Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 02/17/06

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Robert Waner

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

JURY CONVICTS SANTA ROSA SHOOTER

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that after one day of deliberation a Sonoma County jury found Juan Jose Morales guilty of several felony offenses, including assault with a firearm causing great bodily injury and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Nine additional guilty verdicts included felony violations for illegal weapons possession, evading a police officer, child endangerment and residential burglary.

The jury considered three separate incidents. In each one, Morales was in possession of a firearm. The first involved him possessing a loaded handgun, after having been convicted of a felony. In another incident, he evaded a police officer who was attempting to stop his vehicle. At the time, the defendant was in possession of a loaded handgun and had a sixteen year old female passenger in his vehicle. The pursuit ended when the defendant crashed his vehicle into a telephone pole.

In the third incident, Morales armed himself with a handgun and went to his former girlfriend's house. After a brief quarrel with her and a male visitor at the residence, the defendant fired three shots at the visitor as he stood behind a closed kitchen door. The victim suffered gunshot wounds to both of his legs.

A sentencing date for Mr. Morales will be determined later this month. He faces a prison term in excess of 25 years to life. He currently remains in custody without bail.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Robert Waner. He was assisted by District Attorney Investigator Ken Pistorio, Legal Secretary Coleen Atmore, and Information Specialist John Magsamen.