Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 04/26/07

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SANTA ROSA MAN RECEIVES SENTENCE OF 15 YEARS TO LIFE FOR
THE SECOND DEGREE MURDER OF BICYCLIST

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that defendant Joseph Elton Lynchard was sentenced to a prison term of 15 years to life for the second degree murder of Kathryn Lynn Black.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, "This senseless tragedy was completely avoidable. Mr. Lynchard was well aware from his numerous prior DUI convictions of the extreme risk he posed to lives in our community when driving a vehicle while intoxicated. I hope this sentence gives the Black family some closure to aid them in the healing process."

Mrs. Black, 43, was killed while riding her bicycle eastbound on Mark West Springs Road on March 28, 2005 at approximately 1:00 p.m. Black had pulled her bike onto the dirt shoulder of the road and appeared to be standing over her bike resting. Lynchard, who was driving a Ford F150 pickup, drove onto the dirt shoulder, up and over a raised asphalt curb and struck Black from behind. Black died at the scene. Lynchard was driving to his home after drinking at his brother’s bar, Eddie’s. Lynchard’s blood alcohol level was determined to be .24%, three times the level permitted by California law.

The criminal investigation determined that Lynchard had seven prior arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol. Lynchard had attended the state mandated drunk driving course four times previously. The District Attorney’s Office charged him with second degree murder because this prior history demonstrated that Lynchard was aware of the risk, and chose to ignore it when he drove after consuming alcohol.

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. Lynchard was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Lawrence Antolini .