Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 02/10/05

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

THREE STRIKES DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO 100 YEARS

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that sex offender William Irwin was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Lawrence G. Antolini to a prison term of 100 years to life. Irwin was convicted by a Sonoma County jury in August, 2004. The jury convicted the defendant of Forcible Oral Copulation and Sexual Battery during the ten day jury trial.

The crimes occurred on January 31, 2003. Irwin picked up the victim in his truck under the pretense of taking her to get something to eat. He then drove the victim to a church parking lot where he beat her and sexually assaulted her. The victim was dropped off at a business, where the proprietor notified the police.

The 63 year-old Irwin was sentenced under California’s "Three Strikes" Law. He was previously convicted of four prior "strike" felonies involving two different women. The offenses in those cases included two counts of forcible oral copulation, forcible rape and kidnapping. The defendant admitted these convictions prior to the commencement of the jury trial. One of his prior victims testified in this case.

District Attorney Passalacqua stated, "This violent offender will no longer have the opportunity to prey on members of our community."

Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse was the trial prosecutor in this case. She was assisted by District Attorney Investigator Ken Pistorio and Sergeant Eric Litchfield, investigating detective for the Santa Rosa Police Department.