Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 01/17/08

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

7 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE IN ATTEMPTED KIDNAP
OF 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that this morning the Honorable Judge Elliot Daum sentenced Juan Gopar-Cortes to seven years in state prison the attempted kidnap in August 2007 of an 11-year-old girl from the steps of her family’s home in Rohnert Park.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, "The planning and predatory nature of this crime, which thankfully was not completed, is very disturbing." We hope the prison commitment will be of some comfort to the young victim.

On August 8, of 2007, the 11-year-old child was removing an American flag from the front of her family’s Rohnert Park home when Gopar-Cortes appeared from the bushes, grabbed her, and attempted to move her from the porch. The girl screamed and physically resisted. The child’s mother quickly responded and Gopar-Cortes left the porch. A short time later, the defendant was apprehended in the neighborhood. During questioning, Gopar-Cortes admitted to having followed a woman into the neighborhood from Santa Rosa because he was sexually interested in her. The defendant stated that he then directed his attention to the young girl as she was removing the family flag. The defendant was found to be wearing a condom during police questioning.

On December 3rd, 2007, Gopar-Cortes pled guilty as charged to attempted kidnapping of a child under the age of 14 for the purposes of committing a lewd act with that child. The District Attorney’s Office argued at the time that the court should impose the maximum sentence of nine years in state prison. The Probation Department recommended the maximum term of incarceration and the District Attorney again argued for the maximum 9 years state prison at the sentencing hearing today. Judge Daum stated on the record that he would impose a 7 year sentence due to the defendant’s lack of criminal history.

Deputy District Attorney Brian A. Staebell was the prosecutor assigned to the case.