Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11/16/2009

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Terry Menshek (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SANTA ROSA MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE TERM
FOR ATTEMPTED RAPE OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that Michael Korell, 49, of Santa Rosa, was sentenced to a life term on Thursday for breaking into elderly woman's home in 2008 and trying to rape her. Korell was convicted by a jury in September of felony assault to commit rape and oral copulation on a 69-year-old woman during the commission of a burglary in south Santa Rosa.

DA Passalacqua said, “This sexual predator of elder victims is now serving a justly deserved life sentence.”

The victim in this case testified at trial that Korell entered her home, slapped her across the face and tried to rape her in her bedroom. She identified him as one of several men who had previously come to her house collecting scrap metal. DNA evidence connected Korell to the crime. Deputy District Attorney Jason Riehl presented evidence during the trial that Korell committed another sexual assault 14 years earlier in Santa Rosa. In that case, he was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. Korell testified at trial and denied committing the current offense. On cross-examination, however, Korell admitted committing this prior assault and testified that the reason he had assaulted that victim was because she was “easy prey.”

In handing down the sentence in this case, Judge Gary Medvigy called Korell a “very, very violent man,” noting Korell’s long history of felony convictions. Korell’s sentence is eight years plus 14 years to life. He will be eligible for parole after serving 22 years in prison.

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Detective Ken Konopa was the lead detective on the case. District Attorney Investigator Ken Pistorio assisted in the prosecution.