Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 04/11/06

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DEFENDANT FOUND GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that a Sonoma County jury found James Robert Zook, 50, guilty of murder in the first degree. Zook was charged with having shot and killed Daniel Nathan Bloomfield on August 18, 2004. Jurors also found that the defendant personally used a firearm, intentionally discharged the firearm, and caused great bodily injury and death.

The jury received the case late yesterday afternoon and after brief deliberations this morning returned the guilty verdicts.

The victim and defendant had a confrontation approximately one month before the murder when they both lived at a Bloomfield Road residence. On August 18th Zook went to the residence with a .22 caliber revolver looking for the victim stating he was looking for Dan to "take care of business." When Zook found Dan Bloomfield he shot him once in the heart, fled the residence, and was arrested near Jenner the following day.

The trial was heard before Superior Court Judge Raima Ballinger. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 6, 2006. Zook currently remains in custody without bail and faces a maximum sentence of 50 years-to-life in state prison.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Robert LaForge. He was assisted by Chief District Attorney Investigator Tony Gillotte, Sonoma County Sheriffs Detective Carlos Basurto, Legal Assistant Patti Davis, Information Specialist John Magsamen, and Legal Secretary Jennifer Zunino.