Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10/29/03

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Joan Risse

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

Defendant Pleads Guilty to 302 Counts of Child Molestation

Today District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that Kenneth Walter Brauer pled guilty to all 302 counts charged against him. The defendant was charged with lewd and lascivious conduct on a child under 14 years of age. There were also allegations of substantial sexual conduct and depiction of lewd material to a child that were admitted by Brauer. The offenses took place over a three year period when the victim, Brauer’s daughter, was between the ages of four and six. The defendant’s conduct was investigated when a friend happened to inadvertently view videotapes that depicted all of the charged acts. The defendant made the videotapes with his camcorder.

As a result of his guilty pleas, the defendant will be sentenced to state prison for a term of 66 years. He will not be eligible for parole until he serves 85% of that term. This means that Brauer will be approximately 94 years old before being considered for parole.

Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse insisted on guilty pleas to all counts. She stated that she “wanted to convey to the victim that her father accepted full responsibility.” The victim currently resides with her mother and continues to receive counseling.

Brauer is due to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Robert Dale on December 15, 2003. Defendant remains incarcerated in the county jail. His bail remains set at $500,000.