Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 01/16/2009

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Theresa Menshek (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING DAUGHTER’S FRIEND

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that on January 14, 2009, Lonnie Roy Wise Jr., of Cloverdale, pled no contest to assaulting a sixteen year old girl with the intent to commit oral copulation. Wise’s plea came just before a preliminary hearing was set to begin in his case. Wise, 41, faces a maximum of six years in state prison. He will also be required to register for life as a sex offender.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, “We are pleased with this conviction at such an early stage of the proceedings, which relieves the victim of the ordeal of testifying.“

On September 23, 2008, the sixteen year-old victim, who was friends with Wise’s daughter, spent the night at Wise’s home. At approximately five a.m. the victim awoke with Wise on top of her, attempting unlawful sexual acts.

Wise pled to the felony charge of assault with the intent to commit oral copulation, a “violent felony” under the California Penal Code. Additional counts were dismissed in return for Wise’s plea. All the charges related to the one incident.

Wise is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Rene Chouteau on March 16th, 2009, at 9 a.m.

Deputy District Attorney Jason Riehl was the prosecutor assigned to the case. Cloverdale Police Officer Tricia Adair was the lead investigator.