Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10/26/06

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos Chief Deputy District Attorney: Joan Risse

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

GEBRE CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS DURING BURGLARIES
AND WILL RECEIVE LIFE SENTENCE

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today the successful prosecution of Michael Gebre that will require him to serve a life sentence in prison as a result of the sexual assaults and burglaries he committed in this community.

Yesterday, Gebre pleaded no contest to one count of a lewd act upon a five year old child during the commission of a burglary and one count of forcible oral copulation on an adult female during the commission of a burglary. Gebre will be sentenced on November 29, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. in Department 1 to the agreed upon term of 25 years to life.

Passalacqua said, "This life sentence should send a strong message that we will not tolerate those who sexually assault and victimize our citizens and children where they should feel most safe, in their homes." Passalacqua noted that Gebre posed a serious danger to the community at large and especially to children and females. Gebre was extradited so that we could obtain a life sentence in our jurisdiction to ensure that he remains in prison and never harms another child or female.

In September of 2005, Gebre was sentenced to prison in Washington state for committing sexual assaults during burglaries. He was sentenced to serve 216 months to life in prison for his crimes there. Gebre is still facing charges in Arizona for sexual assaults committed during a burglary on a co-ed the night before her graduation. Arizona authorities plans to extradite him on those charges after he is sentenced here.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse prosecuted this case. She was assisted by District Attorney Investigator Kris Allen, Victim Assistance Director Sally McCarthy and Victim Witness Advocate Miriam Gaon. Santa Rosa Police Sergeants Eric Litchfield and John Snetsinger investigated the case.