Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 06/15/07

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook Deputy District Attorney: Barbara Nanney

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

WOMAN CONVICTED IN ROBBERY AND ASSAULT OF ELDERLY VICTIM

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that Chrisdee Lynn Burk, 30, was convicted of first degree robbery, burglary and elder abuse in the early morning assault on a 78-year old Rohnert Park resident. Burk pled no contest to the three charges as well as to a separate charge of commercial burglary in an unrelated incident . She will be sentenced by Judge Renee Chouteau on July 8, and faces more than 11 years in state prison.

DA Passalacqua said, "These convictions will hold this defendant accountable for a violent and senseless attack on one of our elderly citizens."

Burk entered the residence of Jack Smuck in the early morning hours of June 1, 2007, where the victim was sleeping in his bed. On finding the victim in his bed, Burk struck him numerous times in the head, bound him, then stole numerous items including his car. She fled the scene, colliding with a parked car on a nearby street. She was later apprehended at a Santa Rosa motel along with Kelvin Edward Vigil, who was convicted yesterday of possessing stolen property belonging to the victim.

Burk was known to the victim and his family.

DDA Barbara Nanney prosecuted the cases. Rohnert Park Public Safety Officers including Ryan Corcoran, Aaron Johnson and Sgt. Joe Ferronato led the investigation and were assisted by members of the Sonoma County Auto Theft Task Force.