Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 01/24/07

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SECOND DEGREE MURDER PLEA IN DEATH OF BICYCLIST

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that seventy-four year-old defendant Joseph Elton Lynchard pled guilty to second degree murder in the death of Kathryn Lynn Black.

Mrs. Black, age 43, was riding her bicycle on Mark West Springs Road on March 28, 2005, before stopping on the dirt shoulder. According to witnesses she appeared to be standing over her bike resting. Lynchard, who was driving a Ford F150 pickup, drove onto the shoulder and over a raised curb before striking Mrs. Black from behind. She died at the scene. Lynchard told officers that he was driving home after consuming three glasses of red wine at Eddie’s Bar.

Lynchard was evaluated at the scene by the California Highway Patrol and was subsequently arrested. His blood alcohol level was determined to be .24%, three times the level permitted by California law.

The criminal investigation determined that Lynchard had six prior convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, "This was a senseless and tragic loss that was completely avoidable. The defendant had attended mandatory drunk driver programs on numerous occasions. A second degree murder charge was appropriate in this case. The law permits such a charge when people like Mr. Lynchard are subjectively aware of the risk, and choose to ignore that very risk when they drive under the influence and take another’s life."

Lynchard entered his guilty plea before Superior Court Judge Lawrence G. Antolini. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2007. He will be sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison.

Deputy District Attorney William Brockley was the prosecutor assigned to the case and was assisted by District Attorney Investigators Kris Allen and Roslyn Eliaser and Victim Advocate Miriam Gaon. California Highway Patrol Officers Steve Wyatt and Robert Mota were the lead detectives on this successful investigation.