Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 1, 2007

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook Deputy District Attorney, William J. Brockley

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

GANG MEMBER GUILTY OF RAPE SENTENCED TO LIFE TERM

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that defendant Kevin Marquice Colter Anthony was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Rene Chouteau to an indeterminate sentence of 25 years to life.

On the third day of his jury trial in December, Anthony pled no contest to raping a 15 year-old Santa Rosa female at knife-point in her home. Anthony admitted committing the rape during a residential burglary and admitted to aggravated kidnap for moving the teen within the residence to carry out the assault. Anthony further admitted being an active participant in the Norteno criminal street gang and pled to another charge of intimidating a witness.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, "This was a brutal and devastating assault on a young girl in her home. We hope this sentence will bring the victim and her family some peace. Gang members and those who prey on children should know that they will be aggressively prosecuted."

The assault occurred in the early morning hours of November 17, 2005, when Anthony entered the victim’s apartment through an unlocked sliding glass door and found her asleep in bed. Anthony forced her to the downstairs livingroom and sexually assaulted her while the rest of her family slept upstairs. He used the knife and threat of harm to her family to accomplish the assault. Based on the ability of the victim to give law enforcement a detailed and accurate description of Anthony, he was in police custody within hours.

Deputy District Attorney William Brockley was the prosecutor assigned to the case and was assisted by District Attorney Investigator Kris Allen and Victim Advocate Miriam Gaon. Santa Rosa Police Detective Brad Conners was the lead detective on this successful investigation.