Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10/13/2008

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Hilary Moores - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

FIVE CONVICTED IN VICIOUS BEATING OF TWO DISABLED MEN

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that all five Defendants facing felony charges related to the April 2008 beating and sexual assault of two disabled men pleaded guilty or no contest on October 7th to all charges alleged against them.  The pleas by Reid Rogers, 19, Fredrick Caddell Jr., 19, Pierre Guidry, 18, Bryan Stanley, 21, and Mark Echemendia, 19, all of Santa Rosa, took place in the middle of the preliminary hearing last week.  After the two victims appeared in court and testified against their attackers each of the five defendants admitted their responsibility. No offers or agreements were extended by the prosecution.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, “This was a vicious beating of two vulnerable individuals.  We are pleased with the convictions on all charges in this case and glad that the victims will not have to undergo further trauma in testifying at trial.”  

Late in the evening on April 25, 2008, the two developmentally disabled victims, aged 19 and 21, entered the skate park, across from Piner High School in Santa Rosa.  While walking through the park, the victims were approached by a group of young men who accused them of being police officers, and also of being on drugs.  The victims attempted to leave, but were followed to a second location in the park accessible by a trail.  There, the victims were again confronted by the group of men and ordered to empty their pockets.  After taking their property, Defendant Stanley took the younger of the two victims out of the park and to a series of ATM machines where he was forced to withdraw $260 and hand it over to Defendant Stanley.  On the way to the ATM machines, the defendant repeatedly threatened to kill or injure this victim if he failed to cooperate.

While Defendant Stanley and the younger victim were gone, the remainder of the Defendants, Caddell, Rogers, Guidry and Echemendia, took turns beating and humiliating the second victim.  The second victim testified that they punched and kicked him about his face and body, that they poured beer on him, and urinated on him.  Once the younger victim was brought back to the scene,  he too was struck in the face and head, at one point losing consciousness.  Both victims reported that one of their attackers used brass knuckles.  Both victims were later forced to another location under threat of physical harm and death.  Once there, Defendants Caddell, Rogers, and Guidry continued to humiliate the victims and used further threats and a knife, while ordering the victims to engage in sexual acts against their will.  The victims were ultimately released, but threatened with death if they contacted police.

All of the defendants entered pleas related to assault, robbery and kidnapping, while Caddell, Rogers and Guidry also admitted charges related to the forced sexual acts.

The Honorable Kenneth J. Gnoss presided over the preliminary hearing, took the pleas and entered their convictions. The Defendants will be sentenced on December 15, 2008.  Defendant Rogers faces a maximum sentence of 42 years in prison, Defendant Echemendia faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, Defendant Stanley faces a maximum sentence of 14 years, 8 months in prison, Defendant Guidry faces a maximum sentence of 34 years, 8 months in prison, and Defendant Caddell faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.  All defendants continue to be held without bail.

The case was investigated by Santa Rosa Police, led by Detective Mark Mahre.  The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Juliette Olson.