Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 01/21/05

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SHOOTER AT PETALUMA PARTY SCHEDULED TO BE
SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR 23 YEARS

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that Michael Anthony Nichelini, 19, entered pleas of no contest to charges stemming from a shooting on January 18, 2003 at a party in Petaluma. One victim, Jeremy Soiland, was shot in the stomach and another victim, John Peterson, was shot in the arm.

The shooting occurred during a fight that occurred at the residence between the victims’ friends and Nichelini’s friends. As described by witnesses, Nichelini entered the party, yelled gang slogans and flashed gang hand signs. During the fight, Nichelini pulled out a gun and shot the party goers. He and others then left the residence shouting gang slogans. Nichelini fled from Sonoma County and was arrested in April 2003.

Nichelini pled no contest to the attempted murder of Soiland and to assault with a firearm on Peterson. He also admitted personally causing great bodily injury to both victims, using a firearm in the commission of both crimes and committing the crimes to benefit a criminal street gang.

As a result of his pleas, it was agreed that Nichelini will be sentenced to 23 years in state prison when he appears for sentencing before Superior Court Judge Cerena Wong on April 12, 2005.

Deputy District Attorney Diana Gomez was the assigned trial prosecutor. Detective Robert Barnes of the Petaluma Police Department assisted her in the prosecution.