happened. Talking about it could help you realize it’s a scam.

SANTA ROSA MAN RECEIVES LIFE SENTENCE FOR JOE RODOTA TRAIL SHOOTING Defendant Steven Carter Strawn, forty-three years ol...
03/05/2026

SANTA ROSA MAN RECEIVES LIFE SENTENCE FOR JOE RODOTA TRAIL SHOOTING Defendant Steven Carter Strawn, forty-three years old, of Santa Rosa, was sentenced this morning by the Honorable Lynnette Brown to serve 50 years to life after he was convicted by a jury on November 10, 2025, for two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with an assault weapon, possession of an assault weapon, and possession of a firearm by a felon. The defendant had previously been convicted of three prior strike offenses under California’s Three Strikes Law. District Attorney Carla Rodriguez stated, “Mr. Strawn has been a menace to our community throughout his adult life. It is nothing short of a miracle that the victims targeted by Mr. Strawn were not physically harmed. The court’s life sentence is a just conclusion to this case and will hopefully provide some relief and comfort to the victims.” The charges resulted from an incident that occurred at the Dutton Plaza shopping center in west Santa Rosa on September 28, 2024. Strawn arrived at Dutton Plaza during the early evening hours and immediately began harassing patrons of the shopping center and passersby on the nearby Joe Rodota Trail. When confronted by one of the two victims and asked to leave, Strawn got into the passenger’s seat of his friend’s car and pulled out an illegal assault rifle. With his friend driving the Pontiac, Strawn fired multiple rounds at both the man who had interceded and a man trying to take a picture. Fortunately, the assault rifle jammed after Strawn fired several rounds and no victims were struck. A nearby Santa Rosa Police Department officer heard the shooting and promptly responded to the scene. The officer located Strawn within minutes of the shooting in a nearby parking lot. Strawn was standing next to the open trunk of the vehicle while he was trying to clear the jammed round from the assault weapon. The jury trial lasted several weeks, featuring testimony from both SRPD personnel and multiple eyewitnesses who were present at Dutton Plaza. Strawn testified on his own behalf, claiming that a mystery “third person” was responsible for the shooting. The jury rejected his account and found him guilty of all charges. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Sarah Orrick, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Hector de Leon. Detective Gino Rantissi of the Santa Rosa Police Department, Violent Crimes Investigations unit, headed the investigation.

National Consumer Protection WeekRecover from Scams: ftc.gov/scammed
03/04/2026

National Consumer Protection Week
Recover from Scams: ftc.gov/scammed

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