Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 16, 2007

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DEFENDANT FOUND GUILTY IN GUN POSSESSION CASE,
THEN FAILS TO APPEAR FOR NEXT DAY’S HEARING

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that yesterday a Sonoma County Superior Court jury found Joel Clayton Allen Jr, guilty of three counts of illegal gun possession. Allen, a convicted felon, was found guilty of possessing a loaded Glock 9 millimeter semi-automatic handgun during a traffic stop on Highway 101 in Santa Rosa in January 2006. The jury also convicted him of providing false information to a peace officer.

After the guilty verdicts were received, Deputy District Attorney Barbara Nanney , the assigned prosecutor, asked the judge to remand Allen into custody of the Sheriff. Judge Elliott Daum denied the request and allowed Allen to remain free on bail, pending a hearing set for today.

Today, Allen failed to appear for a hearing to determine whether or not he had been previously convicted of two felony offenses. In his absence, Judge Daum conducted the hearing and concluded that Allen was previously convicted of armed robbery and possession of a controlled substance. The judge subsequently revoked Allen’s bail and issued a "No Bail" warrant for his arrest. Because he has a prior strike conviction, Allen faces a maximum sentence in state prison of seven years.

Ms. Nanney was assisted in this trial by District Attorney Investigator Roy Loden. Santa Rosa Police Officer Matthew Sanchez was the investigating officer.