Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 09/12/06

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SONOMA COUNTY DA’S OFFICE TIES STATE RECORD

Today the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors honored by way of resolution, recognizing his selection as “2006 Prosecutor of the Year” by the California District Attorneys Association this summer. D.A. Stephan Passalaqua introduced Scoufos to the Board, noting that he was one of only two prosecutors out of 4,000 in the state to receive the award. In his remarks to the Board, Passalaqua said, “Larry is a gentleman in and out of court. Although he is soft spoken, his tenacity and passion for victims is unmatched.” The award was presented by Supervisor Tim Smith.

CDAA’s selection of Assistant District Assistant Scoufos marks the second year in a row that a Sonoma County prosecutor has been recognized, tying the state record set by Alameda County in 1980 and 1981.

Assistant D.A.Scoufos successfully prosecuted Luke Hassler for the 2004 murder of Michelle Johnson, a 31-year-old mother of two young children. Hassler kidnapped Michelle, killed her and then dumped her body into the Russian River. Hassler is now serving a life sentence in prison for his crime.

In addition to prosecuting over a hundred jury trials, Assistant DA Scoufos participates on many committees related to the administration of justice, including the Domestic Violence Death Review Team, and Gun Violence Information For Teens. Scoufos thanked the Board for the resolution, and acknowledged his coworkers “for their help, because we could not do our job of protecting the community without them.” He also introduced his wife, Jan, and thanked her “for helping me to meet the demands of a D.A.’s career. I could not have done it without you”.