Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 06-07-04

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

JURY CONVICTS PETALUMA MAN OF KIDNAPPING

A jury convicted Michael Carter of kidnapping another man and holding him captive inside a plastic storage container. The jury also found Carter guilty of twice assaulting the victim with a firearm and making criminal threats.

In July 2000, the victim, an acquaintance of Carter’s, visited the defendant at his home in Petaluma. The defendant, angry because he believed the victim stole computer items from his garage, tied and gagged the victim. Carter threatened to kill the victim. He fired a gun at the victim, missing him. The victim was then placed inside a container for six to eight hours.

At one point Carter jabbed the victim with a gaff and poured a flammable liquid inside the container to make the victim quiet down. The victim was able to work his way free and eventually escaped. As the victim fled, Carter again shot at him. Two others assisted Carter in committing these crimes. The two co-defendants pled guilty in May of 2002 and testified against Carter during the trial.

After the jury’s verdicts, Superior Court Judge Dean Beaupre revoked Carter’s bail and remanded him into the custody of the Sheriff. The 48 year old defendant has one prior strike conviction and could be sentenced to more than thirty years in prison. The sentencing date has been set for July 13, 2004. Deputy District Attorney Bob Waner was the prosecutor. He was assisted by Petaluma Police Detective Bill Baseman and District Attorney Investigator Bob Simerson.