Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 04/21/05

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

HASLER CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that the jury in the murder case of People v. Luke Hasler returned guilty verdicts this afternoon. The jury convicted Hasler of First Degree Murder in the killing of Michelle Johnson, a thirty-two-year-old Guerneville resident. The jury found to be true the Special Circumstance that the murder occurred during the commission of a kidnapping. The jury also convicted Hasler of Kidnapping and personally inflicting Great Bodily Injury on Ms. Johnson. The defendant faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder charge and eleven years in state prison for the Kidnapping and Great Bodily Injury.

Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos was the prosecutor handling the case and was assisted by Sonoma County Sheriff Detective Dave Thompson, District Attorney Investigator Tony Gillotte, District Attorney Legal Assistant Darlene Vanderpool, District Attorney Information Specialist John Magsamen, District Attorney Victim Advocates Charlotte Stafford and Miriam Gaon, and District Attorney Legal Secretary Elaine Nickison.

Mr. Scoufos was gratified with the jury's verdicts and commented, "We are hopeful this will bring some small measure of comfort to Michelle's family in dealing with her loss."