Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 12/05/2008

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Theresa Menshek - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SEBASTOPOL MAN FOUND GUILTY OF
MOLESTING HIS STEPDAUGHTERS

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that on November 24, 2008, Michael David Cornett, age 45, was convicted by a Sonoma County jury  of molesting his two pre-teen stepdaughters.  Cornett was convicted in 1996 in Marin County for molesting his then 9-year-old stepdaughter from a previous marriage.  He now faces multiple life terms as a result of his convictions.

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua said, “I am pleased with the jury’s verdict which will hold this repeat sexual predator accountable.”

Testimony at trial established that Cornett molested the girl who is now 8 years old on January 6, 2007, and then molested her again as well as her older sister, who is now 12 years old, on January 9, 2007.   Unknown to the defendant, the girls’ 13 year old brother discovered the defendant molesting one of his sisters on the 9th and took a photo with a camera.  He then reported the crime and testified at trial to what he witnessed.

The trial was held in front of the Honorable Renee Chouteau and took approximately fourteen trial days.  During the trial, the Defendant’s first stepdaughter, now 23 years old, came forward and testified to the abuse he had inflicted on her years ago.  Biological and DNA evidence that connected the defendant to the current crimes was also introduced at trial.  Ultimately, the jury convicted on all counts alleging the sexual offenses as well as several enhancements related to the particulars of the conduct and Cornett’s prior conviction.

The Defendant will be sentenced January 27, 2009, at 9:00 am in front of the Hon. Renee Chouteau.

The case was investigated by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department, led by Detective Joel Pedersen.  Deputy District Attorney Juliette Olson handled the prosecution, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Kris Allen.