Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11/13/07

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Diana Gomez Deputy District Attorney: Barry McBride

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

TWO DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today the sentencing of two defendants to terms of life without the possibility of parole. On Wednesday, November 7, 2007, defendant Donald William McDowell was sentenced by the Honorable Rene A. Chouteau to life without the possibility of parole, plus six years for the First Degree Murder of James Meehan on June 9, 2002 in Santa Rosa. Mr. McDowell was found guilty of committing the murder while he was engaged in the commission of a residential burglary and attempted robbery.

On Thursday, November 8, 2007, the Honorable Lawrence G. Antolini sentenced Andrew Dale Powers to life without the possibility of parole for the First Degree Murder of Darrin Bond on December 19, 2003 in Windsor. Mr. Powers was found guilty of committing the murder during the commission of a robbery and residential burglary, as well as the special circumstances that the Murder was committed intentionally and involved the infliction of torture.

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua stated "These sentences should send a message to our community that those who commit these terrible crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and that our prosecutors will aggressively seek the sentence justice demands."