Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10/06/06

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS JOIN THE D.A.’S OFFICE

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that he has hired two experienced prosecutors from Los Angeles County to join his staff.

Tashawn Sanders earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history at the University of California, San Diego and her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Iowa School of Law. She was formerly a deputy district attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for eight years. Tashawn has extensive experience prosecuting felony cases while assigned to Los Angeles County’s Special Victims Unit. Ms. Sanders is currently assigned to the Special Victims Unit in our office, where she will be prosecuting defendants who are charged with offenses such as domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and elder abuse.

Dave Barkhurst also attended the University of California, San Diego where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in political science. He was awarded a Juris Doctorate Degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri and worked as a deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County for seven years. Before joining our office, Mr. Barkhurst was assigned to the Hardcore Gang Division in Los Angeles. Dave has extensive experience in prosecuting felony offenses, including murder. He is currently assigned to our office’s Gang Vertical Prosecution unit.

District Attorney Passalacqua stated, "We are very pleased to have Tashawn and Dave join our prosecution team. They are dedicated career prosecutors and have the experience to assist us in ensuring that justice is served in Sonoma County."