Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 06/22/04

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DEFENDANT CONVICTED IN AUTO “CHOP SHOP” CASE

A Sonoma County jury has convicted Homer Marchbanks, Jr. of three felony counts relating to an auto theft. In October of last year, Marchbanks drove a 2003 Mustang Cobra off the used car lot at Henry Curtis Ford in Petaluma. The car was discovered missing a few days later. Detectives from the Sonoma County Auto Theft Task Force came upon Marchbanks as a suspect when they inspected a local body shop and found a 1999 Mustang Cobra motor in the shop, along with cut up parts of the stolen 2003 vehicle. Two days later, Marchbanks was stopped while driving the 1999 car. Detectives determined that the motor, transmission and other parts inside Marchbanks’ vehicle came from the stolen Mustang.

After three days of deliberation, the jury found Marchbanks guilty of possessing the stolen car, stolen car parts and felony vandalism. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Cerena Wong on August 6th. Marchbanks faces a maximum sentence of four years in State Prison. He has a prior conviction for possession of a stolen vehicle in 1997. That case also involved a Ford Mustang that had been driven off the dealership lot.

Bridget Hannigan was the prosecutor assigned to this case. She was assisted by Task Force Investigator John Evans, District Attorney Investigator Roz Eliaser and District Attorney Legal Assistant Dava Kohlman.