Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 03/03/05

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Greg Jacobs Deputy District Attorney: Jane Murray

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DEFENDANT CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE BURGLARY AND ASSAULT WITH A FIREARM

On March 2, 2005, a Sonoma County jury returned verdicts of guilty on William Earl Banks for one count of first degree burglary and two counts of assault with a firearm. They also found the defendant personally used a firearm in the commission of these crimes and personally inflicted great bodily injury on one of the victims. After a two week trial in front of the Honorable Elaine Rushing, the jury deliberated for a half of a day before reaching verdicts.

This offense took place on August 14, 2000 at the Pioneer Way Apartments in Santa Rosa. The defendant and another man entered an apartment after pistol whipping one of the occupants. The defendant then confronted a woman who was holding her 10 day old baby in her arms. The defendant struck her in the face with a handgun. The target of the home invasion was a third resident who escaped unharmed. This person had been involved in an argument with an associate of the defendant a few days earlier. The defendant and his crime partner fled the scene and were arrested after they were identified in a photo lineup.

The defendant has prior convictions which if found to be true by Judge Rushing would expose the defendant to a maximum prison sentence of 33 years. Prosecutor Jane Murray represented the People.