Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 23, 2008

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ASSAULTING JAIL CORRECTIONS OFFICER

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that Rafael Galvan Cardenas, of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today to 12 years in the California Department of Corrections stemming from his assault of a rival gang member and subsequent attack of a corrections officer in the Sonoma County Jail.

DA Passalacqua said his office was pleased with the long prison term for this violent gang member. "We will not tolerate deliberate assaults on law enforcement officers engaged in their lawful duties or gang members’ attempts to undermine the safe operation of the criminal justice system."

Cardenas, 19, was arrested in May of last year by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department for assault after chasing down a rival gang member on the street with a board. The victim of that attack was not injured, but Cardenas did damage property belonging to an uninvolved resident near the scene of the attack. While in custody facing felony assault, property damage, and gang charges for that incident, Cardenas struck a corrections officer who was delivering dinner to inmates in Cardenas’ module. The officer suffered a fractured jaw and chipped tooth. Cardenas told investigators that he hit the officer because he felt the officer had “disrespected” him.

Cardenas pled guilty to felony assault, felony assault of a law enforcement officer, and destruction of property, as well as to gang charges in both incidents.

The corrections officer, who was the victim of the second attack, addressed the Honorable Rene Chouteau at the sentencing hearing, describing the impact the attack has had on himself, his family, and fellow corrections officers. Approximately three dozen corrections officers, Sheriff’s Department representatives, and jail staff attended the hearing in support of the officer. For his part, Cardenas read a prepared statement of apology to the officer in court.

The Probation Department recommended a 17 year prison sentence, which was urged by both the District Attorney’s Office and the victim. Ultimately, the Court imposed a lesser term of 12 years, staying the imposition of the crime’s enhancement for imposing great bodily injury on the corrections officer.

Deputy District Attorney Anne Masterson handled this prosecution.