Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 01/21/2009

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

NORTH BAY RAPIST WHO KIDNAPPED YOUNG MOTHER AND CHILD
SENTENCED TO MULTIPLE LIFE TERMS

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that on January 21, 2009, Aristotle Candalaria Quadra, 31, of Santa Rosa, was sentenced to 59 years to life in State Prison. The Honorable Kenneth Gnoss imposed the maximum sentence Quadra could have received under the law. On November 20, 2008, Quadra was found guilty of all charges against him in connection with the sexual assault and kidnapping of a young mother and her child.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, “This was a horrific crime that was devastating to the victim and her family. The successful outcome today was a result of the combined efforts of the Santa Rosa Police Department, members of my staff in the Bureau of investigations and Victim Assistance Center as well as the outstanding work of prosecutor Tashawn Sanders. This lengthy sentence will ensure that this defendant never harms another woman or young child again.”

On February 7, 2008, at about 6:00 p.m., the 29-year-old victim had completed her grocery shopping at the Safeway store on Yulupa Avenue and was strapping her 20 month old son into his car seat when the defendant assaulted her with an ice pick and forced her to drive him to the parking lot of La Cantera Racquet Club and Park View Gardens Convalescent Home, where he handcuffed her and sexually assaulted her in the car. After raping the victim, Quadra violently stabbed her numerous times in her neck, chest and abdomen. While being stabbed, the victim managed to struggle partially free and sound the car’s horn, causing the defendant to flee. The victim ran to the Park View Gardens Convalescent Home, where she screamed for help and collapsed. She was treated at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for 13 serious stab wounds.

Officers were able to identify Quadra using the composite sketch made from the victim’s description. A former neighbor and co-worker of the defendant recognized the sketch and recalled seeing Quadra sitting in front of Safeway on the day of the incident. When officers entered Quadra’s home with a search warrant, he stabbed himself with a spear. Additional forensic evidence, including DNA and crime scene materials linking Quadra to the crime, was introduced at trial.

Quadra received a term of life with the possibility of parole for the crime of Attempted Murder, and a term of 25 years to life in prison for the crime of Rape. The remaining sentence was for the various other crimes and a sentencing enhancement for which Quadra was convicted. Quadra will not become eligible for parole until he has served at least 85% of his sentence, approximately 51 years.

During the hearing today, the victim’s mother presented a Victim Impact Statement detailing how the crimes affected not only the victim, but her young son, who was present when the crimes were committed. The victim herself also issued a statement describing how this incident has impacted her life.

Deputy District Attorney Tashawn Sanders prosecuted this case. She was assisted by District Attorney Investigator Lisa Chapman. Santa Rosa Police Department Detective Jonathan Wolf was the lead detective assigned to the case and the entire Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit of the Santa Rosa Police Department investigated the case.